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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1905)
I HE Omaha CtUSTRATED B NUMBER 307. Kntered Fecond Cliisa at Omaha Postoffiee Published Weekly by Tfce Bee Publishing Co. Subscription," ?2.r0 IVr Yoar. A PHIL HO, tnOo. Return of Sherlock Holmes--The Adventurfe of the Abbey Grange Being the Inside Story of the Happy Solution of a Balding Murder Mystery by the Skillful Unravelling of Seemingly Insignificant Clues xn. (CoprrlStit by A. Conan Poyle and Colllwa Weekly.) (Copyrlsht, 1. by McClure, Phillip & Co- T WAS oh a bltteny "Dtl frosty morning, V J toward the end of the winter of '07, that I I V was awakened by a tugging at my shoulder. It was Holmes. The candle In his hands shone upon hla eager, stooping face and told me at a glance that something was amiss. "Oome, Watson, come!" be cried. "The Came is afoot Not a word! Into your clothes and cornel" Tan minutes later we were both In a cab and rattling through the silent streets on our way to Charing Cross station. The first faint winter's dawn was beginning to appear and we could dimly see the occasional figure of an early workman as he passed us, blurred and Indistinct In the opalescent London reek. Holmes nestled In silence Into hla heavy coat. i -2 CL II i n NEXT SUNDAY'S DEE. NEXT IN SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES THE ADVENTURE OF THE SECOND STAIN NEXT SUNDAY'S DEE. ANOTHER DIG ILLUSTRATED FEATURE IZl'SW.t! r FROM ELEANOR FRANKLIN'S LETTERS JAPAN INSIDE CLIMPSE8 BY AMERICA'S MOST ACCOMPLISHED WOMAN NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT. main reason lies in the one fact, which Is uoturious to everyone, and With a motherly tenderness the gutmt wouiuii put her arm round that Is that Sir Eustace was a confirmed drunkard. To be with such her mistress and led her from the room. a man for an hour is unpleasant Can you luiagiue what it uii'aus ''She has been with her all her life," said Hopkins. "Nursed her as and I was clad to do the same, for the air (or a sensitive and high-spirited woman to be tied to him for day and a baby, and (ame with nor to England when they first left Australia, i HE LAP OF BL1 coat-of-arms, pic- waa moat bitter and neither of ns had broken oar fast. It waa not until we bad consumed some hot tea at the station, and taken our places in the Kentish train, that we were sufficiently thawed, he to speak and I to listen. Ilolmes drew a note from his pocket and read it aloud: Abbey (Jranr. Marafcain, Kent, 1:80 a. m. Mr Dear Mr. Holmes: I should be very fled of your Immediate aslstance tn what promises to be a most remarkable case. It Is something quite in your line. Except for releasing; the lady I will see that every thin Is kept exactly a I have found it, but I beg you not to loae an Instant, as It Is 41 moult to leave 8Ir Busta.es there. IVura faithfully, STAN LETT HOPKINS. "Hopkins has called ma In seven times, and on each occasion his summons has been eltrely justl . lied," said Holmes. "I fancy that everyone of ls cases has found Its way Into your collection, and I must admit, Watson, that you have some power of selection, -which atones for mnch which I deplore in your narratives. Your fatal habit of looking at everything from the point of view of a story instead of as a scientific exercise has ruined what might have been an instructive and even classical series of demonstrations. You slur over work of the utmost finesse and delicacy, in order to dwell upon some sensational details which may excite but cannot possibly Instruct the reader." "Why do you not write them yourself?" I said, With some bitterness. "I will, my dear Watson, I will. At present I bin, as you. know, fairly busy, but I propose to Uovote my declining years to the composition of a text book, which shall focus the whole art of de tection into one volume. Our present research appears to be a case of murder." "You think this Sir Eustace is dead, then?' "I should say so. Hopkins' writing shows considerable agitation, and he is not an emotional jnan. Yes, I gather there has been violence and that the body is left for our inspection. A mere suicide would cot hava caused him to send for me,. As to the release of the lady, it would ap pear that she has been locked in her room during the tragedy.. We are moving In high life. Wat son, crackling paper, E. B.' monogram, turesque address. I think that friend Hopkins vwlll