Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-07
TODAY'S INSTALMENT.

He was fine creature, this man
of the old English soil--simple straight,
and gentle, with his great, earnest blue
ewes and broad, comely face. HIS love
for his wife and his trust in her shonc III
his features Holmes had listened TO his
story with the utmost attention, and
now he sat for some time IN silent
thought
Don't YOU think, Mr.. Cubitt," said
he. at last, that your best plan would
he To make direct appeal to your
wife, and to ask her to share her secret
with vou?'
Hilton Cubitt shook his massive head.
a promise is promise, Mr.. Holmes
If Elsie wished TO tell me she would.
If not, it is not for me to force her con-
fidcnce. But | am justified III taking
my own line and will.
Then | will help YOU with all my
heart In the first place, have YOU
heard of any strangers being seen IN
your neighborhoosd?'
No"
Il presume that it is very quiet
place. Any fresh face would cause
comment
In the immediate neighborhood, yes.
But we have several small Watering
places not very far away. And the
farmers take in dodgers
These hicroglyphics have cNld, ntly
n meaning. If ii Is 4 purely arbitrary
one. 1t may hc impossible Tor Us to
solve 1t. If, on the other hand, It Is
Systematic. | have no doubt that We
shall get to the bottom of IL. But tins
particular SAMPLE is 50 short that |
can do nothing and the facts which
You have brought me are so lndChmte
that we have no basis for an invCstlga-
tIou. would suggest that YOU return
80 Norfolk. that YOU keep keen look
0ut, and that YOU take an exact copy
oi any fresh dancing men which may
appear 1t is a thousand pltlcs that
we have not reproduction Of those
which were done i'll chalk upon The
window-slll. Make n discreet irurry
also rs to any strangers IN the neigh
horhood. When YOU have collected
some fresh evidence, come In me again
That is the best advice which ] car
give YOU, Mr.. Hilton Cubitt. If there
are any pressing fresh developments
! shall he always ready TO run dowI
and SEQ YOU in vour Norfolk home
The interview left Sherlock Holmes
very thoughtful, and several times IL
the next few days saw him take hi,
slip of paper from his notebook anC
look long and earnestly AT the curious
figures Inscribed upon it, He made
no almsion 10 the affair however, until
one afternoon fortnight or so later
! was going out when he called me
hack.
You had better stay here, Watson.
Why"
Because l had n wire from Hilton
Cubitt this morning You remember
Hilton Cubitt. of the dancing mon? He
was TO reach Liverpool Street at one
twenty. He may he here at any mo-
ment gather from his wire that there
have been some new incidents OF I'M
portanCe'
We had not long 10 wait, for on
Norfolk squire came straight from th'
station as fast as q hanson coulC
bring him. He was looking worried
and depressed, with tired eyes and ;
lined forehead.
Its getting on my nerves. this busi
moss, Mr.. Holmes said he, as h'
sank. like n wearied man. into an arm
chair Its bad enough TO feel tha
vou arc surrounded by unseen, I'M
known folk. who have some kind O
design upon YOU but when, in addi
ton to that, YOU know that it IS jus
killing Your wife by inches, then i
becomes AS much as flesh and blooc
can endure She's wearing away unde
it-just wearing away before my eyes.
Has she said anything yet?"
NO. Mr. Holmes, she has not. AM
vet there have been times when tn
poor girl has wanted TO speak. and We
could not quite bring herself to tax
tho plunge. ! have tried to help hel
but dare say ! did it clumsily, an
scared her from it, She has spoke
about my old family, and Our reputatio
in the county, and our pride in ou
unsullied honor, and | always felt
was leading TO the point, but some
how it turned off before we got there "