The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

gave us the dead mans name and ad-
dress. 1t was after this morning
when We reached his house and found
neither you nor any one else inside IT,
/ wired to Mr. Gregson to run you down
In London, while I examined Wisteria
Lodge. Then I came into town, Joined
Mr.. Gregson, and here we are"
II think now" said Gregson, rising,
I'VE had best put this matter into an
official shape. You will come round with
us to the station, Mr.. Scott Eccles. and
let us have your statement In writing"
Certainly, I will come at once. But
I retain your services, Mr.. Holmes.
desire you to spare no expense and
no pains get at the truth"
My friend turned to the country in
spector.
II suppose that you have no objec-
ton to my collaborating with you, Mr..
Baynes?"
Highly honored, I am sure"
you appear to have been very
prompt and buslnesslike in all that you
have done. Was there any clue, may
I ask. as to when the man met his
death?"
He had been there since / O'Clock.
There was rain about that time. and
his death had certainly been before the
rain"
But that Is perfectly impossible, Mr..
Baynes." cried our client His voice
Is unmistakable. I could swear to 1t
that 1t was he who addressed me In my
bedroom at that very hour"
Remarkable, but by no means i'm
possible" said Holmes. smiling.
You have a clue?" asked Gregson.
ION the face of II, the case Is not
very complex one, though Il certainly
presents some novel and interesting
features. A further knowledge of facts
Is necessary before I would venture to
give final and definite opinion. by the
way, Mr.. Baynes. did you find anything
remarkable besides this note in your
examination of the house?"
The detective looked at my friend In
a singular way.
There We're" said he zone or two
very remarkable things. Perhaps when
| have finished at the police station you
would care to come out and give me
your opinion OF them"
Il am entirely at your service" said
Sherlock Holmes ringing the bell. "You
will show these gentlemen out. Mrs
Hudson. and kindly send the boy with
this telegram. He is to pay for a five
shilling reply"
We sat for some time in silence after
our visitors had left. Holmes smoked
hard, with his brows drawn down over
his keen eyes, and his head thrust for
ward in the eager way characteristic
of the man.
well. Watson" he asked, turning
suddenly upon me, what do you make
of it?"
II can make nothing of this mystifi-
cation of Scott Eccles."
but the crime?"
well, taken with the disappearance
of the mans companions should say
that they were in some way concerned
in the murder and had fled from JUS
tice."
THAT is certainly a possible point
Of view. On the face OF it you must
admit. however. that 1t is very strange
that his twosservants should have been
in conspiracy against him and should
have attacked him on the one night
when he had a guest. They had him
alone at their mercy every other night
in the week"
Then why did they fiy?"
quite so. Why did they fly? There
is big fact. Another big fact Is the
remarkable experience of our client
Scott Eccles. Now. my dear Watson.
Is 1t beyond the limits of human in
genuity to furnish an explanation which
would cover both these big facts? II
it were one which would also admit
OF the mysterious note with its very
curious phraseology. why, then 1t would
be worth accepting as a temporary hy-
pothess. II the fresh facts which come
to our knowledge all fit themselves into
the scheme, then our hypothesis may
gradually become a solution"
But what Is our hypothess?"
Holmes leaned back in his chair with
half closed eyes.
"You must admit. my dear Watson,
that the idea Of a joke is impossible.
There were grave events afoot, as the
sequel showed, and the coaxing of Scott
Eccles to Wsteria Lodge had some con-
nection with them"
But what possible connecticut"
"Let us take it link by link. There is
on the face of II something unnatural
about this strange and sudden friend
ship between the young Spaniard and
Scott Eccles. II was the former who
forced the pace. He called upon Ec-