live up to his reputation and that we shall have an Interesting morning. The crime was committed before 12 last night." "How can you possibly tell?" "By an Inspection of the trains and by reckoning the time. The local police had to be called in, they had to communicate with Scot land Yard, Hopkins had to go out, and be in turn had to send for me. All that makes a fair night's work. Well, her we axe at Olilselhurst station, and we shall soon set oar doubts at rest." A drive of a couple of miles through narrow country lanes brought us to a park gate, which was opened for us by an old lodge keeper. whose haggard face bore the reflection of some great disaster. The avenue ran through a noble park, between lines of ancient elms, and ended In a low, widespread house, pillared In front after the fashion of Pallid to. The central part was evidently of great age and shrouded in ivy, but the large windows showed that modern changes had been carried out, and one wing of the house appeared to be entirely new. The youthful figure and alert, eager face of Inspector Stanley Hopkins confronted up in the open doorway. "I'm very glad you have come, Mr. Flolmea. And you, too, Dr. Wat i eon. But, indeed, if I had my time over agin, I should not have i troubled you, for since the lady has come to herself she has given so V, 'lear an account of the affair that there is not much left for us to do. v . Vl'ou remember the Lewisham gang of burglars 7" , V "Wht th thmut TJanilulla?" ' 'V "Exactly; the father and two sons. Ifs their wfjrk. I hare no oubt of it. They did a job at Sydenham a fortnight ago, and were seen and described. Rather cool to do another so soon and so near, but it is they, beyond all doubt It's a hanging matter this time." "Sir Eustace, is dead, then?" "Yes, his head was knocked in with his own' poker." "Sir Eustace Brackenstall, the driver tells me." "Exactly one of the richest men in Kent Lady Brackenstall is in the morning room. Toor lady, she has had a most dreadful experi ence. She seemed half dead when I saw her first I think you had best see her and hear her account of the facts. Then we will examine the dining room together." Lady Brackenstall was no ordinary person. Seldom have I seen so graceful a figure, so womanly a presence and so beautiful a face. Bho was a blonde, golden-hatred, blue-eyed, and would no doubt have had the perfect complexion which goes with such coloring had not her recent experience left her drawn and haggard. Her sufferings were physical as well as mental, for over one eye rose a hideous, plum-colored swelling, which her maid, a tall, austere woman, was bathing assldioqsly with vinegar and water. The lady lay back exhausted upou a couch, but her quick, observant gase, as we entered the room, anil the alert expression of her beautiful features showed that neither her wita nor her courage had been shaken by her terrible experience, b was eneveloped in a loose dressing gown of blue and silver, but a 'ack sequlm-covered dinner dress was hung upon the couch beside r. "I have told you all that happened, Mr. Hopkins," she said, wearily, ould you not repeat it for me? Well, if you think it necessary, I II tell these gentlemen what occurred. Have they been In the dln .ig room yet?" "I thought they bad better hear your ladyship's story first" "I shall be glad when you can arrange matters. It is horrible to ie to think of him still lying there." She shuddered and buried her face In her hands. As she did so the loose gown fell back from her forearms. Holmes uttered an exclamation. "You have other injuries, madam! What is this?: Two vivid red lotg stood out on one of the white, round limbs. She hastily cov ered it. "It Is nothing. It has no connection with this hideous business to night If you and your friend will sit down I will tell you all I ran. "I am the wife of Sir lDusta.ee Brackenwtall. I havs been married About a year. It suppose that It is no use my attempting to conceal that our marriage has' not been a happy one. T feer that all our .neighbors would tell you that, even if I were to attempt to deny it. Terhaps the fault may be partly mine. I was brought up In the freer, less conventional atmosphere of South Australia, and this English life, with its proprieties and Its primness. Is not congenlsl to me. But the I night? It Is a sacrilege, a crime, a villainy to hold that such a mar- eighteen months ago. Theresa Wright is her name, mid