The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-29

that the two men were struggling when
the shot was fired. Again, both father
and son agreed as to the place where
the man escaped into the road al
that point, however, as It. happens,
there is a broadish ditch. moist at the
bottom. As there were no indications
of boot-marks about the ditch, I was
absolutely sure not only that the Cnn-
ninghams had again lied, but that
there had never been any unknown
man upon the scene at all.
And now ] have to consider the mo-
tive of this singular crime. To get at
this, l endeavored first of all to- solve
the reason of the original burglary ct
Mr.. Acton's. I understood, from some-
thing which the colonel told us. that q
lawsuit had been going on between you.
Mr.. Acton. and the cunninghams. OF
course, it instantly occurred to n1esthat
they had broken into your library with
the intention of getting at some docu-
ment which might be of Importance In
the case
Precisely So" said Mr.. Acton. There
can be no possible doubt as to their
intentions. | have the clearest claim
upon. half of their present estate. and
If they could have found a single paper
which. fortunately. was in the strong
box of my solicitors-they would un-
%doubtedly have crippled otr case
There you are said Holmes, SINH
ing. 1T was a dangerous, reckless at
tempt. in which l seem to trace the
influence of young Alec. Having found
nothing, they tried to divert suspicion
by making it appear to. be an ordinary
burglary. to which end they carried OFF
whatever they could lay their hands
upon. That is all clear enough, but
there was much that was still obscure.
What L wanted above all was to get
the missing part of that note. l was
certain that Alec had torn it out of the
dead mans hand, and almost certain
that he must have thrust II into the
pocket of his dressing-gown. sWheFo
else could he have put it? The only
question was whether II was still there.
1t was worth an effort to inc out, and
for that object we all went up to the
house.
THE C~unningiiams Joined, us, as you
doubtless remember. outside the
kitchen door. 1t was, of course. of the
very first Importance that they should
not be reminded OF the existence of
this paper, otherwise they would natu-
rally destroy IL without delay. The
Inspector was about to tell them the
importance which we attached to 1t
when, by the 'luckiest chancef in the
world, ] tumhled down in a, sort of fit
and SO changed the conversation
Good heavensl' cried the colonel,
Laughing, do you mean to say all orr
sympathy was wasted and your fit an
imposture?'
Speaking professionally. IL was ad-
mirably DONE" cried II, Looking Ia
amazement at this man who was for
ever confounding me With some new
phase, of his astuteness.
1T is, an art which is often useful.
said he. when I recovered / maui
aged, by n device which had perhaps
some little merit Of ingenuity to get
old Cunningham to write the word
twelve, so that ] might compar IL
with the twelve upon the paper.
oh. what an ass | have been!'' r
exclaimed.
II could see that you We're cominis-
Grating me over my weakness said
Holmes laughing. Il was sorry TO
cause o the sympathetic pain which
/ know that you felt. We then, went
upstairs together. and having entered
the room and seen the DRESSING gown
hanging up behind the door. / con-
trived, by upsetting a table. to engage
their attention for the moment, and
slipped back to examine the pockets.
I had hardly got the paper, however
which was, as I expected, In one of
them-when the two C-unninghams
werelon me. and would, l verify believe.
have murdered me then and there but
for your prompt and friendly aid. As
1t is, | feel that young mans grip on
my throat now. and the father has
twisted my wrist round in the effort to
get the paper out of my hand. They
saw that / must know all about II.
o see, and the sudden change from
absolute security to complete despair
made them perfectly. desperate.
II had a little talk with old Cunning
ham afterwards as to the motive Of ths
crime. He was -traetabIe enough.
though his son was i perfect demon.
ready to blow out his own or anybody
I%else.s brains if he could have. got to his
revolver. When Cunningham saw thai
the case against him was so strong la
lost all heart and made a clean breast
of everything. 1t seems that William
had secretly followed his Two masters
on the night when they made the. raid
upon Mr.. Aeton's, and having thus gol
them into his power, proceeded. Under
threats of exposure. to levy bhaoknlail
upon them. Mr.. Alec however, wass
dangerous man to play games OF that
sort with. 1t was a stroke OF positira
genius on his part to see IN the
burglary scare which was convuising
the country side an opportunity of
lplausiblX getting rid of the man whom
he feared. William was deceved pp
and shot, and had they only got the
whole of the note and paid a little
more attention To detail IN their access
%sories. it is very possible that suspicion
might never have been aroused"
'tAnd the note?' I asked.
Sherlock Holmes placed the paper
before us. 1t read:
eff you will only come round
to the east gate you Will
win very much surprise you n
be Of the greatest service to you and'alsa
to Annie Morrison. But say nathing to
anyone upon the matter"
1T is very much the sort Of thing
that l expected said he. "Of curse,
we do not yet know what the relations
may have been etween Alec Cunning
ham. William Kirwar and Annie Nor
rison. The result shows that the trap
was skilfufly baited. 1 am SIRE that