The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-12

and to his unfeigned delight, we found
ourselves. even in that land of
dreams, plunged into a problem at
our very doors which was more in
tense, more engrossing, and infinitely
more mysterious than any of those
which had driven us from London.
Our simple life and peaceful, healthy
routine We're violently interrupted.
and we were precipitated into
the midst of a series Of. events
which caused the utmost excitement
not only in Cornwall but throughout
the whole West of England. Many Of
my readers may retain some recollec-
ton of what was called at the time
The Cornish Horror" though a most
imperfect account of the matter
reached the London Press. Now,
after thirteen years, / will give the
true details of this inconceivable af-
fair to the public.
l have said that scattered towers
marked the villages which dotted this
part Of Cornwall. The nearest of these
was the hamlet Or Tradannick VOL
las, where the cottages of a couple Of
hundred inhabitants clustered round
an ancient, moss-grown church. The
vicar of the parish, Mr.. Roundhay,
was something Of an archaeologist,
and as such Holmes a made his
acquaintance. He was a middle-aged
man, portly and affable, with a con-
siderable fund Of local lore. At his
invitation We had taken tea at the
vicarage, and a come to know, also,
Mr.. Mortimer Tregennis, an independ-
ent gentleman, who increased the
clergyman's scanty resources by taking
rooms in his large struggling house.
Tn vicar, being a bachelor, was
glad to come to such an ent,
though he had little in common with
his ledger, who was a thin, dark,
specialized man, with a stoop which
gave the impression Of actual physical
deformity. L remember that during
our short visit We found the vicar
g~arrulOus, but his ledger strangely re-
ticent, a sad-faced, retrospective man,
sitting with averted eyes, %brooding
apparently upon his own affairs.
These were the two men who en-
tered abruptly into our little sitting
room on Tuesday, March the 18th.
shortly after our breakfast hour as
we were smoking together, prepare
tory to our daily excursion upon the
moors.
Mr.. Holmes, said the vicar. in an
agitated voice, the most ~extraordi-
nary and tragic affair has occurred
during the night. 1t is the most un-
heard-of business. We can only re-
gard it as a special Providence that
you should chance to be here at the
time, for in all England you are the
one man we need"
l glared at the intrusive vicar With
no very friendly eyes: but Holmes took
his pipe from his lips and sat up in
hears the vieW-hallo. He waved his
hand to the sofa, and our palpitating
visitor, with his agitated companion
sat side by side upon it. Mr. Mortimer
Tregennis was more s~elf-contaIned
than the clergyman, but the tWitching
of his thin hands and the brightness
of his dark eyes showed that they
shared a common emotion.
Shall / speak or YOU he ask ed
of the vicar.
We'll, as You seem to have made
the discovery. whatever it may be,
and the vicar to have a it second
hand, perhaps you had better do the
speaking" said Holmes.
i glanced at the hastily-clad clergy
man, with the formally-dressed ledger
seated beside him., and was amused at
the surprise. which Holmes simple de-
duction had brought to their faces.
"Perhaps I had best say a few
words first" sal the vicar, land then
YOU can judge if you will listen to the
details from Mr.. Tregennis, or wheth-
er We should not hasten at once &c
the scene Of the mysterious affair.
may expf2.n. then, that our friend
here spent last evening in the com
pany OF his two brothers. owen ano
George. n of his sister Brenda, Al
their house of T~redannick Wartha
which is neal the old stone cross
upon the moor. He left them short
ly after ten o'clock, playing cards
, round the dining-room table, in ex-
cellent health and spirits. Thi:
morning, being an early riser, ht
walked in that direction before break
fast, and was overtaken by the car
rage Of DR.. Richards. who explained
that he had just been sent for on {
most urgent call to T~redannicl
Wartha. Mr.. Mortimer Tregenni:
naturally went with him. When h
arrived at Tredannick Wartha h
found an extraordinary state o
things. His two brothers and his sis
ter were seated round h table ex
actly as he had left them, the cards
still spread in front of them and tn