The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-09-12

Gregson pushed 1t open. Within all
was absolute silence and darkness. I
struck a match, and lit the detectives
lantern. AS did 30, and as the flick
er steadied into a flame, we all gave
q gasp Of surprise. On the deal
boards OF the carpetless floor there
was outlined a fresh track Of blood.
The red steps pointed towards us, and
led away from an inner room, the
door Of which was closed. Gregson
flung II open and held his light full
blaze In front Of him, whilst we all
peered eagerly over his shoulders.
In the middle Of the floor of the
empty room was huddled the figure OF
an enormous man, his clean-shaven,
swarthy face grotesquely horrible In
Its contortion, and his head encircled
by a CHASTITY crimson halo of blood,
lying In a broad wet circle upon the
white woodwork. His knees were
drawn up, his hands thrown out I'M
agony, and from the center Of his
broad, brown, u%pturned throat there
projected the white haft OF a knife
driven ~blade-deep into h'' body. Giant
as he was, the man must have gone
down like a pOle-axed OK before that
terrific blow. Beside his right hand
a most formidable h~orn-handled, two
edged dagger lay upon the floor, and
near II a black kid glove. 3
"By George! it's Black G~orgianof
himself!" cried the American detect
I've. Some one has got ahead Of us
his time"
Here Is the candle in the window,
Mr.. Holiness" said Gregson. why,
whatever are you doing?"
Holmes had stepped across, had lit
the candle, and was passing 1t back
wards and forwards across the win
1ow-panes. Then he peered into the
darkness, blew the candle out, and
threw 1t on the floor.
Il rather think that will be helpful
said he. He came ove and stood In
deep thought, while the two profess
SIGNALS were examining the body.
You say that three people came out
from the fiat while you were waiting
downstairs" said he, at last. Did
you observe them closely?" !
Yes. / did"
was there a fellow about thirty,
black-bearded, dark, of middle size?"
yes; he was the last to pass me-
THAT is your man, l fancy. l can
give you his description. and we have
a very excellent outline of HIS foot
mark. That should be enough for
you"
mot much, Mr.. Holmes, among the
millions of London" p,
Perhaps not. That is why 4
thought 1t best to summon this lady
10 your aid" !
We all turned round at the words.
There, framed in the doorway, was q
tall and beautiful woman-the mys-
terious ledger of Bloomsbury. Slowly
she advanced. her face pale and
drawn with a frightful apprehension.
her eyes fixed and staring, her terri
fed gaze riveted upon the dark figure
on the floor.
you have killed him!" she NUT
tered. "Oh, Dio milo, you have killed
him!" Then / heard a sudden sharp
Intake Of her breath. and she sprang
into the air with a cry Of Joy. Round
and round the room she danced, her
hands clapping. her dark eyes gleam-
Ing with delighted wonder, and a thou
sand pretty Italian ordinations pour
Ing from her lips. 1t was terrible and
amazing to see such a woma go con-
vulsed with 10Y at such a sight. Sud
denly she stopped and gased at US all
with q questioning stare. .
But you! You are police. are you
notf You have killed Giuseppe Cor
gdsno. u II not sof"