Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-19

came down."
You shut up the windows and Doors
the night before. Did you fastcn all the
windows?"
"Yes."
Were they all fastened this morn
ins2"
Eyes"
"You have q maid who has a sweet
heart? / think that you remarked to
your uncle last night that she had been
out to see him3"
eyes, and she was the girl who waited
in the drawing-room and who may have
heard uncle's remarks about the coronet.'
Il zee. You infer that she may have
gone out to tell her sweetheart, and that
the two may have planned the robbery"
"But what is the good Of all these
vague theories" cried the banker, i'm
patiently, when have told you that l
saw Arthur with the corone t in his
hands?"
'Wait n little, Mr.. Holder. We
must come back to that. About this
girl, Miss Holder You saw her return
by the kitchen door. / presumed"
"Yes; when went to see il the door
was fastened for the night l met her
slipping in. l saw the man, too, in the
gloom"
"Do you know him2"
"Oh yes; he is the green-grocer who
brings our vegetables round His name
is Francis Prosper"
"He STOOD" said Holmes, Ito the
left of the door-that is to say, farther
up the path than is necessary to reach
the door?"
Yes, he did,
"And he is man with wooden
leg?"
Something like fear sprang up in
the young lady's expressive black eyes.
Why You arc like magician" }" said she.
"How do YOU know thatP" She smiled,
but there was no answering smile in
Holmes thin eager face.
Il should be very glad now to go
upstairs" said he. 81 shall probably
wish to 60 over the outside Of the
house again. Perhaps had better take
look at the lower windows before /
go up"
He walked swiftly round from one
to the other, pausing only at the large
one which looked from the hall onto
tlle stdble idue. Il Ills iit cptiichi anu
made very careful examination of the
sill with his powerful magnifying lens.
Now we shall 60 upstairs" said he,
at last.
The bankers dressing-room was o
plainly furnished little chamber, with
gray carpet, large bureau, and 9
long mirror. Holmes went to the bureau
first and looked hard atithe lock.
(Which key was used TO open itT" he
asked.
THAT which my son himself indi
cated-that of the cupboard OF the
lumber-room."
Have you it here2"
THAT is it on the dressing-table,
Sherlock Holmes took il up anC
opened the bureau.
at is noiseless lock-" said he
''It is no wonder that it did not walk
you. This case, L presume, contain
the coronet. We must have look at it,
He opened the case and, taking out TIL
diadem, he laid il upon the table. II wa
a magnificent specimen Of the ieweler'
art. and the thirty-six stones were tn
finest that / have ever seen. At on
side of the coronet was a cracked edg
where corner holding three gems ha'
been torn away.
"Now, MIR. Holder" said Holmes
''here is the corner which correspond
TO that which has been 40 unfortuna ell
lost. Might beg that You will brea
it off"
The banker rccoiled in horror. q
should not dream of trying" said he
"Then / will" Holmes suddenl
bent his strength upon it, but withou
result. 81 feel It give little" said he
''but, though ] am exceptionally stron
in the fingers, it would take me all m
time to break it. An ordinary man coul
not do it. Now, what do you thin
would happen if ! did break it. MI
Holder? There would be noise like
pistol shot. Do you tell me that all thi
happened. within few yards OF you
bed, and that you heard nothing c
it?"
81 do not know what to think. ]
is all dark TO me-"
But perhaps it may grow Gghte
as we 60. What do you think, Mis-
Holder"
81 confess that still share my uncle
perplexity."
'Your son had no shoes or slippers G
E when YOU saw him?"
'He had nothing on save only h
trousers and shirt"
Thank YOU. We have certainly bee
|. favored with extraordinary luck durir
this inquiry, and it will be entirely Of
> own fault If we do not succeed In clearlr
the matter up. With your permissio
MIR. Holder, | shall now continue II
investigations outside"
He went alone, at his own reques
? for he explained that any Vnnecessal
footmarks might make his task mo
7 difficult. For an hour or more he was
work, returning at last with his ie
heavy with snow and his features
inscrutable as ever.
II think that I have seen now
that there is to see, Mr. Holder" sa
he. 81 can serve you best by retur'
ing to my rooms"
''But the gems, Mr.. Holmes. Whe
are they?"
81 cannot tell
The banker wrung his hands.
shall never see them againp he erie
"And my son? You give me hopes
MY opinion is in no way altered
Then, for Gods sake, what was Il
dark business, which was acted in II
house last night?"
| "If you can call upon me at n
| Bsker Street rooms tomorrow mol.
| ing between nine and ten / shall
| happy to do what ! can to make
clearer. ] understand that you gi'
| me carte blanche to act for you, pr
| vided only that ! get back the gem
| and that you place no limit on the su
| l may draw"
| II would give my fortune to ha
them back
'Very good. shall look into the matt
| baf uaon This and than CoodhNn. II