The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-01

VIZ III
A Thick Black Cloud swirled Before
.. My Eyes.
rs upon your side, Dr. Leon Stern
dale, and not upon mine. AS a proof
! will tell you some Of the facts upon
which my conclusions are based. OF
your return to Plymouth, allowing
much of your property to go on to
Africa, I will say nothing save that it
first Informed me that you were one
of the factors which had to be taken
into account in reconstructing this
drama" .- .-.
II came back" 49,
II have heard your reasons and re-
gard them as unconvincing and made
quate. We will pass that. You came
down here to ask me whom I suspect
ed. l refused to answer you. You
then went to the vicarage, waited out
side it for some time, and finally re-
turned to your cottage @~< ~. -.
"How do you know that?" =
II followed you" :,
II saw no one"
"That is what you may expect to
zee when I follow you. You spent a
restless night at your cottage. and
you, formed certain plans, which In
the early morning you proceeded to
put into execution. Leaving your door
just as day was breaking, you filled
your pocket with some reddish gravel
which was lying beside your gate.'
Sterndale gave violent start and
looked at Holmes in amazement.
"You then walked swiftly for the
mile which separated you from the
vicarage: You were wearing, I may
remark, the same pair of ribbed ten
mis- shoes which are at the present
moment upon your feet. At the vicar
age you passed through the orchard
and the side hedge, coming out under
the window Of the ledger, Tregennis.
It. was now daylight, but the house
hold was not yet stirring. You drew
some Of the gravel from your pocket
and you threw it up at the window
above you" -
Sterndale sprang to his feet. :
II believe that you are the devil
himself" he cried.
Holmes smiled at the compliment
1T took two, or possibly three, hand
fuls before the, lodger came to the
window. You beckoned him to come
down. He dressed hurriedly and de,
scended to his sitting-room. You en-
tered by the window. There was an
Interviews short one-during which
you walked up and down the room.
Then you passed out and closed the
window, standing on the lawn out.
side smoking a cigar and watching
what occurred. Finally, after the
death of Tregennis, you withdrew as
you had come. Now, DR.. Sterndale,
how do you justify such conduct, and
what were the motives of your ac-
tons? If, you prevaricate or trifle
with me, I give you my assurance that
the matter will pass out of my hands
forever" -... &c.,, 10. =
Our visitors face had turned ashen
gray as he listened to the words OF
his. accuser. Now he sat for, some
time in thought with his face sunk in
his hands. Then, with a sudden i'm.
pulsive gesture, he plucked a photo
graph from his breast pocket and
threw it on the rustic table before us.
"That is why I have done it, said
he. ..~< 4 @
It showed the bust and face Of q
very beautiful woman. Holmes stopped
over it.
Brenda Tregennis,'' said he.
eyes, Brenda Tregennis," repeated
our visitor. "For years have loved
her. For years she has loved me.
That is the secret of that Cornish Sc.
clusion which people have marveled
at. It has brought me close to the
one thing on earth that was dear to
me. I could not marry her, for / have
wife who has left. me for years, and
yet whom, by the deplorable laws OF
England, I could not divorce. For
years I waited. And this is what we
have waited for A terrible sob
shook his great frame, and he clutched
his throat under his brindle beard
Thep with an effort he mastered him.
self and spoke on.
The vicar knew. He was in our
confidence. He would tell you that
she was an angel upon earth. That
was why he telegraphed to me and
returned. What was my baggage OF
Africa to me when learned that such
. fate had come upon my darling
There you have the missing clew to
| my action, Mr.. Holmes" +.
Proceed" said my friend.
DR.. Sterndale drew from his pocket
q paper packet and laid it upon the
table. On the outside was written,
"Radix pedis diaboli, !" withaa red poi.
son label beneath it. He pushed II
towards me: Il understand that you
are q doctor, sir. Have you ever
heard Of This preparation Z.