the kiud of rlage Is binding. I say that these monstrous laws of yours will bring maid you don't pick up nowadays. This way, Mr. Holmes, if you a curse upon the land God will .not let such wiekednes endure." For pleaae," The keen Interest had paused out of Mr. Iloluics' expressive face, and 1 knew that with the mystery nil the charm of the case had departed. There still remained an ar rest (o be effected, but what were these commonplace rogues that he should soil his hands wivb them? An obtrusc and learned specialist who finds that he has been called in for a case of measles would ex perience something of the annoyance which I read In my friend's eyes. Yet the scene in the dining room of the Abbey Grange, was sufficiently ptrango to arrest his atten tion and to recall his waning Interest. It whs a very large and high chamber, with carved oak celling, oaken paneling and a tine array of deer's heads and ancient weapons around Uie walls. At the further end from the door waa the high, French window of which he had ' heard. Thrco smaller windows uu the' rlglit-haud aida filled the apartment with cold, winter sun shine. Ou the left was a large, deep fire place, with a massive, overhanging oak man telpiece. Beside, the fireplace was a heavy oaken chair, with arms and crossbars at the bottom. - In and out through the open wood work was woven a crimson cord, which was secured at each side to the crossplece below. hp ' nltove the head and a heavv blackthorn stick lay across them. Ills dark, handsome, aquiline features were oonvulswi Into a spasm of vin dictive "hatred, which had set his dead face lu a terribly fiendish ex pression, lie had evidently been in his bed wheu the alarm had broken out. for be wore a foppish, embroidered night shirt, and his bare feet projected from his trousers. His head was horribly injured, and the whole room bore witness to the savage ferocity of the blow which bad struck hliu down. Beside him lay the heavy poker, bent Into a curve by the concussion. Holmes examined both it and the in describable wreck which it had wrought "lie must he a powerful man, this elder Randall," he remarked. "Yes." suld Hopkins. "I have some record of tho fellow, and ha ls a rough customer." . , , "You should have no difficulty in getting him." . "Not the slightest. We have been on the lookout for him, and there) was some Idea that he had got away, to America. Now that we know that the gang is here. I don't see how they can escape. We have th news at every seaport already, and a reward will be offered before, evening. What beats me 1s how they could have done so mad a thing, knowing that the lady could describe them and that we could not fall to recognize Uie description." 'Exactly. One would have expected that they would have silenced Lady Brarkcuxtall as well." "They may not have realized,"! suggested, "that she had recovered from her faint." "That Is likely enough. If he seemed to be senseless, they would not take her life. What about this poor fellow, Hopkins? I seem to have heard some queer stories about him." "He was a good -hearted inaa when he waa sober, but a perfect fiend when he was drunk, or rather when he was half drunk, for ho 6cldom really went the whole way. The devil seemed to be in him at such times, and he was capable of anything. From what I hear. In spite of oil his wealth and his title, he very nearly came our way onco or twice. There was n scandal about his drenching a dog with petroleum uud setting It ou fire-her ladyship's dog. to make matters worse and that was only hushed up with difficulty. Then he threw a decanter at that maid, Theresa Wright; there was trouble about that On the whole, and between ourselves, It will be a brighter house without him. What are you looking at now?" Holmes was down ou his knees, examining with great attention the kuots upou the red cord with which the lady had been secured. Then he carefully scrutinized the broken and frayed end, where it had snapped off wheu the burglar had dragged It down. "When this wax pulled down, the bell in th kitchen must have rung loudly." he remarked. "No one could hear it The kitchen stands right at the back of tlio house." "How did the burglar know no one could hear it? How dared he pull at a bell rope in that reckless fashion?" "Exactly, Mr. Holmes, exactly. You put the very question which t have asked myself again and again. There can be no doubt that this fellow must have known the house and its habits. He must hava per fectly, understood that the servants would all be in bed at that corn- tails only struck our attention afterwards; for our thoughts were entirely absorbed by the terriblo object which lay upon the tiger ekln hearthrug In front of the fire. It was the body of a tall, well made man, about. 