The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-03
PART THREE

BY eleven o'clock the next day we
were well upon our way to the old
English capital Holmes had been
buried in the morning papers all the
way down, but after we had passed the
Hampshire border he threw them
down and began to admire the scene
ry. 1t was an ideal spring day, light
blue sky, fiecked with little feecy
white clouds drifting across from west
to east. The sun was shining very
brightly, and yet there was an ex-
hilarating nip in the air, which set an
edge to mans energy. All over the
countryside, away to the rolling hills
around Aldershot, the little red and
gray roofs of the farm-steadings peep
/ ed out from amid the light green of
the new foliage.
Are they not fresh and beautiful"
| cried, with all the enthusiasm of a
man fresh from the fogs of Baker
street.
! But Holmes shook his head gravely
! DO you know, Watson" said he.
that it is one of the curses of mind
with turn like mine that must look
at everything with reference to IL
own special subject. You look at these
scattered houses, and you are i'm
pressed by their beauty. 1 look at
them, and the only thought which
comes to me is a feeling of their
isolation and of the impunity with
which crime may be committed there. =
Good heavens" | cried. Who
would associate crime with these dear
old homesteads?
They always fill me with certain
horror. 1t is my belief, Watson, found
ed upon my experience, that the low
est and vilest alleys in London do not
present a more dreadful record of sin
than does the smiling and beautiful
countryside"
You horrify mel"
But the reason is very obvious.
The pressure of public opinion can do
in the town what the law cannot &C
complish. There is no lane so vile
that he scream of a tortured child, or
the thud of a drunkard's blow, does
not beget sympathy and indignation
among the neighbors, and then the
. whole machinery of justice is ever sc
close that word of complaint can set
it going, and there is but a step be
tween the crime and the dock. But
look at these lonely houses, each in
its own fields, filled for the most part
with poor ignorant folk who know
little of the law.
Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty
! the hidden wickedness which may &C
on, year in, year out, in such places
: and none the wiser Had this lady
| who appeals to US for help gone tc
: live in Winchester, l should never
: have had fear for her. 1t is the five
miles of country which makes the
danger. Still, it is clear that she is
, not personally threatened"
NO If she can come to Winches
: ter to meet us she can get away"
quite so. She has her freedom"
What can be the matter, then
: Can you suggest no explanation"
Il have devised seven separate ex
( plantations, each of which would cove
the facts as far as we know them
: But which of these is correct cal
| only be determined by the fresh in
:. formation which we shall no doub
1 find waiting for us. Well, there is tn,
, tower of the cathedral. and we shall
5 soon learn all that Miss Hunter hal
y to tell"
: The BLACK Swan" is an inn of re
9 from the station, and there we foun,
0 the young lady waiting for us. Sh
{ had engaged a sitting-room, and gu
lunch awaited us upon the table.
e II am so delighted that you hav
b come she said earnestly. at is S
!, very kind of you both: but indeed
s do not know what | should do. You
r advice will be altogether in valuabl
to me"
e Pray tell us what has happened t
It you"
Il will do so, and l must be quicl
for have promised Mr.. Rucastle to
back before three. | got his leave t
come into town this morning, thong
he little knew for what purpose"
4 Let US have everything in its du
order" Holmes thrust his long thi
legs out toward the fire and compose
himself to listen.
u In the first place I may say thu
IL | have met, on the whole, with n
e actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mr.
9 Rucastle. 1t is only fair to them I
le say that, and l am not easy in m
y mind about them"
u What can you not understand"
Their reasons for their conduc
But you sndll nave II all Just as
e occurred. When l came down, NJ
Y Rucastle met me here. and drove me
& his dogcart to the Copper Beeches.
g. is, as he said, situated beautifully, bl
IT, it is not beautiful in itself, for it is
large square block of house, whit
:, washed, but all stained and streake
= with damp and bad weather. Thel
e are grounds round it, woods on thre
It. sides, and on the fourth field whic
slopes down to the Southampton hig
road, which curves past about a hu
! dred yards from the front door TIL
IL ground in front belongs to the hous
of but the woods all round are part
We Lord Southerton's preserves. A clun
n of copper beeches Immediately
IT. front of the hall door has given /
o. name to the place.
| was driven over by my employe
al who was as amiable as ever, and W;