The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-23
PART ON e.


1t was on bitterly cold and frosty
morning, toward the end of the winter
of '97. that l was awakened by a tug
ging at my shoulder. 1t was Holmes.
The candle in his hand Shone upon
his eager, STOPPING face, and told me
at a glance that something was amiss,
Come, Watson, GOMEZ" he cried.
The game is afoot. Not a word.
Into your clothes and come"
Ten minutes later we were both in
cab, and rafting through the silent
streets on our way to Charing Cross
Station. The first faint winters dawn
was beginning to appear, and we coulf.
dimly see the occasional figure of an
early workman as he passed us,
blurred and indistinct in the opal
escent London reek. Holmes nestled
was glad to do the same, for the air
was most bitter and neither of us had
broken our fast
1t was not until we had consumed
some hot tea at the station, and taken
our places in the kentish train, that
we were sufficiently thawed, he tt
a note from his pocket, and read it
aloud:
Abbey Grange,
Marsham, Kent,
$50 a. m.
My dear Mr.. Holmes should be
very glad of your Immediate assist.
ance in what promises to be a most
remarkable case. 1t is something
quite in your line. Except for re
leasing the lady | will see that every
thing is kept exactly as | have found
it, but | should beg you not to lose
an instant, as it is difficult to leave
Sir EuStace there.
Yours faithfully,
STANLEY HOPKINS.
Hopkins has called me in sever
times, and on each occasion his sum
mons has been entirely Justified SAID
Holmes. Il fancy that every one o!
his cases has found its way into youl
collection, and l must admit, Watson
that you have some power of selection
which atones for much which ! de
plore in your narratives. Your fata
habit of looking at everything from
the point of view of story instead Of
scientific exercise has ruined wha
might have been an instructive anC
even classical series of demonstra
tons. You slur over work of the
utmost finesse and delicacy. in order
TO dwell upon sensational detail,
which may excite, but cannot possibly
instruct, the reader"
why do you not write them your
self" | said, with some bitterness.
Il will. my dear Watson, | will
At present l am, as you know fairly
busy, but | propose to devote my de
clining years to the composition o
textbook which shall focus tn
, whole art of detection into one vol
ume. Our present research appear:
to be a case of murder
You think this Sir Eustace is dead
them"
Il should say so. Hopkins writin:
shows considerable agitation, and ht
is not an emotional man. Yes,
gather there has been violence, an,
that the body is left for our inspection
A mere suicide would not have cause.
him to send for me. AS to the re
lease of the lady, it would appear tina
she has been locked in her room dur
ing the tragedy. We are moving il
high life, Watson, cracking paper
e. B. monogram, coat-ofarms, pic
| turesque address. | think that frient
Hopkins will live up to his reputation
and that we shall have an interesting
morning. The crime was committed
| before twelve last night"
How can you possibly tell?"
BY an inspection of the trains, ant
by reckoning the time. The loca
police had TO be called in. they hac
to communicate with Scotland Yard
Hopkins had to go out, and he il
turn had to send for me. All tina
makes fair nights work Well, her,
we are at Chiselhurst Station, and W.
shall soon set our doubts at rest"
| A drive of couple of miles through
narrow country lanes brought us t.
park gate, which was opened for u
by an old lodgekeeper whose haggar,
face bore the reflection of some grea
| disaster. The avenue ran through
noble park, between lines of ancien
elms, and ended in low, widespread
house, pillared in front after the fash
ion of Palladio. The central part wa
evidently of great age and shroude,
| in ivy, but the large windows showe'