The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-02

low, ii was pretty clear where he was.
thought he had not the nerve to lie
quiet before an alarm of fire. We could,
OF course. have gone In and taken him.
but it amused me to make him reveal
himself besides. l owed you little
mystification, Lestrade. for your chaff
In the morning"
Well, sir. you certainly got equal
with me on that. But how in the world
did you know that he was in the house
at all?"
The thumb marx. Lestrade. You
said it was final: and so it was. In a
very different sense. ! knew 1t had
not been there the day before pay
good deal of attention to matters OF de-
tail, as you may have observed. and
had examined the hail. and was sure
that the wall was clear. Therefore 1t
had been put OH during the night"
"But how"
Very simply. When those packets
were sealed up. Jonas Oldacrc got
by putting his thumb upon the soft
wax. 1t would be done so quickly and
SO naturally that ! dare say the young
man himself has no recollection of It,
Very likely 1T Just SO happened. and
Oldacre had himself no notion OF the
use he would put 1t to. Brooding over
the case in that den Of his, it suddenly
evidence he could make against
McFarlane by using that thumb mark
1t was tho simplest thing in the world
for him to take wax impression from
the seal, to moisten ii in as much blood
as he could get from Il pin prick, and
to put the mark upon the wall during
the night. either with his own hand
or With that of his housekeeper. If you
examine among those documents which
he took With him into his retreat. l
will lay you wager that you find the
seal with the thumb mark upon it,
Wonderful said Lestrade. WON
derfu! It's all as clear as crystal. as
YOU put it. But what is the object OF
this deep deception, Mr. Holiness"
1t was amusing to me to see how the
detectives overbearing manner had
changed suddenly TO that of a child
asking questions of it's teacher.
We'll, don't think that is very hard
to explain. A very deep, malicious.
vindictive person is the gentleman
You know that he was once refused by
McFarlane's mother? You don't? I
told you that you should so to Black
heath first and Norwood afterwards.
Well. this injury, as he would consider
&c. has ranked in his wicked, scheming
brain. and all his life he has longed for
vengeance, but never seen his chance.
During the last year or two things
have gone against hinl-secret specula-
ton, think-and he finds himself in
bad way. He determines to swindle
his creditors. and for this purpose he
pays large checks to q certain Mr..
Cornelius. who is, I imagine, himself
under another name. have not traced
these checks yet, but have no doubt
Al h1nlSaH 1Yn6or tina m
at some provincial town where Old
acre from time to time led double
existence. He intended to change his /.
name altogether. draw his money. and
vanish starting life again elsewhere"
well, that's likely enough"
'It would strike him that in disap-
pearing he might throw all pursuit off
his track. and at the same time have
an ample and crushing revenge upon
his old sweetheart, If he could give the
impression that he had been murdered
by her only child. 1t was a MASTER
piece Of villainy, and he carried it out
like master. The idea OF the will,
which would give an obvious motive
for the crime, the secret visit unknown
to his own parents, the retention Of
the stick, the blood. and the animal re-
mains and buttons In the wood pile,
all We're admirable. 1t was net from
which it seemed to me, few hours
ago. that there was no possible escape.
But he had not that supreme gift Of
the artist, the knowledge OF when to
stop. He wished to improve that
which was already perfect-to draw the
rope tighter yet around the neck of his
unfortunate victim-and so he ruined
all. Let us descend, Lestrade. There
are just one or two questions that
would ask him."
The malignant creature was seated
hi v,n .ln
upon each side Of him.
1T was joke, my good sir--a prac-
teal joke, nothing more" he whined
necessarily. Il assure you, sir, that
simply concealed myself in order to see
the effect of my disappearance. and
am sure that you would not be so
unjust as to imagine that would have
allowed any harm to befall poor young
McFarlane.'
That's for a Jury to decide" said
Lestrade. Anyhow. we shall have you
on charge Of conspiracy, II not for at
tempted murder
And you'll probably find that your
count Of Mr.. Cornelius," said Holmes.
The little man started. and turned
his malignant eyes upon my friend.
Il have to thank you for good
DEAL" said he. Perhaps Ill pay my
debt some day..
Holmes smiled indulgen.jy.
Il fancy that, for some few years. You
will find your time very fully occu-
pied,' said he. "By the way, what was
it you put into the wood pile besides
your old trousers? A dead dog. or rab-
bits, or what? You won't tell? Dear
me- how very unkind Of you! Well,
well, dare say that a couple OF rabbits
would account both for the blood and
for the charred ashes. II you ever
write an account. Watson. you can
make rabbits serve your turn
Continued Next Weekly
Burning Of Famous Court Hous..
Nashville Banner: The Banner re.