Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-11-01

the hand which had struck him down. 1t
was terrible household that Black
Peter Carey had made for himself,
and il was with sense Of relief that we
found ourselves in the sunlight again.
and making our way along n path
which had been worn across the fields
by the feet Of the dead man.
The clubhouse was the simplest of
dwellings, wooden-walled, shingle-
rooted, one window beside the door
and one. on the farther side. Stanley
Hopkins drew the key from the pocket
and had stopped to the lock, when he
paused with look of attention and sur
prise upon his face.
Someone has been tampering with
it," he said.
There could be no doubt of the
fact. The woodwork was cut, and
the scratches showed white through
the paint, "a if they had been that
instant done. Holmes had been ex-
amining the window.
Someone has tried to force this
also. Whoever it was has failed to
make his way in. He must have been
very poor burglar"
This is a most extraordinary thing"
said the inspector. II could swear that
these marks were not here yesterday
evening"
Some curious person from the
village, perhaps" | suggested.
Very unlikely. Few of them would
dare to set foot in the grounds, far less
try to force their way into the cabin.
What do you think of it, Mr.. Holmesr
IL think that fortune is very kind
to us"
you mean that the person will
come AGAIN.
ut is very probable. He came cx-
pccting to find the door open. He
tried to get in with the blade of a
very small penknife. He could not
manage it. What would he do?"
Come again next night with n
more useful tool"
If we are not there to receive him.
Meanwhile let me see the inside of the
cabin"
The traces of the tragedy had been
removed, but the furniture within the
little room still stood as it had been on
the night of the crime. For two hours,
with most intense concentration, Holmes
examined every object in turn, but his
face showed that his quest was not a sue
cessful one. Once only he paused in his
patient investigation.
Have you taken anything off this
shelf, Hopkins?"
"No, have moved nothing
Something has been taken. There
is less dust in this corner Of the shelf
than elsewhere. It may have been q
book lying on its side. II may have beer
box. Well, well, | can do nothing
more. Let us walk in these beautiful
woods, Watson, and give few hours tC
the birds and the flowers. We shall meet
you here later, Hopkins, and see if W,
can come to closer quarters with tn,
gentleman, who has paid this visit in thu
night"
II was past eleven O'Clock whel
we formed our little ambuscade. Hop
kins was for leaving the door Of the hu
open, but Holmes was of the opinion
that this would rouse the suspicion
of the stranger. The lock was perfect,
simple one, and only a strong blade wa
needed TO push it back. Holmes ais
suggested that we should wait, not in
side the hut, but outside it among tn
bushes which grew round the farthe
window. In this way we should be abb
to watch our man if he struck high
and see what his object was in thi
stealthy nocturnal visit.
1t was a long and melancholy vigi
and yet brought with it somethin
Of the thrill which the hunter feels whe
he lies beside the waterproof, and wait
for the coming of the thirsty beast c
prey. What savage creature was
which might steal upon us ont of tn
darkness? Was it a fierce tiger of Grim,
which could only be taken fighting har
with flashing fang and claw, or would
prove to be some skulking jacka
dangerous only to the weak and III
guarded
In absolute silence we crouche
amongst the bushes, waiting for wha
ever might come At first the steps Of
few belated villagers, or the sound
voices from the village, hghtened OF
, vigil, but one by one these Interruption
j died away and an absolute Stiffness fc
{ upon us. save for the chimes of Il
! distant church, which told us of Il
progress of the night, and for the rust
and whisper Of fine rain falling am
, the foliage which rooted us in.
y Tomorrow-The Adventure of
Black Peter, continued.