Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-17

| = HIONSLL lQGl : ga Submitting Inv
trg among them. | couldn't even say
ii 1t were man or animal, but l just
thought there was something there,
When I asked him what he vas look.
ing at, he told ne that he had the
sama feeling. That Is all that ] car
say"
Did you not investigated"
NO; the matter passed as Unim
portant."
You left them, then, without an
premonition OF eyil?"
None at all"
81 am not clear how you cams to
hear the news 30 early this morning.
81 am an early riser, and general"
take a walk before breakfast. This
morning l had hardly started when
the doctor in his carriage overlook
me. He told me that old Mrs. Por-
Ter had sent boy down with an ur-
gent message. sprang in beside him
and We drove on. When we got there
we looked into that dreadful room.
The candles and the fire must have
burned out hours before, and they had
been sitting there in the dark until
dawn had broken. The doctor said
Brenda must have been dead at least
six hours. There We're no signs of VIC
lence. She just lay across the arm Of
the chair with that look on her face
George and Owen were singing snatch
es Of songs and gibbering like two
great apes. Oh, il was awful to see
| couldn't stand it, and the doctor was
az white as a sheet. Indeed, he fel
into a chair in a sort Of faint, and we
nearly had him on our hands as we'll.
Observation-Disclosures remarkable!'
said Holmes, rising and taking his
hat. 81 think perhaps we had better
20 down TO Tredannick Wartha with
out further delay. confess that
have seldom known a case which al
first sight presented more singular
problem
Our proceedings Of that first morn
ing did little to advance the inyeStiga
non. IT was marked, however, at the
outset by an incident which left the
most sinister impression upon my
mind. The approach to the spot al
which the tragedy occurred IS down
4 narrow, winding country lane. While
re made our way along it We heard
the rattle Of carriage coming TO-
wards US, and stood aside to let It
pass. AS it drove by us l caught a
glimpse through the closed window CT
horribly-contorted, grinning face
glarine out at US. Those staring eyes
and gnashing teeth flashed past us
ike q dreadful vision.
my brothers," cried Mortimer
Tregennis, white to his lips. "They
are taking them to Helston."
We looked with horror after the
black carriage, numbering its way
Then We turned our steps towards
this ill-omened house in which they
had met their strange fate.
It was a large and bright dwelling
rather villa than a cottage, with a
considerable garden which was al
ready, In that Cornish air, well filled
With spring flowers. Towards this
garden the window OF the sitting-room
fronted. and from it, according t6
Mortimer Tregennis, must have come
that thing Of evil which had by sheer
horror in a single instant blasted
their minds. Holmes walked slowly
and thoughtfully among the flower
pots and along the path before we en-
tered the porch. So absorbed was ne
in his thoughts, ! remember, that he
stumbled over the watcring.pot, upset
its contents, and deluged both oul
feet and the garden path. Inside the
house We were met by the elderly
Cornish housekeeper, Mrs. Porter
who, with the aid of young girl
looked after the wants OF the family
She readily answered all Holmes
questions. She had heard nothing in
the night. Her employers had all
been IN excellent spirits lately, and
she had never known them more
cheerful and prosperous. She had
tainted with horror upon entering the
room in the morning and seeing that