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

dolIc III q HdiIN " had ot-.-r.
learned that his bed had bae~ So
in. and that the tragic end had -
to him IN the early morning.
One realized the red-hot
which underlay Holmes ph.e-~..,,
exterior when one saw the o.s4.
change which came over him s-.r
the that ne entered tho r.,.f
apartment. In an instant h. -,
tense and alert. his eyes shining lis
face set. his limbs quivering with -
eager activity. He was out on .N.
lawn. in through the window rour,
the room and uo into the bedroom
for all the world like a dashinr ro>-
hound drawing a Owe In the bod
room he made q rapid cast around
and ended by throwing open the win
dow, which appeared 10 give him
some fresh cause for excitement for
he leaned out of it with loud eiaculg-
lions of interest and delight. Then
he rushed down the stair. e4t
through the open window. threw
himself upon his face on the lawn.
sprang up and into the room ono.
more. all with the energy Of the hun
ter who is at the Very heels Of his
quarry. The lamp, which was an ord
nary standard. he examined with min
ute care, making certain measure
mentS upon its bowl. He carefully
Scrutinized with his ler.t the tai.
shield which covered the tops OF the
chimney. Scraped off some ashes which
adhered to its upper surface. putting
some Of them into an envelope.
which he placed in his pocket-book.
Finally, just as h doctor and the Of
fetal police put in an ~appearance he
beckoned to the vicar and We all three
went out upon the w
Il am glad to say that my investi-
cation has not been entirely barren"
he remarked. 81 cannot remain TO
discuss the matter with the police. bur
I should be exceedingly obliged. Mr..
ROundhay. if you would give the in
spectOr my compliments and direct his
attention to the bedroom window and
to the sitting-roOm lamp. Each is sug-
gestive. and together they are almost
conclusive. If the police would desire
further information l shall be happy
to see any of them at the cottage. And
now, watson, / think that perhaps We
shall be better employed elsewhere"
1t may be that the police resented
the intrusion Of an amateur. or that
they imagined themselves to be upon
some h%opedful line of investigation:
but it is certain hat we heard nothing
from them for the next two days. Dur
ing this time Holmes spent some OF
his time smoking and dreaming in the
COTTAGE; but q greater portion in
country walks which he undertook
alone, returning after many hours
without remark as to where he had
been. One experiment served to show
me the line Of his investigation. He
had bought a lamp which was the du-
plicate of the one which had burned
in the room of Mortimer Tregennis on
the morning Of the tragedy. This he
filled with the same oil as that used
at the vicarage, and he carefully timed
the period which it would take to be
exhausted. Another experiment which
he made was Of more unpleasant ma
ture, and one which 1 am not likely
ever to forget.
You will remember, Watson he
remarked one afternoon, that there
is a single point of resem-
blance in the varying reports which
effect Of h atmosphere of the room
in each case upon those who have first
entered it. You viii recollect that
Mortimer Tregennis, in describing
the episode Of his last visit to his
brothers house, remarked hat
room fell into a chair? You had
forgotten? Well. 1 can answer for
it that it was so. Now, you will r.
member also that Mrs. Porter. the
told us that she herself
upon entering the room and
had afterwards opened the window.
In the second case-that of Mortimer
T~regennis himself-you cannot nlye
forgotten the horrible stuffiness Of tho
room when we arrived, though tho
servant had thrown open the window.
servant, l found upon inquiry,
was SO Ill that she had gone to her
bed. You will admit, Watson. mat
these facts are very suggestive. IN
each case there is evidence of a pois-
onous atmosphere In each case. also.
there is combustion going on in the
the one case a fire. n tho
otner a lamp. The fire was needed.
but the lamp was lit-as a COMPARE
son of the oil consumed will show
after it was broad daylight. Why
surely because there is some connec-
ton between three things-thc burn
.ng, the stuffy atmosphere. ana fin
aIly. the adneS or death Of thnea