February 19, 15KH.
THE OMAIIA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
Return of Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
(Copyright, la. bv A. Conan Doyle and
Collier e Weekly )
(Copyright, 1906, by McClurc, rhillips & Co )
ROM the point of view of tho
criminal expert." said Mr. Eher
lock Holmes. "London hai be
come a singularly uninteresting
city since th death of the la to
lamcntd Prof. Moriarty."
"1 ran hardly think that you would find
many dncent cltlxena to agree with you,"
1 answered.
"Well, well, I must not be selfish," aaM
ho, with a amlle, aa he pushed back his
chair from the breakfsst table. "The com
munity la certainly the gainer, and no on?
the loaer, aave the poor out-of-work ape
clitllst, whoae occupation haa gone. With
that man In the field, one' morning paper
presented Infinite poslbilltles. Often It was
only the amallest trace, Watson, the faint
est Indication, end yet It was enough to
tell me that the great malignant brain
was there, as the gentlest tremors of the
edges of the web remind one of the foul
spider which lurks In the center. Petty
thefts, wanton assaults, purposeless out
rageto the man who held the clue all
rould be worked Into one connected whole.
To the scientific student tf the higher
criminal world, no capital In Europe of
fered the advantages which London then
roBRosaed. But now" He shrugged his
shoulders In humorous deprecation of the
tate of things which be had himself done
so much to produce.
At the time of . which I speak Holmes
bad been back for some months, and I at
bis request had sold my practice and re
turned to share the old Quarters In Baker
street. A young doctor, named Verner,
had purchased my small Kensington prac
tice and given with astonishingly little
demur the highest prloe that I ventured
to ask an Incident which only explained
Itself some years later, when I found that
Verner m a distant relation of Holmes,
and that It was my friend who had really
found the money.
Our months of partnership had not been
so uneventful as he had stated, for I find,
on looking over my notes, that this period
includes the case, of the papers of ex-President
Murlllo, and also the shocking affair
of the Dutch steamship Frlesland, which
so nearly cost us both our lives. His cold
and proud nature was always averse, how
ever, from anything In the shape of publlo
applause, and be bound me In the most
stringent terms to say no further word of
himself, his methods or his successes a
prohibition which, aa I have explained, baa
only now been removed.
Mr. Sherlock Holmes was leaning back
in his chair after his whimsical protest,
and was unfolding; his morning paper In
a leisurely fashion, when our attention was
arrested by a tremendous ring at the bell,
followed Immediately by a hollow drum
ming sound, as if someone were beating on
the outer door with his flat As It opened
there came a tumultuous rush Into the
hall, rapid feet clattered up the stair and
an instant later a wild-eyed and frantlo
young man, pale, disheveled and palpitat
ing, burst Into the room. He looked
from one to the other of us, and
under our gaae of Inquiry he became
conscious that some apology was needed
for this unceremonious entry.
"I'm sorry. Mr. Holmes," he cried. "You
musn't blame me. I am nearly mad. Mr.
Holmes, I am the unhappy John Hector
McFarlane."
He made the announcement as If the
name alone would explain both his visit
and his manner, but I could see, by my
companion's unresponsive face, that it
meant no more to him than to me.
"Have a cigarette, Mr. McFarlane," said
tie,t pushing his case across. "I am sure
that, with your symptoms, my friend Dr.
Watson would prescribe a sedative. The
weather has been so very warm these last
fow days. Now, If you feel a little more
composed, X should be glad If you would
sit down In that chair and tell us very
slowly and quietly who you are and what
It Is that you want. You mentioned your
name as If I should recognise It, but I
assure you that, beyond the obvious facts
that you are a bachelor, a solicitor, a Free
mason and an asthmatic, I know nothing
whatever about you." '
Familiar as I was with my friend's meth
ods, It was not difficult for' me to follow
his deductions, and to observe the untidi
ness of attire, the sheaf of legal paper,
the watch-charm and the breathing which
had prompted them. Our client, however,
stared in amazement.
"Yes, I am all that, Mr. Holmes; and. In
addition, I am the moat unfortunate man
at this moment in London. For heaven's
sake, don't abandon me, Mr. Holmes! If
they come to arrest me before I have fin
ished my story, make them give me time
so that I may tell you the whole truth.
I could go to gaol happy if I knew that
you were working for nie outside."
"Arrest you!" said Holmes. "This is
really i moat gratl most Interesting. On
what charge do you expect to be arrested?"
"Upon the charge of murdering Mr. Jonas
Olducre of Lower Norwood."
