Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-09-24
CHE
ADVENTURE
or TIE
DRVILS FOOT
(Continued.)


Il have lived SO long among saw
ages and beyond the law" said he,
that l have got into way of being
a law to myself. You would 10 well,
Mr.. Holmes, not to forget it, for l
have no desire to do you an injury"
Nor have l any desire to do you
an injury, DR.. Sterndale. Surely the
clearest proof of 1t is that. knowing
what | know, have sent for you and
not for the police"
Sterndale sat down with a gasp.
overawed, perhaps, the first time in
his adventurous life There was a
calm assurance of power in Holmes
manner which could not be withstood.
Our visitor stammered for moment,
his great hands opening and shutting
in his agitation"
What do you mean?" he asked, at
last. 'h this is bluff upon your part.
Mr.. Holmes, you have chosen a bad
man for your experiment. Let us have
no more beating about the bush, What
do you mean?"
81 will tell you," said Holmes. "and
the reason why / tell you is that
hope frankness may beget frankness.
What my next step may be will de-
pend entirely upon the nature of
your own defense"
My defense"
Eyes, sir
my defense against what?"
Against the charge of killing Nor
diner Tregennis."
Sterndale mopped his forehead with
lis handkerchief. upon my word,
you are getting on" said he. do all
your successes depend upon this pro-
digious power of bluff?"
The bluff" said Holmes, sternly
is upon your side, Dr. Leon Stern
dale, and not upon mine AS a proof
| will tell you some of the facts upon
which my conclusions are based. Of
your return to Plymouth, allowilg
much of your property to go or 70
Africa, | will say nothing save that it
first informed me that lou were one
Of the factors which had to be taken
into account In reconstructing this
Drama"
Il came back"
Il have heard your reasons and re-
gard them as unconvincing and made
auate. We will pass that You came
down here to ask me whom l suspect
ed. refused to answer you You
then went to the vicarage, waited out
eide it for some time, and finally re-
turned to your cottage"
How do you know that?"
Il followed YOU"
Il saw no one"
THAT is what you may expect to
zee when l follow you. You spent
restless night at your cottage, and
you formed certain plans, which in
The early morning you proceeded to
put into execution. Leaving your door
lust as day vas breaking. you filed
your pocket with some reddish gravel
which was lying beside your gate"
Sterndale gave a violent start and
looked at Holmes in amazement.
You then walked swiftly for the
mile which separated you from the
vicarage. You We're wearing, | may
remark. the same pair of ribbed ten
mis- shoes which are at the present
moment upon your feet At the vicar
age you passed through the orchard
and the side hedge. coming out under
fhe window of the lodger, Tregennis.
It was now daylight. but the house
held was not yet stirring. You drew
some of the gravel from your pocket.
md you threw it up at the window
above you"
Sterndale sprang to his feet.
II believe that you are the devil
nimselfl" he cried
Holmes smiled at the compliment.
1T took two, or possibly three, hand
ruls before the ledger came to the
window. You beckoned him to come
down. He dressed hurriedly and de-
scended to his sitting-room. You en-
tered by the window. There was an
Interviews short one-during which
YOU walked up and down the room.
Then you passed out and closed the
window, standing on the lawn out
side smoking cigar and watching
what occurred. Finally. after the
death of Tregennis, you withdrew as
you had come. Now, Dr. Sterndale,
how do you justify such conduct, and
what were the motives OF your &C
tons? If you prevaricate or trif1e
with me. give you my assurance that
the matter will pass out of my hands
forever"
Our visitors face had turned ashen
gray as he listened to the words of
his accuser Now he sat for some
time in thought with his face sunk il.
Els hands Then. with a sudden i'm
pulsive gesture, he plucked a photo
graph from his breast pocket and
threw it on the rustic table before us.
''1lat is why | have done it" said
he.
II showed the bust and face OF a
gerry beautiful woman. Holmes stopped
over it.
Brenda Tregennis.' said he.
Yes. Brenda Tregennis," repeated
,ur visitor. For years | have loved
her. For years she has loved me
That is.the secret of that Cornish Sc
clusion which people have maryelec
at. Ii has brought me close 10 the
one thing on earth that was dear &c
ne. ] could not marry her, for | have
t wife who has left me for years, ane
vet whom. by the deplorable laws o.
England, | could not divorce. Fol-
years | waited. And this is what W.
have waited for" A terrible sol
shook his greet frame. and he clutche'
~~--~~~~~
Mistake Cost s2o.ooo,ooo.
The temporary loss of an importan
paper once cost this country neari,
$50. coo. 600. This was in connection
with the famous Alabama incident i