Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-10-07

The detective stared at the newcomer |
with blank amazemcnt The latter was
blinking in the bright light Of the cor
ridor, and peering at us and to the
smouldering fire. 1t was an odious
face crafty, vicious, malignant, with
shifty, light eyes and white lashes.
Whats this, thcn?" said Lestradc,
at last. "What have you been doing
all this time, eh?"
Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shr nix
ing back from the furious red face
of the angry detective.
81 have done no harm"
mo harm? You have done your best
to get an innocent man hanged. If 1t
wasn't for this gentleman here, | am
not sure that you would not have sue
ceeded."
The wretched creature began to
whimper.
Il am sure, sir, it was only my prac-
teal Joke"
ooh! joke was it? You wont find
the laugh on your side, l promise you.
Take him down, and keep him in the
sitting-room until come. Mr.. Holmes
he continued, when they had gone, II
could not speak before the constables,
but l don't mind saying in the pres
ence of DR.. Watson, that this is the
brightest thing that you have done yet,
though it is mystery to me how YOU
did it. You have saved an innocent
Oan's life, and YOU have prevented
very grave scandal, which would have
ruined my reputation in the force.
Holmes smiled, and clapped Lestrade
upon the shoulder.
Instead of being ruined, my good
sir, you will find that your reputation
has been enormously enhanced Just
make few alterations in that report
which you were writing, and they will
understand how hard it is to throw
dust in the YES of Inspector Lestrade."
And you don't want your name TO
appear
Not at all. The work is its own re-
ward. Perhaps | shall get the credit
also at some distant day, when l per-
NIT my jealous historian to lay out his
foolscap once morc-eh. Watson2 Well,
now, let us see where this rat has been
lurking"
A lath-and- plaster partition had been
run across the passage SIX feet from
the end, with door cunningly con-
cealed in il. II was list within by Sits
under the caves. 4 few articles of
furniture, and a supply of food and
water were within, together with a
number of books and papers.
| There's the advantage of being a
builder" SAID Holmes, as we came out,
| He was able TO fix up his own little
| hiding-place without any confederate
save, of course that precious house
keeper of his, whom | should lose no
time in adding to your bag, Lcstrade.
| III take your advice. But how did
you know of this place, Mr.. Holmes?
Il made up my mind that the fellow
was in hiding in the house. Which |
paced one corridor and found it six
| feet shorter than the corresponding
he was. l thought he had not the nerve
to lie quiet before an alarm OF fire.
We could, of course, have gone IN and
taken him out but it amused me to
make him reveal himself, besides, !
owed You little mystihcation, Les
trade, for Your chaff in the morning.
We'll, sir, you certainly got equal
with me on that. But how in the world
did YOU know that he was in the house
at all?'
The thumb-mark. I.cstradc You
said it was final; and so 1t was, in
very different sense. ! knew it had
not been there the day before. ] pay a
good deal of attention TO matters OF
detail, as YOU may have observed, and
had examined the hall, and was sure
that the wall was clear Therefore, it
had been put on during the night
But how"
Every simply. When those packets
were sealed up. Jonas Oldacre got
McFarlane to secure one of the seals
by putting his thumb upon the soft
wax. 1t would b done so quickly and
so naturally that ! dare say the young
man himself has no recollection of II.
Very likely it just SO happened and
Oldacre had himself no notion of the
use he would put it to. Brooding over
the case in that den of his it suddenly
struck him what absolutely daming
evidence he could make against McFar-
lane by using that thumb-mark. 1t was
the simplest thing in the world for HIM
10 take q wax impression from the
seal. to moisten it in as much blood as
he could get from pin-prick, and TO
put the mark upon the wall during the
night. either with his own hand or with
that of his housekeeper. If you exam
inc among those documents which he
took with him into his retreat, l will
lay you a wager that YOU find the seal
with the thunb-mark upoD 1t.
Wonderful said Lestrade. "Won.
derful, It's all as clear rs crystal. as
YOU put il. But what is the object OF
this deep deception, Mr.. Holmes"
1t was amusing TO me TO see how the
detectives overbearing manner hao
changed suddenly 10 that OF a child
asking questions OF its teacher.
We'll. / don't think that is very hare
TO explain. A very deep. malicious
vindictive person is the gentleman who
is now waiting US do wnstairs. You
know that he was once refused by
McFarlane's mother? You don't!
told you that you should go TO Black
heath first and Norwood afterwards
Well, this injury, rs he would consider
Well, this injury, as he would consider
il, has ranked in his wicked, schemint
brain, and all his life he has longed FOL
vengeance, but never seen his chance
During the last wear or two, thing
have gone against hIm-secret specula
ton, | think--and he finds himself in ;
bad way. He determines TO swindl'
his creditors, and for this purpose h
paws large checks TO certain Mr.
Cornelius, who is, ] imagine, hlmsel
under another name. ! have not traced
these checks vet, but ] have no doubt
that they were ba nked under that name