The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-04
The Adventure Of the Copper Beeches
BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Copyright 1921 Bros Published by
with The Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

after the child was in bed, began to
amuse myself by examining the furni-
ture Of my room and by rearranging
my own little things. There was an
old chest of drawers in the room. the
Two upper ones empty and open. the
lower one locked. had filled the first
TWO with my linen, and, as / had still
much to pack away l was naturally
annoyed at not having the use of the
third drawer. 1t struck me that 1t
might have been fastened by a mere
oversight, SO I took out my bunch of
Keys and tried to open it, The very
nrst Key fitted to perfection, and /
drew the drawer open There was only
one thing in it, but am sure that you
would never guess what it was. It
was my coil of hair.
L took it up and examined it. 1t
was of the same peculiar tint, and the
same thickness. But then the impossi-
oility of the thing obtruded itself upon
me. How could my hair have been
locked in the drawer? With trembling
hands undid my trunk, turned out the
contents, and drew from the bottom
my own hair. laid the two tresses
! together, and | assure you that they
were identical. Was it not extraordin-
airy? Puzzle as would. | could make
nothing at all of what it meant re-
turned the strange hair to the drawer,
and said nothing of the matter to the
Rucastles, as I felt that / had put
myself in the wrong by opening a
drawer which they had locked.
4 am naturally observant as you
may have remarked Mr.. Holmes. and
i soon had a pretty good plan of the
whole house in my head There was
one wing. however. which appeared
not to be inhabited at all A door
which faced that which led into the
quarters of the Tollers opened into
this suite, but it was invariably locked
! one day. however, as / assembled the
: stair, | met Mr.. Rucastle coming out
through this door. his keys in his hand
and look on his face which made hin
, very different person to the round
Jovlal man to whom was accustomed
HIS cheeks were red, his brow wa!
!; all crlnkled with anger, and the vein.
stood out at his temples with passion
He locked the door and hurried pas
, me without word or a look
This aroused my curiosity; so whel
i went out for walk in the ground
with my charge l strolled round t.
; the side from which | could see tn,
windows of this part of the house
, There were four of them in a row
three of which were simply dirty
: while the fourth was shattered III
They were evidently all deserted. A
! strolled up and down, glancing a
! them occasionally, Mr.. Rucastle cam
out to me, looking as merry and jovia
q as ever
e All. said he, you must not thin
n me rude If passed you without wor
e my dear young lady. l was preocc,
e pied with business matters
4 assured him that l was not O
;. tended. By-the-way.' said I, you seel
t to have quite suite of spare room
up there, and one of them has til
4 shutters up
. He looked surprised, and, as
i. seemed to me, little startled at m
:, remark.
r Photography is one of nv ho1
a Dies, said he. I have made nv dar
Q room up there. But, dear me. VIII;
I an observant young lady we. hay
/, come upon. Who would have believe
II IT? Who would have ever believed it
: He spoke in a testing tone, but thel