The Washington herald., 1912-02-04

for his wife and his trust in her shone
IN his features Holmes had listened
TO his story with the utmost attention,
and now he sat for some time in silent
thought.
Don't you think, Mr. Cubitt,7 said
he, at last, that your best plan would
he to make a direct appeal to your wife,
and to ask her to share her secret with
your
Hilton cubit shook his massive
head.
"A promise is promise, Mr..
Holmes. II Elsie wished to tell me she
would II not, 1t Is not for me to force
her confidence. But ! am justified IN
: taking my own line--and ! will"
Then l will help you with all my
heart in the first place, have you
heard Of any strangers being seen in
your neighborloodi"
Il presume that il is very quiet
place. Any fresh face would cause
commentP
Tn the immediate neiehborhood, yes.
But we have several small watering
places not very far away. And the
farmers take in dodgers"
These hierogiyphics have evidently
Z meaning. If II is a purely arbitrary
one, i may be impossible for Us to
solve it.. If, on the other hand, It is
systematic, / have no doubt that we
shall get to the bottom of it. But this
particular sample is so short that can
do nothing, and the facts which you
have brought me are so indefinite that
we have no basis for an investigation.
] would suggest that you return to
Norfolk, that you keep a keen look
out, and that you take an exact copy
OF any fresh dancing men which may
appear. II is thousand pities that we
have not a reproduction of those which
were done in chalk upon the window
sill. Make a discreet inquiry also as
TO any strangers in the neighborhood
When you have collected some fresh
evidence, come TO me again. That is
the best advice which can give you,
Mr.. Hilton Cubitt IL there are any
pressing fresh Developments, / shall be
always ready to run down and see you
IN your Norfolk home"
The interview left Sherlock Holmes
very thoughtful, and several times in
the next few days / saw him take his
slip of paper from his notebook and
look long and earnestly at the curious
figures inscribed upon it He made no
allusioH to the affair, however, until one
afternoon fortnight or so later.
was going out, when he called me back
You had better stay here, Watson"
Because ] had a wire from Hilton
Cubitt this morning. You remember
Hilton Cubitt, of the dancing men? He
was to reach Liverpool street at one
twenty. He may be here at any mo-
flent. gather from his wire that
there have been some new incidents
Of importance"
We had not long to wait, for our
Norfolk squire came straight from the
station as fast as a hanson could bring
him He was looking worried and de-
pressed, with tired eyes and lined
forehead.
@It's getting on my nerves, this busi-
ness, Mr.. Holmes" said he, as he sank,
like a wearied man, into an armchair.
It's bad enough to feel that you are
surrounded by unseen, unknown folk,
who have some kind of design upon
you, but when, in addition 10 that, you
know that i is just killing your wife
by inches, then il becomes as much as
flesh and blood can endure She's wear
ing away under it-just wearing away
before my eyes"
"Has she said anything yeti"
NO, Mr.. Holmes, she has not. And
yet there have been times when the
poor girl has wanted to speak, and yet
could not quite bring herself 20 take
the plunge ] have tried to help her,
but ] dare say / did il clumsily, and
scared her from it. She has spoken
about my old family, and our reputa-
ton m the country, and our pride in
our unsullied honor, and / always felt
il was leading to the point, but some
how il turned off before we got there"
"But you have found out something
for yourself"
"a good deal, Mr. Holmes. have
several fresh dancing men pictures for
you to examine, and, what is more i'm
portant ! have seen the fellow"
What, the man who draws themp
Yes, ] saw him at his work. But
will tell you everything in order.
When got back after my visit to you,