The Washington herald., 1912-04-07

ENdSuy, Mr.. f1OlmeS, exactly. 1oi
put the very question which have aske,
myself again and again. There can b
no doubt that this fellow must hav,
known the house and its habits. HI
must have perfectly understood that III,
servants would all be in bed at tha
comparatively early hour, and that nC
one could possibly hear a bell ring II
the kitchen. Therefore, he must hav,
been in close league with one of tn,
servants. Surely that is evident. Bu
there are eight servants, and all of goot
character"
Other things being equai,v said
Holmes, "one would suspect the one al
whose head the master threw a decan.
ter And yet that would involve treach.
cry toward the mistress, to whom this
woman seems devoted. Well, well, the
point is minor one, and when you have
Randall you will probably find no diff
iiculty in securing his accomplice. The
lady's story certainly seems to be cor
roborated, il it needed corroboration, by
every detail which we see before u.s.
He walked to the French window and
threw il open. There are no signs
here. but the ground is iron hard, and
one would not expect them. / see that
these candles in the mantelpiece have
been lighted"
Yes. it was by their light, and that
OF the lady's bedroom candle, that the
burglars saw their way about"
And what did they take?"
We'll, they did not take much-only
half dozen articles Of plate off the
sideboard. Lady Brackenstall thinks
that they were themselves so disturbed
by the death of Sir Eustace that they
did not ransack the house, as they would
otherwise have done"
mo doubt that is true, and yet they
drank some wine, understand"
To steady their nerves"
Exactly. These three glasses upon
the sideboard have been untouched,
SUPPOSE
left it."
Let us look at it. Halloa, haIloa |
What is this?"
The three glasses were grouped to-
gether, all of them tinged with wine,
and one OF them containing some dregs
of beeswing. The bottle stood near
them, two-thirds full, and beside it lay
long, deeply stained cork. Its appear
ance and the dust upon the bottle show
ed that was no common vintage which
the murderers had enjoyed.
A change had come over Holmes
manner. He had lost his listless ex-
preston, and again I saw an alert light
of. interest in his keen, deep-set eyes. He
raised the cork and examined il mi
nutely.
How did they draw it1 he asked.
Hopkins pointed to a half-opened
drawer. In it lay some table linen and
large cork-screw.
Did Lady Brackenstall say that screw
was used ,"
No; you remember that she was
senseless at the moment when the bot
tie was opened"
Quite So As matter Of fact, that
screw was not used This bottle was
opened by a pocket screw, probably con-
tanned in a knife, and not more than
an inch and half long II you will
examine the top of the cork, you will
observe. that the screw was driven in
three times before the cork was ex-
tracted 1t has never been trans6xed.
This long screw would have transfxed
4 and drawn it up with single pull.
When you catch this fellow, you will
hnd that he has one of these multiplex
knives in his possession"
aExcellentp said Hopkins.
But these glasses do puzzle me, I
confess. Lady Brackenstall actually
saw the three men drinking, did she
not1"
Yes; she was clear about that"
Then there is an end of IT, What
more is to be said? And yet, you must
admit that the three glasses are very
remarkable, Hopkins. What? You see
nothing remarkable? Well, well, let il
pass. Perhaps, when a man has special
knowledge and special powers like my
own, II rather encourages him to seek
a complex explanation when simpler
one is at hand, OF course, it must be
mere chance about the glasses. Well,
good morning, Hopkins. l don't see
that can be of any use to you, and
you appear to have your case very clear.
You will let me know when Randall is
arrested, and any further developments
which may occur. trust that shall
soon have 70 congratulate you upon