The Washington herald., 1912-04-14

HUM tne 'front.' WINDOW, ana ne greeted
us warmly when a big constable had
opened the door and let us in The
room into which we were shown was
that in which the crime had been COM
mitted, but no trace of it now remained
save an ugly, irregular stain upon the
carpet. This carpet was a small square
drugget in the center of the room, sur
rounded by broad expanse of beauti-
full, old fashioned wood flooring in
square blocks highly polished. Over
the fireplace was a magnificent trophy
of weapons, one of which had been used
on that tragic night. In the window was
a sumptuous writing desk, and every
detail Of the apartment, the pictures,
the rugs, and the hangings, all pointed
TO a taste which was luxurious to the
verge of effeminacy.
Seen the Paris newsi" asked Les
trade.
Holmes nodded.
"Our French friends seem to have
touched the spot this time No doubt
it's just as they say. She knocked at
the door-surprise visit, / guess, for he
kept his life in water-tight compart-
ments-he let her in, couldn't keep her
in the street. She told him how she
had traced him, reproached him, one
thing led to another, and then with that
dagger so handy the end soon came II
wasn't all done in an instant, though,
for these chairs were all swept over
yonder, and he had one in his hand as
II he had tried to hold her off with it.
m Seen i. S0' " al clear as F." we n'o
Holmes raised his eyebrows.
"And yet you have sent for me"
"Ah, yes, that's another matter-a
mere trihe, but the sort of thing you
take an interest in-queer, you know,
and what you might call freakish. Ii
has nothing to do with the main fact
can't have, on the face of it"
what is il, then2"
swell, you know, after a crime of
this sort we are very careful to keep
things in their position. Nothing has
been moved. Officer in charge here day
and night This morning, as the man
was buried and the investigation over
so far as this room is Commemorative
thought we could tidy up a bit. This
carpet. You see, It is not fastened
down, only just laid there We had oc-
casion to raise it. We found"
yes? You found"
Holmes face grew tense with anxiety.
swell, I'm sure you would never
kuCos III lNdIS NlldN VIC hlN
find. You see that stain on the carpet!
Well, a great deal must have soaked
through, must il not"
Undoubtedly it must"
SWELL you will be surprised to hear
that there is no stain on the white
woodwork to correspond"
mo stainl But there must
eyes, so you would say. But the fact
remains that there isn't"
He took the corner of the carpet in
his hand and, turning II over. he showed
that il was indeed as he said.
"But the underside is as stained as
the upper. Ii must have left mark"
Lestrade chucLled with delight at
having puzzled the famous expert
'Now, I'll show you the explanation.
There is a second stain, but 1t does not
correspond with the other See for
yourself" As he spoke he turned over
another portion of the carpet, and there,
sure enough, was a great crimson spill
upon the square white facing OF the old
fashioned floor. what do you make OF
that, Mr. HolmesP
"Why, it is simple enough. The two
stains did correspond, but the carpet has
been turned around. As il was square
and unfastened, it was easily done"
"The official police don't need you,
Mr.. Holmes, to tell them that the car
pet must have been turned around
That's clear~enough, for the stains lie
above each other--if you lay II over this
way. But what want to know is, who
shifted the carpet, and why?"
] could see from Holmes rigid face
that he was vibrating with inward ex-
element.
"Look here, Lestrade," said he, "has
that constable in the passage been III
charge OF the place all the timer
Eyes, he has"
"Well, take my advice Examine him
carefully Don't do it before us. Well
wait here You take him into the back
room. You'll be more likely to get
confession out of him alone. Ask him
how he dared to admit people and leave
them alone in this room. Don't ask
him IL he has done it. Take it for
granted. Tell him you kHo7V some one
has been here Press him. Tell him
that full confession is his only chance
r. A Ill