The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-24

49, 80 49, ~
II hoped you might have some
thing"
Yes. we have had an adventure dur
ing the night, and one which might
have proved to be a serious one" His
expression grew very grave as he spoke,
and a look of something akin TO fear
sprang up in mis- eyes. do you know
said he, that | begin to believe that 1
am the unconscious entire of some
monstrous conspiracy. and that my
life is aimed at as we'll as my honor?''
All" said Holmes.
1T sounds incredible, for I have not.
as far as l know. an enemy in the
world. Yet from last nights experience
| can come to no other conclusion"
Pray let me hear it,
You must know that last night was
the very first night that l nave ever
slept without a nurse i'm the room. [
was so much better that l thought l
could dispense with one. I had a
night light burning, however. Well,
about 2 in the morning 1 had sunk into
a light sleep when I was suddenly
aroused by a slight noise. 1t was like
the sound which a mouse makes when
1t is gnawing a plank, and | lay lis
tening to 1t for some time under the
impression that 1t must come from that
cause. Then it grew louder, and sud-
denly there came from the window a
sharp metallic snick. l sat up in
amazement. There could be no doubt
what the sounds were now. The first
ones had been caused by some one for
cling an instrument through the slit be-
tween the sashes, and the second by
the catch being pressed back.
The was a pause then for about
ten minutes, as il the person were wait
waiting to see whether the noise had
awakened me. Then l heard a gentle
creaking as the window was very slow
ly opened. l could stand it no longer.
for my nerves are not what they used
to be. / sprang out of bed and flung
open the shutters. A man was crouch
ing at the window. l could see little of
him. for he was gone like a FASH. He
was wrapped in some sort of cloak
which came across the lower part OF
his face. One thing only / am sure of,
and that is that he had some weapon
in his hand. 1t looked to me like a
long knife. I distinctly saw the gleam
of 1t as he turned to run"
This is most interesting" said
Holmes. Pray what did you do then2s
st SHOULD have followed him through
the open window if 1 had been stronger.
AS 1t was, I rang the bell and reused
the house. 1t took me some little time,
for the bell rings in the kitchen n
the servants all sleep upstairs. L
shouted, however, and that brought
Joseph down, and he reused the others.
Joseph and the groom found marks on
the bed outside the window, but the
weather has been so dry lately that
they fOund it hopeless to follow the
trail across the grass. There's a place,
however. on the wooden fence which
skirts the road which shows signs, they
tell me, as IL some one had got over,
and had snapped the top of the rail in
doing so. / have said nothing to the
local police yet, for I thought l had
best have your opinion first"
This tale of our clients appeared to
have an extraordinary effect upon
Sherlock Holmes. He rose from his
chair and paced about the room in I'M
comfortable excitement.
"Misfortunes never come single,' said
Phelps, smiling, though it was evident
hat this adventure had somewhat
shaken him..
You have certainly had your SHARE
said Holmes. d you think you could
walk round the house with me?'
"Oh, yes. l should like a little sun
shine. Joseph viii come, too
And I Also said Miss Harrison.
81 am afraid not" said Holmes. shak-
ing his head. Il think I must ask you
to remain sitting exactly where you
are"
The young lady resumed her seat
with an air of displeasure. Her brother,
however, had joined us and we set off
all four together. We passed round the
lawn to the outside of the young diplo-
matist's window. There were, as he
had said, marks upon the bed, but
they were hopelessly blurred and vague.
Holmes stopped over them for an in
slant. and then rose struggling his
/ shoulders.
II don't think any one could make
much of this" said he. Let us go
round the house and see why this par
ticular room was chosen by the burg
lar. l should have thought those
larger windows of the drawing-room
and dining-room would have a more
attractions for him."
"They are more visible from the
road" suggested Mr.. Joseph Harrison.
"Ah. yes. of course. There is a door
here which he might have attempted.
What is it for"
1T is the side entrance for trades
people. OF course it is locked at night
Have you ever had an alarm like
this before?"
Never" said our client.
do o keep plate in the house, or
anything to attract burglars"
Nothing of value"
Holmes strolled round the house With
his hands in his pockets and a negli-
gent air which was unusual with him.
by the way said he to Joseph Har-
rison, you found some place, | under
stand, where the fellow scaled the
fence. Let us have a look at thatl'
The plump young man led us to 4
spot where the top of one of the wooden
rails had been cracked. a small frag-
ment of the wood was hanging down.
Holmes pulled it off and examined it
critically.
d YOU think that was one last
night? 1t looks rather old, does it not2''
We'll, possibly So
"There are no marks of any
jumping down upon the other side. No.
/ fancy we shall get no help here. Let
us go back TO the bedroom and talk
the matter over"
Percy Phelps was walking very low
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