My compnnlon's expressive face showed
a sympathy which was not. I am afraid,
entirely unmixed with satisfaction.
"Dear me," said he, "it was only this mo.
mcnt at breakfast that I was saying to my
friend. Dr. Watson, that sensational cases
had disappeared out of our papers."
Our visitor stretched forward a quivering
hand and picked up the Dally Telegraph,
which atlll lay upon Holmes' knee.
"If you had looked at it, sir, you would
have seen at a glance what the errand Is
on which I have come to you this morning.
J feel as if my name and my misfortune
must be In every man's mouth." He turned
It over to expose the central page. "Here
it Is, and with your permission I will read
It to you. Listen to this, Mr. Holmes. The
bead-lines are: 'Mysterious Affair at Lower
Norwood. Disappearance of a Well-Known
Builder. Suspicion of Murder and Arson.
A Clue to the Criminal.' That is the clue
which they are already following, Mr.
Holmes, and I know that It leads Infallibly
to me. I have been followed from London
Bridge ctatlon, and I am sure that they
are only waiting for the warrant to arrest
me. It will break my mother's heart It
will break her heart!" He wrung his hands
In an agony of apprehension, and swayed
backwards and forwards In bis chair.
I looked with Interest upon this man, who
was accused of being the perpetrator of a
crime of violence. He was flaxen-haired
and handsomo, In a washed-out negative
fashion, with frightened blue eyes and a
cluan-ahaven face, with a weak, sonbltlve
mouth. His age may have been about 27,
bis dress and bearing that of a gentleman.
From the pocket of his light summer over
coat protruded the bundle of indorsed pa
pers which proclaimed his profession.
"We must use what time we have," said
Holmes. "Watson, would you have the
kindness to take the paper said to read
the paragraph In question T"
Underneath the vigorous head-lines which
our client had quoted, I read the following
suggestive narrative:
Late last ulght, or early this morning,
an Incident occurred nt Lower Norwood
which points. It la feared, to a serious
crlrnu. Mr. Jonas Olducre Is a well-known
resident of that suburb, where he has car
ried on his business as a builder for many'
year Mr. Olducre la a bachelor, 63 yettre
of ea'. and Uvea In Deep-Dane houso at the
fcvdenhum end of the road of that nume.
lie hum had the reputation of being a man
of ecceturlo hablta, secretive and retiring.
For soma years he has practically with
drawn from the business. In which he la
said to have auiaiiwd considerable wealth.
A small timber-vard still exists, however,
at the bark of the house, and last night,
about 13 o'clock, an alarm was given that
one of the stacks was i ll tire. The engines
ware aooit upon the wot. but tho dry wood
burned with great fury, and It was Im
possible to arreat the conflagration until
the stark had been entirely consumed. I'p
to this point the Incident bore the appear
ance of an ordinary accident, hut fresh In
dications seem to point to serious crime.
Surprise was expressed at the absence of
the master of the establishment from the
scene of the fire, and an inquiry followed,
which showed that he had disappeared from
the house. An examination of his room re
vealed that the bed had not hoen slept In,
that a safe which stood in It was open, that
a number of Important papers wire srat
tered about the room, and finally, that
there were signs of a murdererous strug
gle, slight traces of blood being found
within the room, and an oaken walking
stick, which also showed stains of blood
upon the handle. It Is known that Mr.
Jonas Oldrttre bad received a late visitor
In his bedroom upon that night, and the
stick found has been Identified as the prop
erty of this persnn, who Is a young London
solicitor named John Hector McFarlane,
junior partner of Graham k McFarlane, of
4M Uresham building, ri. C. The police be
lieve that they have evidence In their pos
session which supplies a very convincing
motive for the crime, and altogether it can
not be doubted that sensational develop
ments will follow.
Later It Is rumored as we go to press
that Mr. John Hector McFarlane has actu
ally been arrested on the charge of the
murder of Mr. Jonas Olducre. It Is at least
certain that a warrant has been Issued.
Therfe have been further and sinister de
velopments In the investigation at Nor
wood. Besides the signs of a struggle In
the room of the unfortunate builder It la
now known that the French windows of his
bedroom (which la on the ground floor)
were, found to be open, that there were
marks as if eome bulky object had ben
dragged across to the wood pile, and,
finally. It la asserted that charred remains
have been found among the charcoal aahos
of the fire. The police theory la that a
most sensational rr .ne has been committed,
that the victim was clubbed to death in his
own bedroom, his papers rifled, and his
dead body dragged across to the wood
stack, which was then ignited so aa to hide
an traces of the crime. The conduct of tho
criminal investigation has been left in the
experienced hands of Inspector Leatrade of
Scotland Yard, who is following up the
clues with his accustomed energy and sa
gacity. Sherlock . Holmes listened with closed
eyes and finger-tips together to Ills re
markable account.
