The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-21

ficulty in engaging a bedroom anNl sItting-room at the Crown Inn. Thex| were on the upper floor, and from ou K window We could command a view oNl the avenue gate, and of the inhabited Wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. 4 At dusk we saw pr. Roylott driv#| past, his huge form looming up be#l side the little figure of the lad whd drove him. The boy had some sIigh &I difficulty in undoing the heavy iro1Hl gates. and we heard the hoarse roar or the doctors voice, and saw thea fury with which he shook his clincheS fists at him. The trap drove on. ana Q few minutes later we saw a suddee light spring up among the trees a n the lamp was lit in one of the sitting 4l rooms. l
 Do you know. Watson" saf. Holmes. as we sat together in ttg gathering aIn darkness, T have really night There is a distinct element or| danger
 Gan I be of assistance to your" ble.''
 Then I shall certainly come"
 Tt is very kind of you"
 You speak of danger You have evidently seen more in these rooms than was visible to me-
 No, but fancy that I may haveI dcduced a little more. ] imagine that you saw all that I did.''
 q saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose that could answer l confess is more than can imagine" " Il
 You saw the ventilator, too?"
 ''Yas, but l do not think that it is such very unusual thing to have a small opening between two rooms. It'd was so small that a rat could hardly pass through
 T knew that we should find a ven tilator before ever we came to Stoke Moran"
 My dear HoImes."
 "Oh yes, l did. You remember in her statement she said that her sistera could smell pr. Roylotts cigar. Now, of course, that suggested at once that there must be a. communication be- tween the two rooms. It could only be Il small one, or it would have been A' remarked upon at the cononer's in- quiry. 1 deduced the ventilator."
 "But what harm can there be in N that?''
 well, there is at least a curious of dates. A ventlator is made, 2. cord hung, and a, lady who sleeps in tine bed dies. Does that not strike you?"
 - cannot as yet see any connec- tion."
 Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?
 It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a, bed fastened like that before 2''
 T cannot say that I have"
 ''The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same posi- ton to the ventilator and to the rope for so we may call it, since it was clearly never meant for be1l-pull."'
 Holmes" I cried, 'I seem to sec E I-inly what you are hlnting at We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible crime" f
 Subtle enough and horrible When a doctor does go wrong, he is the worst of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. PaNncr and Pritchard were amorS the heads of their profession This man strikes even deeper, but think, Watson, that we shall be able to h orrors enough before the night Is over; for goodness sake let us have | quiet pipe, and turn our minds for | few hours to something more cheet- -ul''
 About nine o'clock the light among he trees was extinguished. and all was dark in the direction of the Ma Tor House. Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the .troke of eleven, a single bright light ;hone out right in front of us.
 That is our signal" said Holmes. spring to his feet; "it comes from the middle wind ow."
 As we passed out he exchanged a ew words with the landlord, explain ng that we were going on a late vi4t o an acquaintance, and that it wah possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out the dark road .a- chill wind blowing in our faces and op4 -elIow light twinklins in front of cs trough the gloom to guide us on ,ur sombre errand
 Adventure of tho