The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-27

1.-THE last on the left, next to my
fathers"
Both of your lamps were lit, of
course?"
"Undoubtedly."
"There are some very singular points
here" said Holmes smiling. rs it not
extraordinary that a burglar-and O
burglar who had some previous ex-
perience-should deliberately break into
q house at a time when he could see
from the lights that two of the family
were still afoot?"
He must have been a cool hand"
"Well, of course, If the case were
not an d one we should not have
been driven to ask you for an expla-
nation" said young Mr.. Alec. But
as to your ideas hat the man had
robbed the house before William
tackled him, l think it a most absurd
notion. Wouldn't we have found the
place disarranged, and missed the
things which he had taken?'
at depends on what the things were,e
said Holmes. you must remember
that we are dealing with a burglar
who is a very peculiar fellow, and who
appears to work on lines of his own.
Lophs III GAdIllplG, dL lne queer lOI
of things which he took from Acton's-
what was TIA ball of string. a letter
weight and l don't know what other
odds and ends"
well, we are quite in your hands,
Mr.. Holiness said old Cunningham.
Anything which you or the inspector
may suggest will most certainly be
done"
I'm the first place. said Holmes. 81
should like you TO offer d reward
coming from yourself, for the officials
may take a little time before they
would agree upon the sum, and these
things canno be done too promptly. /
have jotted down the form here, il
you would not mind signing it. Fifty
pounds was quite enough, 1 thought"
Il would willingly give five hundred
said the j. p, taking the slip of paper
and the pencil which Holmes handed
to him 'This is not quite correct,
however," he added, glancing over the
document.
Il wrote it rather hurriedly."
you see you begin, Whereas, at
about a quarter to one on Tuesday
morning IN attempt was made and so
on. 1t was at a quarter to twelve, as
a matter of fact
1 was panied at the mistake, for L
knew how keenly Holmes would feel
any slip of the kind. It was his spe-
cialty to be accurate as to fact, but his
recent illness had shaken him, and this
n little incident was enough to show
me that he was still far from being
himself. He was obviously embar-
raised for an instant, while the inspec-
tor raised his eyebrows, and Alec Cum
ningham burst into a laugh. The old
gentleman corrected the mistake, how
ever, and handed the paper back to
Holmes,
Get it printed as soon as possible
he said; 81 think your idea is an ex-
cellent ONE
Holmes put the slip of paper careful
" away into his pocketbook.
"And now :" said he, cit really would
be a good thing that we should all go
oyer the house together and make GER
that this rather erratic burglar
did not. after all, carry anything away
with him.
Before entering. Holmes made an
examination of the door which had
been forced. 1t was evident that a
chisel or strong knife had been thrust
in and The lock forced back with it.
We could see the marks in the wood
where it had been pushed in.
You don't use bars, them" he
asked.
I'VE have never found it necessary"
you don't keep a dog?"
Eyes. but he is chained on the other
side of the. house."
when do the servants go to bed?"
about TO-"
II understand that William was usu-
ally in bed also at that hour?"
YES"
1T is singular that on this particular
night he should have been up. Now, L
should be very glad if YOU would have
The Kindness to show us over the
house. Mr.. Cunningham"
gro be Continued TonOrrow)