"The case has certainly some points of
Interest," said he. In his languid fashion.
"May I ask, In tho first place, Mr. McFar
lane, how it is that you are Btill at liberty,
since there appears to be enough evidence
to Justify your arrest?"
"I live at Torrlngton Lodge, Blackheath,
With my parents, Mr. Holmes, but last
night, having to do business very late with
Mr. Jonas Oldacre, I stayed at an hotel In
Norwood, and camo to my business from
there. I knew nothing of this affair until
I was In the train, when I read what you
have just heard. I at once saw the horri
ble danger of my position, and I hurried
to put the case Into your hands. I hava
no doubt that I should have been arrested
either at my city office or nt my home. A
man followed me from London Bridge sta
tion, and I have no doubt great heaven!
What Is that?"
It was a clang of the bell, followed In
stantly by heavy steps upon the stair. A
moment later, our old friend Leatrade ap
peared In the doorway. Over his shoulder
I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed
policemen outside.
"Mr. John Hector McFarlane?" said Le
strade. Our unfortunate client rose with a ghastly
face.
"I arrest you for the wilful murder of Mr.
Jonas Oldacre of Lower Norwood."
McFarlane turned to us with a gesture of
despair, and sank Into his chair once more
like one who is crushed.
"One moment, Lestradc," said Holmes.
"Half an hour more or lees can make no
difference to you, and the gentleman was
about to give us an account of this very in
teresting affair, which might aid us In
clearing It up."
"I think there will b no difficulty In
clearing It up," said Lcblrade, grimly.
"None the less, with your permission, I
should be much Interested to hear his ac
count." "Well, Mr. Holmes, it is difficult for me
to refuse you anything, for you have been
of use to the force once or twice In the
past, and we owe you a good turn at Scot
land Yard," said Leatrade. "At the same
time I must remain with my prisoner, and
I am bound to warn him that anything he
may say will appear In evidence against
him."
"I wish nothing better," said our client.
"All I ask la that you should hear and
recognize the absolute truth."
Lestradn looked at his watch. "I'll give
you half an hour," said he.
"I1 must explain first." said McFarlane,
"that I knew nothing of Mr. Jonas Oldacre.
His name was familiar to me, for many
years ago my parents were acquainted with
him, but they drifted apart. I was very
much surprised, therefore, when yesterday,
about 3 o'clock In the afternoon, ho walked
Into my office In the city. But I was still
more astonished when he told me the ob
ject of his visit He had In his hand sev
eral sheets of a notebook, covered with
scribbled writing here they are and he
laid thorn on my table.
" 'Here la my will,' said he. 'I want you,
Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal
shape. I will sit here while you do so.'
"I set myself to copy It, and you can
Imagine my nstonlshment when I found
that, with some reservations, ha had left
all his property to me. Ho wna a strange
little ferret-like man, with white eyelashes,
and when I looked up at him I found his
keen, grey eyes fixed upon me with an
amused expression. I could hardly believe
my own senses as I read the terms of the
will; but he explained that he was a
bachelor with hardly any living relation,
that he had known my parents In his youth,
and that he had always heard of . mo as a
very deserving young man, and was as
sured that his money would be In worthy
hands. Of course, I could only stammer out
my thanks. Tho will was duly finished,
signed and witnessed by my clerk. This Is
It on tho blue paper, and theso slips, as I
have explained, axe the rough draft. Mr.
Jonas Oldacre then Informed me that there
were a number of documents building
leases, title deeds, mortgages, scrip and so
forth which It was necessary that I should
see and understand. Ho said that his mind
would not be . easy until tho whole thing
was settled, and he begged me to come out
to his house at Norwood that night, bring
ing the will with me, and to arrango mat
ters. 'Remember, my boy, not one word to
your parents about the affair until every
thing Is settled. We will keep It as n little
surprise for them.' He was very insistent
upon this point, and made me promise It
faithfully.
"You can Imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I
was not In a humor to refuse him any
thing that he might ask. He was my bone
factor, and all my desire was to carry out
his wishes In every particular. I sent a
telegram home, therefore, to say that I
bad Important business on hand, and that
it was Impossible for mo to any bow late
I might be. Mr. Oldacre had told me that
he would Uko me to have supper with him
at 9, as he might not be home before that
hour. I had some difficulty In finding bis
house, however, and It van nearly half
past before I reached It. I found him"
'One moment!" said Hulmos. "Who
opened the door?"
