The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-16

his shoulder caught a glimpse of one
or two uniformed policemen outside.
Mr.. John Hector McFarlane?" said
! Lestradc.
Our unfortunate client rose with a
! CHASTITY face.
Il arrest you for the wilful murder
of Mr.. Jonas Oldacre, OF Lower Nor
wood"
McFarlane turned to US with ges-
tnre of despair. and sank into his chair
! once more like, one who Ia crushed.
I "One moment, Lestrade," said
Holmes. Half an hour more or less
| can make no difference to you. and the
| gentleman was about to give us an ac-
| count OF this very interesting affair,
which might aid US in clearing 1t up"
II think there will be no dfficulty In
clearing It up" said Lestrade, grizzly.
| None the less. with your permission,
] should be much interested to hear
his account"
| Well Mr.. Holmes. it is difficult for
me TO refuse you anything, for you
have been Of use to the force once or
twice In the past. and we owe you
good turn Mt Scotland Yard" said Les
trade AT the same time must re-
main with my prisoner. and I am
bound TO warn him that anything he
may say Will appear In evidence
against him"
II wish nothing better" said our
clent. All | ask Is that you should
I.estrade looked a: his watch. TIL
give you half an hour" said he.
Il must explain first" said McFar-
lane, that knew nothing of Mr.. Jonas
oIdacre. His name was familiar to
me- Tor many years ago my parents
We're acquainted with him. but they
urirIed apart. l was very much sur
about three o'clock In the afternoon,
ne walked into my Office IN the city.
But ( was still more astonlshed when
ne told me the object of his visit. He
had In his hand several sheets OF a
note book, covered with scrubbed writ
ing--here they are--and he laid them
on my table.
Here is my will said he. I want
you. Mr.. McFarlane. to cast 1t into
proper legal shape / will sit here
while you do So.
Il set myself to copy it, and you
can imagine my astonishment when I
FOUND that, with some reservations. he
was arrange little felret-lke man.
with white eyeashes. and when I
looked up at him l found his keen.
grey eyes fixed upon me with an
amused expression. could hardly be-
I'VE my own senses as [ read the terms
OF the Will; but he explained that he
was a bachelor with hardly any living
relation, that he had known my par
ents IN his youth. and that he had al
ways heard OF me as !, very deserving
young man. and was assured that his
money would be in worthy hands. OF
course could only stammer out my
thanks The will was duly finished.
signed and witnessed by my clerk
This Is it on the blue paper. and these
stlps. as have explained, are the rough
draft. Mr.. Jonas Olducre then in
formed me that there were a number
OF documents-huildmg leases, title
deeds. mortgages. scrip aud so forth
Wnich 1T was necessary that l should
see and understand. He said that his
mind would not be easy until the whole
thing was settled. and he begged me
to come out to his house at Norwood
that night bringing the will with me,
and to arrange matters. Remember.
my boy. not one word to your parents
about the affair until everything is
settled. We win keep it as a little
surprise for them He was very In
sistent upon this point. and made me
promise 1t faithfully.
You can imagine. Mr.. Holmes that
1 was not in q humor to refuse him
anything that he might ask. He was
| my benefaotor, and al, my desire was
to carry out his wishes In every par
ticular. sent telegram home, there
fore, to say that I had important BUSH
ness on hand, and that 1t was inlpos-
sibic for me IT, say how late might
be. Mr.. Oldacre had told me that he
would like me to have supper with
MIN at nine, rs he might not be home
before that hour. / had some diff
Guilty In finding his house, however. and
1t was nearly half-past before
reached it. I found him"
one moment" said Holmes "M-hr
opened the door,"
"A middle aged woman. who was I
suppose, his housekeeper."
And It was she, I presume, who
mentioned your rame?''
Exactly" said McFarlane
Pray proceed"
McFarlane wiped his damp brow, and
then continued his narrative.
II was shown by this woman into a
sitting room. where frugal supper
Oldacre led me into his bed room, In
which there stood heavy safe. This
he opened and took out 4 mass OF docu-
nents. which we went over together
1t was between eleven and twelve
when we finished. He remarked that
we must not disturb the housekeeper.
He showed me out through his own
French window, which had been open
all the time"
Was the blind down." asked
Holiness
Il will not be sure. but I believe that
1t was only half down.. Yes. I rcmem-
Der how he pulled 1t up in order to
swing open the window. could not
find my stick, ami he said. Never
mind. my boy, shall see good deal
of you now, hope. and will keep
YOUR stick until you come back again
to claim It, l left him there, the safe
open. and the papers made up in
packets upon the table. It was so
late that l could not get back to Black
heath. so spent the night at the An
elley Arms. and knew nothing more
until read OF this horrible affair in
the morning."
Anything more that you would like
to ask, Mr.. Holmes?" said Lestrade,
whose eyebrows had gone up once or
twice during this remarkable explains
ton.
Not until have been to Black
heath"
You mean to Norwood" said Les
trade.
"Oh. yes no doubt that is what i
must have meant" said Holmes with
his enigmatical smile. Lestrade had
learned by more experiences than he
would care to acknowledge that that
razor-like brain could cut through that
which was impenetrable to him. saw
him look curiously at my compan-
Ion.
II think ! should like to have word
with YOU preSently Mr. Chnrlnol-