Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-09

true import. i went 10 DcVOnshre
with the conviction that Fitzroy Simp--
son was the true culprit, although, OF
course, saw that the evidence against
him was by no means complete. IL was
while | was in the carriage, Just as VIC
reached the trainers house, that the inn
mensc significance of the curried NUT
ton occurred to me. You may remember
that / was distrait, and remained
sitting after you had all nlighted. i was
marvelling in my own mind how could
possibly have overlooked 80 obvious
a clue"
Il confess" said the Colonel, that
even now | cannot see how it helps
us"
1T was the first link in my chain
of reasoning Powdered opium is by no
means tasteless The flavor is not dis
agreeable, but it is perceptible. Were
it mixed with any ordinary dish the
cater would undoubtedly detect IT,
and would probably eat no more. A
curry was exactly the medium which
would disguise this taste. BY no possible
Supposition could this stranger, FitIroy
| Simpson, have caused curry To he served
in the trainers family that night, and
| 1t is surely too monstrous coincidence
to suppose that he happened to come
along with powdered opium upon the
very night when a dish happened to he
served which would disguise the flavor.
That is unthinkable. Therefore Simpson
becomes eliminated from the case, and
our attention centers upon Straker and
his wife. the only two people who could
have chosen curried mutton for supper
I that ,.,,hs Tho W added nffcr
the dish was set aside for the stable-boy,
for the others had the same for supper
with no i'll effects. Which of them, then,
had access TO that dish without the
maid seeing them?
Before deciding that question had
graspcd the significance of the silence
of the dog, for one true inference invarl-
ably suggests others. The Simpson
incident had shown me that n dog was
kept in the stables, and yet, though
some one had been in and had fetched
out horse. he had not barked enough
tn arouse the two lads IN the lott.
Obviously the midnight visitor was
some one whom the dog knew well.
Il was already convinced, or almost
convinced. that John Strakcr went dowr
10 the stables in the dead of the night
and took out Silver Blaze. For what
purpose? For dishonest one. obviously
or WHY should he drug his own stable
boy? And vet | was at loss To know
why. There have been cases beior'
, now where trainers have made surc
of great sums of money by layini
| against their own horses, through agents
| and then preventing them from winning
bv fraud. Sometimes IT Is a pulling
Jockey, Sometimes II is some sure
and suGtler means. What was IT here
| | hoped that the contents of his pocket
, might help me 10 form conclusion.
And they did SO. You canno
have forgotten the singular knife whicl
was found in the dead mans hand.
, knife which certainly no sane maj
! would choose for q weapon. II was
! A. DR.. Watson told us. form of knit
which is used for the most delicate opera
tiOns known in surgery. And IT was e
be used for a delicate operation tha
! night You must know, with YOU
wide experience OF turf matters, Colone
. Ross. tha; il Is possible TO make Sigh
nick upon the tendons oi horses han
J and to do 1t simultaneously, so as I
! leave absolutely no trace. \ horse :
I treated would develop a slight lameness
u which would he put down to a strain j
exercise or touch of rheumatism, hu
u never TO foul play
"Nillsini Scoundrel!' cried the COX
= mel.
n We have here the explanation {
J. WHY John Straker wished to tax
the horse out onto the moor So spiri,e
creature would have certainly rouse
the soundest of sleepers when II fe
{ the prick of the knife. IL ws
absolutely necessary TO do 1t in h
l open air
: Il have been blindr' cried III
= Colonel. "Of course that was why
= needed the candle, and struck Il
- match
Undoubtedly. But in examinir
) his belongings / was fortunate enoug
y TO discover not only the method OF tf
- crime. hut even its motives. As q man {
y the world. Colonel. YOU know that me
= do not carry other peoples bills about
~ their pockets. We have most OF I
i quite enough 10 do to settle our Owl
u / at once concluded that Straker ws
leading a double life, and keeping
- second establishment The nature
~ the bill showed that there was lady
= the case, and one who had expensi,