"A middle-aged woman, who was, I sup
pose, his housekeeper."
"And it was the, I presume, who men
tioned your name?"
"Kxaotly," said McFurlaue.
"Pray proceed."
McFarlane wiped his damp brow, and
then continued his narratlvo:
"I wus shown by thin woman ln(. u sit
ting rami, where a frugal supper Wus lall
out. Afterward, Mr. Jonas Oldacre led ma
Into his bedroom, in which there stood a
heavy safe. This he opened and took out
mm:-
f
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ite
5
1 il
"LOOK AT THAT WITH YOUR MAGNIFYING GLASS, MR. HOLMES."
a moss of documents, Which we went over
together. It was between 11 and 12 when
we finished. He remarked that we must
not disturb the housekeeper. Ho showed
me out through his own French window,
which had been open all this time."
"Was the blind down?" asked Holmes.
"I will not be sure, but I believe that It
was only half down. Yes, I remember how
he pulled it up In order to swing open the
window. I could not find my stick, and
he said, 'Never mind, my boy, I shall see
a good deal of you now, I hope, and I will
keep your stick until you come back to
claim it.' I left him there, the safe open,
and the papers made up in packets upon
the table. It was so late that I could not
get back to Blockheath, so I spent the
night at the Anerley Arms, and I knew
nothing more until I read of this horrible
affair in tho morning." '
Anything more that you would like to
ask, Mr. Holmes?" said Leatrade, whose
eyebrows had gone up once or twice dur
ing this remarkable explanation.
"Not until I have been to Blackheath."
"You mean to Norwood," said Lestrade.
"Oh, yes, no doubt that Is what I must
liave meant," said Holmes, with his enig
matical smle. Lestrade had learned by
more experiences than ho would care to
acknowledge that that razor-like brain
could cut throujrh that which was Impene
trable to him. I saw him look curiously
at my companion.
"I think I should like to have a word
with you presently, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,"
said he. "Now, Mr. McFarlane, two of my
constables are at the door, and there is a
four-wheeler waiting." The wretched young
man arose, and with a last beseeching
glance at us, walked from the room. The
officers conducted him to the cab, but Le
strade remained.
Holmes had picked up the pages which
formed the rough drift of tho will, and was
looking at them with the keenest Interest
upon his face.
"There are some points about that docu
ment, Lestrade, are there not?" said he,
pushing them over.
The official looked at them with a puz
led expression.
"I can read tho first few lines, and these
In the middle of the second page, and one
or two at the end. Those are aa clear as
print," said he, 'but the writing In be
tween Is very bad, and there are three
places where I cannot read It at all."
"Whaat do you make of that?" said
Holmes.
"Well, what do you make of it?"
"That it was written in a train. The
good writing represents stations, the bad
writing movement, and the very bad writ
ing passing over points. A scientific ex
port would pronounce at once that this was
drawn up on a suburban line, since nowhere
save In the immediate vicinity of a great
city could there be so quick a succession
of points. Granting that his whole Journey
was occupied in drawing up the will, then
the train was an express, only stopping
once between Norwood and London
Bridge."
Lestrade began to laugh.
"You are too many for me. When you
begin to get your theories, Mr. Holmes,"
said he. "How doea this bear on tho case?"
"Well, it corroborates tho young man's
story to the extent that the will was
drawn up by Jonas Oldacre iu his journey
yesterday. It is curious Is it not? that a
man should draw up so Important a docu
ment In so haphazard a fashion. It sug
gests that he did not think It was going
to be of much practical Importance. If a
man drew up a will which he did not in
tend ever to be effective, he might do
It so."
"Well, lie drew up his own death war
rant at the same time," said Lestrade.
"Oh, you think so?"
"Don't you?"
"Well, It Is quite possible, but the case
Is not clear to mo yet."
"Not clear? Well, if that isn't clear,
what could be clear? Here Is a young
man who learns suddenly that, If a certain
older man dies, he will succeed to u for
tune. What does he do? He says nothing
to anyone, but he arranges that he shall
go out on some pretext to see his client
that night. He waits until the only other
person iu the house is In bed, and then in
the solitude of the man's room he mur
ders him, burns his body in the woodpile,
and departs to a neighboring hotel. Tho
bloodstains In the room and also on the
Stick are very slight. It is probable that
he Imagined his crime to be a bloodless
one, and hoped that If the body were con
sumed it would hlldo all traces of tho
method of his death traces which, for
some reason, must have pointed to him. Is
not all this obvious?"
