The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-02
PART FOUR


At Waterloo we were fortunate in
catching a train for Leatherhead,
where we hired a trap at the station
| inn. and drove for four or five miles
| through the lovely Surrey lanes. 1t
was a perfect day, with a bright sun
and a few f1eecy clouds in the heavens
The trees and wayside hedges we're
just throwing out their first green
shoots, and the air was full OF the
pleasant smell of the moist earth. TO
me at least there was strange con-
| trast between the sweet promise of
the spring and this sinister quest upon
which we were engaged. My compan-
ion sat in the front Of the trap, his
arms folded. his hat pulled down over
his eyes and his chin sunk upon his
breast, buried in the deepest thought,
I and pointed over the meadows.
| Look there" said he.
A heavily-timbered park stretched
up in a gentle slope, thickening into
grove at the highest point. From
amid the branches there jutted out
the gray gables and high roof-tree of
a very old mansion.
Stoke Moran" said he.
| Yes, sir, that be the house Of DR..
Grimesby Roylott," remarked the
driver.
There is some building going on
! there said Holmes; that is where
we are going"
There's the village" said the driver,
pointing to cluster of roofs some
distance to the left; but if you want
to get to the house, you'll find it short
er to get over this stile, and so by
the foot-path over the fields. There it
is, where the lady is walking
And the lady, I fancy is Miss
Stoner,' observed Holmes shading his
eyes Yes, think We had better do
as you suggest"
We got off, paid our fare, and the
trap ratified back on its way to Leath-
erhead.
Il thought it as WE'LL said Holmes,
as we climbed the stile, that this
fellow should think we had come here
as architects, or on some definite
business. 1t may stop his gossip. Good
afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that
we have been as good as our word"
Our client of the morning had hur-
ried forward to meet US with face
which spoke her joy. Il have been
waiting so eagerly for you" she cried,
shaking hands with us warmly. "All
has turned out splendidly. DR.. Roy
! lott has gone to town, and it is unlikely
that he will be back before evening"
We have had the pleasure Of
making the doctors acquaintance"
said Holmes, and in a few words he
sketched out what had occurred. Miss
Stoner turned white to the lips as she
listened.
Good heavens" she cried che has
! followed me, then"
so it appears
He is so cunning that never know
when | am safe from him. What will
he say when he returns?"
He must guard himself, for he may
find that there is some one more cum
ming than himself upon his track. You
must lock yourself up from him to-
night. If he is violent, we shall take
you away 10 your aunt's at Harrow.
! Now, We must make the best use of
our time, so kindly take US at once to
the rooms which we are to examine"
The building was Of gray, lichen-
| blotched stone, with a high central
portion, and two curving wings, like
the claws of a crab, thrown out on
each side. In one of these wings the
windows were broken, and blocked
with wooden boards, while the roof
was partly caved in, a picture Of ruin.
! The central portion was in little better
| repair. but the ,righthand block was
comparatively modern, and the blinds
in the windows, with the blue smoke
up from the chimneys, showed that
this was where the family resided.
Some scaffolding had been erected
against the end wall, and the stone
work had been broken into. but there
were no signs of any workmen at the
moment of our visit. Holmes walked
slowly up and down the ill-trimmed
lawn, and examined with deep at
tention the outsides of the windows.
This, l take it, belongs to the room
in which you used to sleep, the center
one to your sisters, and the one next
to the main building to DR.. Roylotts
chamber"
Exactly so. But I am now sleeping
in the middle one"
pending the alterations, as l I'M
derstand. By-the-way, there does not
seem to be any very pressing need for
repairs at that end wall"
There were none. I believe that
it was an excuse to move me from my
room"
All. that is suggestive. Now, on
the other side of this narrow wing
runs the corridor from which these
three rooms open. There are windows
in it, of course"
Yes, but very small ones. Too mar
row for any one to pass through"
LAS you both locked your doors at
night, your rooms We're unapproach-
able from that side. Now, would you
have the kindness to go into your room
and bar your shutters"
!. Miss Stoner did so. and Holmes,
after careful examination through
the open window, endeavored in every
way to force the shutter open. but
without success. There was no slit
through which knife could be passed
Ito raise the bar. Then with his lens