Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-06

at a neat little red-brick villa with
overhanging caves which stood by the
road. Some distance off, across pad
dock, lay n long gray-tiled out-building
In every other direction the low curves
of the moor, bronze-colorcd from the
fading ferns, stretched away to the
skyline, broken only by the stecples
of Tavistock, and by cluster of houses
AWAY to the westward which marked
the Mapleton stables. We all spru &
out with the exception of Holmes, WI,
continued 10 lean back with his eyes
fixed upon the sky in front of him,
entirely absorbed in his own thoughts.
IL was only when | touched his arm
that he reused himself with a violent
start and stepped out of the carriage.
Excuse me-" said he, turning TO
Colonel Ross, who had looked 1T him
IN some surprise. Il was day-dreaming.
There was n CLEAN in his eyes and n
Impressed cxcitem, mt in his manner
which convinced me- Us d as was TO his
ways, that his hand was upon a clue,
+, though | could not imagine where he
had found it,
Perhaps YOU would prefer at once
10 60 on to the scene Of the crime,
Mr.. Holiness" said Gregory.
II think that i should prefer to
stay here little and go into one or
two question of detail. Straker was
brought here, i presumed"
| Yes; he lies upstairs. The inquest
Is tomorrow.
He has been in your service some
years, Colonel Ross?"
Il have always found him an ex-
| ccllcnt servant"
Il presume that YOU made an in
vrntory of what he had in his pockets
It the time OF his death. Inspector
Il have the things themselves in
he sitting-room, il you would care TO
zee them"
Il should he very glad" We all
led into the front room and sat round
he central table while the Inspector
Unlocked a square tin box and laid a
mall heap of things before us. There
vas box of vestas, two inches OF tallow
candle, an A ID L brier-root pipe, a
Jouch of seal-skin with half an ounce OF
.ong-cut Cayendish, silver watch
with gold chain, five sovereigns in
gold, an aluminium pcncil-case, n few
papers, and an ivory handled knife
with very delicate, inncNible blade
marked Weiss x Co, London.
This is very singular knife, y
said III, lines, lifting it up and exam
ming IL minutely. II presume as
| see blood-stains upon IL, that il is
the one which was found in the dead
mans grasp. Watson, this knife i:
surely in your line?'
1T is what We call cataract kni fe,
said !.
Il thought So. A very delicat,
blade devised for very delicate work
\ strange thing for man 90 carr,
with hig upon rough expedition
especially as it would not shut in hi,
pocket"
The tip was guarded by disl
Of cork which we found beside In
body" said the Inspector. His wifi,
tells us that the knife had lain upoI
the dresSing-tablc, and that he haC
picked it UP as he left the room. IL wa,
poor weapon, but perhaps the bcs
that he could lay his hands on at thu
moment
Very possibly. How about thes'
papers
Three of them arc receipted hay
dealers accounts. One Of them j
q letter Of instructions from Colone
Ross. This other is a milhners &C
count for thirty-sevcn pounds fifteel
made out by Madame Les,irier o
Bond Street, 10 William ID erbyshire
Mrs. Straker tells us that Derbyshir
was a friend Of her husbands and tina