"It strikes me, my good Leatrade, as
being Just a trifle too obvious," said
Holmes. "You do not add imagination to
your other great qualities, but if you could
for one moment put yourself In the place
of thrs young man, would you choose the
very night after tho will had been made
to commit your crime? Would It not seem
dangerous to you to make so very close a
relation between tho two Incidents? Again,
would you choose an occasion when you
are known to be In the house, whon a
servant has let you In? An1, finally, would
you take the great pains to conceal tha
body, and yet leave your own stick as a
sign that you were the criminal? Confess,
Lestrade, that all this is very unlikely."
"As to the stick, Mr. Holmes, you know
as well as I do that a criminal Is often
flurried, and does such things, which a cool
man . would avoid. He was very likely
afraid to go buck to the room. Give me
another theory that would fit tho facts."
"I could very easily give you half a
dozen," said Holmes. "Here, for example,
is a very possible and even probable one.
I make you a free present of It. The older
man Is showing documents which are of
evident value. A passing tramp sees them
through the window, tho blind of which is
only half down. Exit the solicitor. Enter
the tramp! Ho seizes a stick, which he ob
serves there, kills Oldacre and departs after
burning tho body."
"Why should the tramp burn the body?"
"For the matter of that, why should Mc
Farlane?" "To hide some evidence."
"Possibly tha tramp wanted to hide that
any murder at all had been committed."
"And why did the tramp take nothing."
"Because they were papers that he could
not negotiate."
Lestrade shook his head, though It seemed
to mo that his manner was less absolutely
assured than before.
"Well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you may
look for your tramp, nnd while you are
finding him we will hold on to our man.
The future will show which la risht. Just
notice this point, Mr. Holmes: that so far
as we know, nono of the papers were re
moved, and that tha prisoner Is the ono
man in the world who had no reason for
removing them, since he was heir-at-law
and would come Into them In any case."
My friend seemed Btruck by this remark.
"I don't mean to deny that the evidence
Is In some ways very strongly in favor of
your theory," said he. "I only wish to
point out that thero are other theories pos
sible. As you say, the future will decide.
Good morning! I dure say that In tho
course of tho day I shall drop In at Nor
wood and see how you are getting on."
When the detective departed my friend
rose and mado his preparations for the
day's work with the ulert air of a man who
has a congenial tusk before him. .
"My firjit movement, Watson," said he, as
he bustled Into his frockcoat. "must, as I
said, be in the direction of Blackheath."
"And why not Norwood?"
"Beeausa we have In this case one singu
lar Incident coming close to tho heels of
another singular Incident. The police are
making the mistake of concentrating their
attention upon tho second, because it hap
pens to be the one which is actually crimi
nal. But It is evident to me that the log
ical way to approach the case is to begin
by trying to throw some light upon the
first Incident tho curious will, so suddenly
made, and to so unexpected an heir. It
may do something to simplify what fol
lowed. No my dear fellow, I don't think
you can help me. There 1 no prospect of
danger, or T should not dream of stirring
out without you. I trust that when I see
you In the evening I will be able to report
that I have been uble to do something for
this unfortunate youngster who has thrown
himself upon my protection."
It was late when my friend returned, and
I could sea by a glance at his haggard and
anxious face that tho high hopes with
which he had started had not been fuliilled.
For un hour he droned awuy upon hlM vio
lin, endeavoring to soothe his own ruffled
spirits. At last he flung down the Instru
ment and plunged Into a detailed account
of his misadventures.
"It's all going wrong, Wutsou all as
wrong us It can go. I kept a bold face be
fore Lentrade, but, upon my soul, I bellevw
that for onco the fellow la on the right
track and we are on the wrong. All my in
stincts are une way, and all the facts ait
the other, and I much rear that British
juries have not yet attained that pitch of
intelligence when they will give the pref
erence to my theories over Lestrade'a
facts.".
"Did you go to Blackheath?
"Yes, Watson, I went there, and I found
very quickly that the late lamented Old
acre was a pretty considerable blackguard.
The father was away in search of his
on. The mother was at home a little,
fluffy, blue-eyed person. In a tremor of fear
and indignation. Of course she would not
admit even the possibility of hla guilt.
But she would not express either surprise
or regret over the fate of Oldacre. On the
contrary, she spoke of hira with such bit
terness that she was unconsciously con
siderably strengthening the case of the
police for, of course, if her son had heard
her speak of the man In this fashion. It
would predispose him towards hatred and
violence. 'He waa more like a malignant
and cunning ape than - a human being,'
iald she, 'and he always was, ever slnoe he
was a young man.'
