Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-05
THE CASE OF OSCAR SLATER By SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

of age. This girl had been with Miss
Gilchrist for three or four years.
BY all accounts Miss Gilchrst was a
most estimable person. leading a quiet
and uneventful life. She was comfortably
off, and she had one singular Characters
tic for a lady of her age and surroundings,
in that she had made a collection of jew
elry of considerable value. These jewels,
which took the form of brooches, rings,
pennants, etc, were bought at different
times, extending over a considerable
number of years, from reputable jew
eler.
Her JeweIry.
I lay stress upon the fact, as some wild
rumor was circulated at the time that the
old lady might herself be a criminal re-
ceiver Such an idea could not be enter
tanned. She seldom wore her iewelry,
save in single pieces, and as her life was
retired one, it is difficult to see how
any one outside very small circle could
have known of her hoard. The value of
this treasure was about three thousand
pounds. 1t was a fearful joy which she
snatched from it's possession, for She
more than once expressed apprehension
that she might be attacked and robbed
Her fears had the practical result that
she attached TWO patent locks to her front
door, and that she arranged with the
Adams family underneath that in case of
alarm she would signal them by knocking
upon the floor.
1t was the household practice that Lam
bic, the maid, should go out and get an
evening paper for her mistress about 7
O'Clock each day After bringing the
paper. she then usually went aut again
upon the necessary shopping. This rou-
tine was followed upon the night of De-
cember 81. She left her mistress seated
by the fire in the dining room, reading
a magazine Lambie took the keys with
her, shut the fiat door, closed the hall
door downstairs, and was gone about ten
minutes upon her errand. 1t is the events
of those ten minutes which form the
tragedy and the mystery which were so
soon to engage the attention of the pub
lie.
According to the girls evidence. it was
minute or two before I when she went
out At about T Arthur Adams and his
two sisters were in their dining room,
Immediately below the room in which
the old lady had been left. Suddenly
they heard "a noise from above, then a
very heavy fall, and then three sharp
knocks" They were alarmed at the
sound, and the young man at once set
off to see if all was right. lie ran out
of his hall door, through the hall door
Of the flats, which was open. and so up
TO the first floor, where he found Miss
Gilchrist's door shut. He rang three
times without an answer. From within,
however. he heard sound which he com
pared to the breaking Of sticks. lie i'm
sgined. therefore, that the servant girl
was within. and that she was engaged
in her household duties.
THE MAID EXPLAINS.
After waiting for a minute or two. he
seems to have convinced himself that all
was right He, therefore, descended again
and returned to his sisters. who persuaded
him to go up once more to the fiat
This he did, and rang for the fourth time
As he was standing with his hand upon
the bell, straiung his ears and hearing
nothing, some one approached Sup the
stairs from below. 1t was the young
servant maid, Helen Lambie, returning
from her errand. The two held counsel
for a moment. Young Adams described
the noise which had been heard. Lambie
said that the pulleys of the clothes lines
in the kitchen must have given way.
1t was a singular explanation, since
the kitchen was not above the dining
room Of the Adamses. and one would not
expect any great noise from the fall Of
cord which suspended sheets or towels