Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-12-06

was opening cabinets and STOPPING tc
boxes. that he managed to abstract
some Of the devil's-foot root. l well
remember how he piled me with ques-
tions as to the amount and the time
that was needed for its effect. but
little dreamed that he could have
personal reason for asking.
Il thought no more of the matter
until the Wears telegram reached me
| at Plymouth. This villain had thought
that would be at sea before the news
could reach me. and that should be
lost for years in Africa. But l re-
turned at once. OF course, could
not listen to the details without feel
Ing assured that my poison had been
used. came round to see you on the
chance that some other explanation
had suggested itself to you. But
there could be none. 1 was convinced
that Mortimer Tregennis Vas the muir
derer; that for the sake of money.
and with the idea, perhaps, that If the
other members Of his family were all
insane he would be the sole guardian
OF their Joint property, he had used
the devil's-foot powder upon them.
driven two Of them out of their senses.
and killed his sister Brenda. the one
human being whom have ever loved
or who has ever loved me. There was
his crime; what was to be. his punish
ment?
Should 1 appeal to the law? Where
were my proofs? knew that the
facts were true. but could I help to
make Jury of countrymen believe
SO fantastic a story? l might or
might not. But I could not afford to
fail. My soul cried out for revenge.
l have said to you once before, Mr..
Holmes. that|I have spent much of
my life outside the law, and that
have come at last to be a law to my
self. So 1t was now. determined
that the fate which he had given to
others should be shared by himself.
Either that. or would do justice upon
him with my own hand. In all Eng
land there, can be no man who sets
less value upon his own life than
do at the present moment.
Now have told you all. You have
yourself supplied the rest. 1 did. as
you say. after a restless night, set of
early from my cottage. I foresaw the
difficulty OF arousing him. SO gath
cred some gravel from the pile which
you have mentioned, and l used 1t
to throw up to his window. He came
down and admitted me through the
window Of the sitting-room. laid his
offense before him. l told him l had
come both as Judge and executionef.
The wretch sank into a chair para
lyzed at the sight of my revolver.
lit the lamp. put the powder above It,
and stood outside the window, ready
to carry out my threat to shoot him
should he try to leave the room. In
five minutes he died. My God! how
he died! But my heart was flint. for
he endured nothing which my inno-
cent darling had not felt before him.
There is my story. Mr.. Holmes. Per.
haps, II you loved a woman, you would
have done as much yourself At any
rate. l am in your hands. You can
take what steps you like. As have
already said. there is no man living
who can fear death less than I do
Holmes sat for some tine in silence
What were your plans?" he asked
at last.
Il had intended to bury myself in
Central Africa. My work there is but
half finished"
go and do the other half" said
Holmes. Il, at least, am not prepared
to prevent you"
DIR. Sterndale raised his giant fig
ure. bowed gravely. and walked from
the arbor. Holmes lit his pipe and
handed me his pouch.
Some fumes which are not poison.
GUS would be welcome change" said
he. II think you must agree, Watson,
that it is not case in which we are
called upon to interfere. Our investi.
cation has been independent. and our
action shall be also. You would not
denounce the man?'
Certainly not" ! answered
Il have never loved, Watson, but II
l did. and if the woman l loved had
met such an end. ! might act even as
our lawless lion-hunter has done. Who
knows? Well. Watson. will not of
fend your intelligence by explaining
what is obvious. The gravel under
the window-sill was. of course. the
starting point of my research. 1t was
unlike anything in the vicarage gar
den. Only when my attention had
been drawn to DR.. Sterndale and his
cottage did find its counterpart The
lamp shining in broad daylight and
the remains of powder upon the
shield were successive links in fair
ly obvious chain. And now, my dear
Watson, ! think We may dismiss the
matter from our minds, and 20 back
| with n clear conscienco IN tI,o ,,,,J,,