" 'You knew him at that time?" said I.
" 'Yea, I knew him well. In fact, he was
an old suitor of mine. Thank henven that
I had the sense to turn away from him
and to marry a better, if poorer, man. I
was engaged to him, Mr. Holmes, when I
heard a shocking atory of how he had
turned a cat loose In an aviary, and I
was so horrified at hlB brutal cruelty that
I would have nothing more to do with
him." She rummaged In a bureau, and pres
ently she produced a photograph of a wo
man, shamefully defaced and mutilated
with a knife. 'That Is my own photo
graph,' she aaid. 'He sent It to me In that
state, with his curse, upon my wedding
morning.'
" 'Well,' said I. 'at least he has forgiven
you now, since ha has left all his property
to your son.'
" 'Neither my son nor I want anything
from Jonas Oldacre, dead or alive! she cried
with a proper spirit. 'There Is a God In
heaven, Mr. Holmes, and that eame God
who has punished that wicked man will
bIiow, in His own good time, that my son's
hands are guiltless of hla blood.'
"Well, I tried one or two leads, but could
get at nothing which would help our hy
pothesis, and- several points which would
make agalnut It. I gave it up at lost and
off 1 went to Norwood.
"This place, Deep Dene house, Is a big,
modern villa of staring brick, standing
buck in its own grounds, with a laurel
clumped lawn In front of it. To the right
and some distance back from the road
was a timber yard which had been the
scene of the fire. Here's a rough plan on
a leaf of my note book. This window on
the left Is the one which opens into Old
acre's room. You can look into it from
the road, you see. That is about the only
bit of consolation I have had today. Les
trade was not there, but his head consta
ble did the honors. They had just found:
a great treasure trove. They had spent
tho morning raking among the ashes of
the burned woodpile, and besides the
charred organic remains they had secured
several discolored metal discs. I examined
them with care, and there was no doubt
that they were trousers buttons. I even
distinguished that one of them was murkod
with the name, of 'Hyiiniu,' who waa Old
acre's tailor. I then worked tha lawn very
carefully for signs and traces, but this
drought has made everything aa bard as
Iron. Nothing was to be aeon save that
somebody or .bundle had been dragged
through a low privet hedge which is In a
line with the woodpile. All that, of course,
tits In with the official theory. I crawled
about tho lawn with an August aun on my
back, but I got up at the end of an hour
no wiser than before.
"Well, after this fiasco I went Into the
bedroom and examined that also. The
blood stains wero very slight, mere smears
and discoloration, but undoubtedly fresh.
The stick had been removed, but there
also tho marks were slight. There Is no
doubt ubout the stick belonging to our
client. Ho admits It. Footmarks of both
men could be made out on the carpet, but
none of any third person, which again Is
a trick for the other side. They were pil
ing up their ycoro all the time and we were
at n standstill.
"Only ono little gleam of mope did I get
and yet It amounted to nothing. I exam
ined the contents of the safe, most of which
had been taken nut and left on the table.
The papers had been made up into sealed
envelopes, one or two of which had been
opmed by the police. They were not, so
far as 1 could Judge, of any great value,
cor did the bank book show that Mr. Old'
acre was In such very affluent circum
stances. But it seemed to me that all the
papers were not there. There were allu
alona to some deeds possibly the more val
uablewhich I could not find. This, of
course. If we could definitely prove It,
would turn Lestrade'a argument against
himself, for who would steal a thing If he
knew that he would shortly Inherit It?
"Finally, having drawn every other cover
and picked, up no scent, I tried my luck
with the housekeeper. Mrs. Lexington Is
ber name a little, dark, silent person, with
suspicious end sidelong eyes. She could
tell us something If she would I am con
vinced of It. But she was as cloae as wax.
Yes, she had 1st Mr. McFarlane in at 9:30.
She wished her hand bad withered before
she had done so. She had gone tt bed at
10:10. Her room was at the other end of
the house and she could hear nothing of
what passed. Mr. McFarlane had left his
bat and, to the best of her belief, hie stick
in the hall. She had been awakened by the
alarm of fire. Her poor, dear master had
certainly been murdered. Had ' he any
enemies? Well, every man had enemies,
but Mr. Oldacre kept himself very much
to himself and only met people in the way
of business. She had seen the buttons and
was sure that they belonged to the clothes
which he had worn last night. The wood
pllo was very dry, for It had not rained for
a month. It burned like tinder and by the
time she reached the spot nothing could be
seen but flames. She and all the firemen
smelted the burned flesh from Inside it.
