The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-26
TODAYS INSTALNIENT.

Sherlock Holiness prophecy was soon fulfilled, and in a dramatic fash ion. At half-paSt seven next morn ing, in the first dim glimmer of day light. I found him standing by my bedside in his dressing-room.
 There's a brougham waiting for us, Watson" said he.
 Whats the matter, then ?"
 The Brook Street business.
 Amy fresh news?"
 Tragic. but ambiguous,' said he, pulling up the blind. Look at this a sheet from a notebook with For Gods sake come at once-P. T., scrawied upon it in pencil, our IT when he wrote this. Come along, my dear fellow, for it's an urgent call.'
 In quarter of an hour or S7 we were back at the phySician's house. He came running out to meet us with
 "Oh. such a business" he cried, with his hands to his temples.
 .Blessington has committed sui cide!"
 Holmes whistIed-
 ''Yes, he hanged himself during
 We had entered, and the doctor had preceded us into what was evl. dently his waiting-room.
 1T really hardly dy kn1w !1;3,t what what am am already upstairs It has shaken me dreadfufy.''
 When did you find it out?"
 He has a cup of tea taken into him early every morning. When the maid entered about seven, there the unfortunate fellow was hanging in the middle of the room. He had tied his cord to the hook on which the heavy lamp used to hang. and he jumped off from the top of the very box that he showed us yesterday.
 Holmes stood for a moment in deep thought.
 with our permision." asid he at last. "I should like to go upstairs and look into the natter
 We both ascended. followed by the doctor.
 It was a dreadful sight which met us as we entered the bedroom door. l have spoken of the impression of flabbineSS which this man Blessing ton conveyed. As he dangled from the hook it was exaggerated and in tensified until he was scarce human in his appearance The neck was drawn out like a. plucked chicken S, making the rest of him seem the more obese and unnatural by the contrast. He was clad only in his long night dress, and his swollen ankles and un- beneath it. Beside him stood a smart looking po1ice-inspector, who was taking notes in a, pocketbook.
 'Ah, MT. Holiness said he heartily, as my friend entered, 'I am delighted to see you"
 ed Holmes; you won't think me an intruder, am sure. Have you heard of the events which led up to this . affair.""
 'Yes, heard something of them'
 Have you formed any opinion?''
 'As far as I can see the man has slept in, you see. There's his i'm pression, deep enough. It's about five in the morning, you know, that Ds would be about his time for hanging himself. It seems to have been a very deliberate affair.
 "I should say that he has been dead about three hours. judging by the rigidity of the muscles said I.
 Noticed anything peculiar about the room?" asked Holmes.
 Found a screw-driver and some screws on the wash-hand stand. Seems to have smoked heavily during the night, too Here are four cigar ends that I picked out of the fire place."
 his cigar-hoIder?'
 "No, have seen none."
 "His cigar-case, then ''
 '-Yes, it was in his coat-pocket."
 Holmes opened it and smelled the single cigar which it contained
 "Oh, this is an Havana, and these others are cigars of the peculiar sort which are Imported by the Dutch from their East Indian colonies. They are usually wrapped in straw, you know, and are thinner for their length than any other brand" He picked up the four ends and examined them with his pocket-lens.
 1.-TWO of these have been smoked from a holder and two without" said he 1.-TWO have been cut by a not very sharp knife. and two have had the ends bitten off by a set of excel lent teeth. This is no suicide. MT Lanner It is a very deeply planned and cold-blooded murder"
 '.Impossiblei" cried the inspec- tor.
 And why?"
 why should any one murder @