The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-12
PART TWO,


He was a fine creature, this man of
the old English soil-simple, straight,
and gentle, with his great, earnest
blue eyes and broad, comely face. His
love for his wife and his trust in her
shone in his features. Holmes had
listened to his story with the utmost
attention, and now he sat for some
time in silent thought
Don't you think, Mr.. Cubitt," said
he, at last, that your best plan would
be to make direct appeal to your
wife and to ask her to share her secret
with you?"
Hilton Cubitt shook his massive
head.
"A promise is promise, Mr.,
Holmes. If Elsie wished to tell me
she would. If not, it is not for me to
force her confidence. But I am JUST
fed in taking my own line-and l
will"
Then I will help you with all my
heart. In the first place, have you
heard of any strangers being seen in
your neighborhood?
mo"
Il presume that it is very quiet
place. Any fresh face would cause
COMMENT"
''In the immediate neighborhood,
yes. But we have several small wat
ering places not very far away. An
the farmers take in dodgers"
"These hieroglyphics have evidently
a meaning. If it is a purely arbitrary
one, it may be impossible for us to
solve it. If on the other hand, it is
systematic, ! have no doubt that we
shall get to the bottom OF it. But this
particular sample is so short that I can
do nothing, and the facts which YOU
have brought me are so indefinite that
we have no basis for an investigation.
| would suggest that you return to
Norfolk, that you keep keen look
cut. and that you take an exact copy
of any fresh dancing men which may
appear. 1t is a thousand pities that
we have not a reproduction of those
which were done in chalk upon the
window-sill. Make discreet inquiry
also as to any strangers in the neigh
borhood. When you have collected
some fresh evidence, come to me
again. That is the best advice which
I can give you, Mr.. Hilton Cubit. If
there are any pressing fresh develop
ments, shall be always ready to run
down and see you in your Norfolk
home"
The interview left Sherlock Holmes
very thoughtful, and several times in
the next few days l saw him take his
slip of paper from his notebook and
look long and earnestly at the curious
figures inscribed upon it. He made
no allusion to the affair, however, until
one afternoon a fortnight or so later.
I was going out when he called me
back
You had better stay here, Watson"
"Why?"
Because I had a wire from Hilton
Cubitt this morning. You remember
Hilton Cubitt, of the dancing men? He
was to reach Liverpool street at cne-
twenty. He may be here at any mo-
ment I gather from his wire thai
there have been some new incidents Of
Importance"
We had not long to wait, for our
Norfolk squire came straight from the
station as fast as a hanson could
bring him. He was looking worried
and depressed, with tired eyes and a
lined forhead.
Its getting on my nerves, this bust
ness, Mr.. Holmes said he, as he
sank, like a wearied man, into an arm
chair. Its bad enough to feel that
you are surrounded by unseen, I'M
known folk, who have some kind OF
design upon you, but when, in addition
to that, you know that it is just killing
your wife by inches, then it becomes
as much as flesh and blood can endure,
Shes wearing away under it-just
wearing away before my eyes,
Has she anything YETI"
mo, Mr.. Holmes, she has not. And