She knew nothing of the papers, nor of
Mr. Oldacre's private affairs.
"So, my dear Watson, there's my report
of a failure. And yet and yet" He
clenched his thin hands In a paroxysm of
conviction. "I know It's all wrong. I feel
it in my bones. There Is something that
has not come out, and that housekeeper
knows it. There was a sort of sulky de
fiance in her eyes, which only goes with
guilty knowledge. However, there's no
good talking any more about It, Watson;
but unless some lucky chance comes our
way I fear that the Norwood disappear
ance case will not figure in that chronicle
of our successes which I foresee that a
patient publlo will sooner or later have to
endure."
"Surely," said I, "the man's appearance
would go far with any Jury?"
"That Is a dangerous argument, my dear
Watson. You remember that terrible mur
derer, Bert Stevens, who wanted ua to get
him off in '87? Was there ever a more
mild-mannered, Sunday-school young man?"
"It Is true."
"Unless we succeed In establishing an al
ternative theory thla man la lost. You
can hardly find a flaw in the case which
can now be presented against htm, and all
further investigation haa served - to
strengthen it. By the way. there Is ono
curious little point about those papers
which may serve us as the starting point
for an Inquiry. On looking over the bank
book I found that the low state of the
balance waa principally due to large
checks which have been made out
during the last year to Mr. Cor
nelius. I confess that I should be
Interested to know who this Mr. Cor
nellus may be with whom, a retired builder
has such very largo transactions. Is It pos
sible that he has had a hand In tho affair?
Cornelius might be a broker, but we have
found no scrip to correspond with these
large payments. Falling uny other indica
tion, my researches must now take the
direction of an Inquiry at tho bank for tho
gentleman who has cashed these checks.
But 1 fear, my dear fellow, that our case
will end Inglorlously by Lestrade hanging
our client, which will certainly be a triumph
for Scotland Yard."
I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes
took any sleep that night, but when I came
down to breakfast I found liim pale and
harassed, hla bright eyes the brighter for
the dark shadows round them. The carpet
round his chair was littered with cigarette
ends and with the early editions of the
morning papers. An open telegram lay upon
the tulile.
"What do you think of this, Watson?" lie
asked, tossing it across.
It waa from Norwood, and ran as follows:
"Important fresh evidence to hand. Me.
I'arlana's guilt definitely established. Ad
vice you to abandon case. Lestrade."
"This sounds serious," said I.
"It la Lent lade's little eock-a-doodle of
victory," Holmes answered, with a hitler
smile. "And yet it may be premature to
abandon I ho ease. After all, Important
frtsh evidence is a two-edged thing, and
may possibly cut la a vary different direc
tion to that which Lestrade Imagines. Take
your breakfaat. Watson, and we will go out
together and see what we can do. I feel as
If I ahall need your company and your
moral support today."
My friend had no breakfast bUnaelf, for It
waa one of his peculiarities that in hla more
Intense moments he would permit hlsnself
no food, and I have known him presume
upon hh Iroa strength until he haa fainted
from pure Inanition. "At present I cannot
spare energy and nerve force for dlgeatlon,"
he would say in answer to my medical
remonstrances. I waa not surprised, there
fore, when this morning he left bis un
touched meal behind him. and started with
me for Norwood. A crowd of morbid slght
srs were still gathered round Deep Dena
bouse, which was Just such a suburban
villa aa I had pictured. Within tho gates
I.fitrade met us. his face flushed with vic
tory, his manner grossly triumphant.
"Well. Mr. Holmes, have you proved us
to be wrong yet? Have you found your
tramp?" he cried.
"I have formed no conclusions whatever,"
my companion answered.
"But w formed ours yesterday, and now
It proves to be correct, so you must ae
knowledge that we have been a llttlo lit
front of you thla time. Mr. Holmes."
"You certainly have the air of something
unusual having occurred," said Holmes.
Letrad laughed loudly.
"You don't like being beaten any mora
than the rest of ua do," said ha. "A man
can't expect always to have It his own way,
can he. Dr. Watson? Step this way, If yott
please, gentlemen, and I thnk t can con
vince you once for all that It was John Mo
Farlane who did this crime."
He led us through tha passaga and out
into a dark hall beyond.
"This Is where young McFarlane must
have come out to get his hat after tha
crime was done," said be. "Now look a
this." With dramatic suddenness he struck!
a match, and by Its light exposed abstain
of blood upon the whitewashed walL
Aa he held tho match nearer. I saw that
It was more than a stain. It was tho well,
marked print of a thumb.
"Look nt that with your magnifying glass,
Mr. Holmes."
"Yea. I stti doing so." '
"You are awure that no two thumb-,
marks are alike?" ,
"I have heard something of tha kind."
"Well, then, w'll you please compare that
print with this wax Impression of young
MrFarlane's right thumb, taken by lay or
ders this morning?"
As be held the waxen print clooo to the
blood-stain. It did not take a magnifying
glass to ae that tho two were undoubtedly
from tho same thumb. It waa avid eat to .
me that our unfortunate client waa lost.
"That is final," said Leatrade,
ici, inti 10 iinai, iutuiuuii nj
echoed.
"It la final " aald Holmea.
Something In hla tone caaght Bay ear, '
and I turned to look at him. An ertraor- '
dlnary change had come over hla face. It
was writhing with Inward merriment Hla
two eyes were ahlnlng like stars. It
seemed to mo that he was making desper
ate efforts restrain a convulsive attack of
laughter.
"Dear me! Dear me!" ho said at last.
"Well, now, who would have thought it?"
And how deceptive appearances may bo, to
be sure! Such a nice young man to look
atl It ia a lesson to us not to trust our
own judgment, la It not, Leatrada?"
"Yea, soma of ua are a little too muoh In
clined to be cocksure, Mr. Holmes," aaid
Leatrade. The man's Insolence was mad
dening, but we could not resent It.
"What a providential thing that this
young man should , press hla right thumb
against the wall In taking hla hat from
the peg! Such a very natural action, too,
if you come to think of it." Holmes was
outwardly calm, but hla wholo body gave
a wriggle of suppressed excitement aa ho
spoke. "By the way, Leatrade, who made
this remarkable discovery?"
"It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington,
who drew the night constable's attention
to It."
"Where was the night constable?"
"He remained on guard in tho bedroom
where the crime was committed, so as to
see that nothing waa touched."
"But why didn't the police see this mark
yesterday?"
"Well, we hud no particular reason to
make a careful examination of the hall.
Besides, It's not iu a very prominent place,
as you see."
"No, no of course not. I suppose thero
la no doubt that tho mark waa thero yes
terday?" Leatrade looked nt Holmes as if ho
thought he waa going out of his mind. I
confess that I was myself surprised both
at his hilarious manner and at his rather
wild observation.
"I don't know whether you think that Mc
Farlane came out of gaol In tho dead of
the night In order to strengthen the evi
dence against himself," said Lestrade. "I
leave it to any expert in the world whether
that Is not tho mark of his thumb."
"It Is unquestionably the mark of hi
thumb."
"There, that's enough," said Lestrade. "I
am a practical man, Mr. Holmes, and when
I have got my evidence I come to my con
clusions. If you have anything to say,
you will find me writing my report In tho
sitting room."
Holmes had recovered bis equanimity,
though I atlll seemed to detect gleams of
amusement In his expression.
"Dear me, this is a very sad development,
WaUon, is it not?" said he. "And yet
there are singular points about It which i
hold out some hopes for our client."
"1 am delighted to hear it," said I
heartily. "I waa afraid it was all up WitU
him."
"I would hardly go so far as to say that,
my dear Watson. The fact la that thero la
one really serious flaw In this evideneo to
which our friend attaches so much Im
portance." "Indeed, Holmes! What la it?"
'Only this: that I know that the mark
was not there when I examined the hall
yesterday. And now, Watson, let us hava
a little stroll round In the sunshine,"
With a confused brain, but with a heart
Into which some of tho warmth of hope
was returning, I accompanied my friend in
a walk round the garden. Holmes took
each face of the house in turn, and ex
amined It with great Interest. He then
lod the way Inside, and went over tho
whole building from basement to attic.
Moat of the rooms were unfurnished, but
none tha leas Holmes inspected them all
minutely. Finally, on the top corridor,
which ran outside three untenanted bed
rooms, he again waa seized with a spasm
of merriment.
"There are really some very unique
features about this case, Watson," sold he.
"I think It' ia time now that we took our
friend Iestrado Into our confidence. He
has had his little smile at our expense,
and perhaps we may do aa much by him.
If my reading of this problem proves to
be correct. Yes, yes, I think I see how wo
should approach It."
Tha Ht-otland Yard inspector was still
writing in the parlor when Holmes inter
rupted him.
"i understand that you were writing a
report of this case," said he.
"Ho I am."
"Don't you think it may be a little pre
mature? I can't help thinking that your
evidence Is not complete."
Lestrade knew my friend too well to Ola-
tCuntluuoU on l'aga Elghl