40 years of age. He lay uimju his T lat back: exhausted upon x couch.' enveloped- m..'Aora;BASao:Gow iCE AND SILVER. : - .''"' ' 1 A v. IT an lntant she sat up, her cheeks flushed and her eyes blazing , from1 . under the terrible mark upon her brow. Then the strong, soothing hand of the austere maid drew her head down on the cushion, and the wild anger died away into passionate sobbing. At last she con tinued: ' , "I will tell you about hist night You are aware, perhaps, that in this house all tho servants sleep in the modern wing. This central block is made up of the dwelling, rooms, with the kitchen behind and our bed rooin above. My maid,. Thereat sleeps above my room. There is no one else, and no sound could alarm those who are In the farther wing. This must have been well known to the robbers, or they, would ' not have acted as they did. ...... "Sir Eustace retired about half-past 10. The servants had already gone to their quarters. - Only my maid was up, and she had remained " In her room at the top of the house until I needed her services. I sat until after 11 in this room, absorbed in abook. Then I walked round ' to see that ail was right before I went upstairs. It was my custom to do this myself, for, as I have explained, Sir Eustace was not always to be trusted. I went into the kitchen, the butler's pantry, the gun room, the billiard room, the drawing room and finally the dining room. As I approached the window, which is covered with thick curtains, I suddenly felt the wind blow upon my face and realised that It was open. I flung the curtain aside and found myself face to face with a broad-shouldered, eldgrly man, who had just stepped into the' room. The window is a long, French one, which really forms a door leading to tho lawn. I held my bed room candle lit in my hand, and, by its ' light behind the first man I saw two others, who were In the act of entering. I stepped back, but the fellow was on me in' an Instant He caught me first by the wrist and then by the throat I opened my mouth to scream, but he struck me a savago blow with his fist over the eye, and felled me to the ground. I must have been unconscious for a few minutes, for when I came to myself I found that they had torn down the bell rope and had secured me tightly to the oaken chair which stands at the head of the dining table. I was so firmly bound that I could not move, and a handkerchief round my mouth prevented mo from uttering a sound. It was at this Instance that my unfortunate husband entered the room. He had evidently heard some suspicious sounds, and he came prepared for such a scene as be found. He was dressed in his shirt and trousers, with his favorite blackthorn cudgel In his hand. He rushed at the burglar, but another it was an elderly man stooped, picked the poker out of the grate, and struck him a horrible blow as he passed. He fell with a groan, and never moved again. I fainted once more, but again it could only have been for a very few minutes during which I was Insensible. When Itopened my eyes I found that they bad collected the silver from the sideboard, and they had drawn a bottle of wiue which stood there. Each of them had a glass In his hand. I. have already told you, have I not, that one was elderly, with a beard, and the others yonng, hairless lads. They might have been a father with his two sons. They talked together in Whispers. Then they came over and made sure that I was securely bound. Finally they withdrew, closing the window after them. It was quite a quarter of an hour before I got my mouth free. When I did so, my screams brought the maid to my assistance. The other servants were soon alarmed, and we sent for the local police, who instantly communicated with London. That is really all that I ran tell you, gentlemen, and I trust that it will not be necessary for me to go over so painful a story again." , "Any questions, Mr. Holmes?" aked Hopkins. "X will not impose any further tax upon Lady Brackenstall' pa tience and time," said Holmes. "Before I go Into the dining room I should like to hear your experience." He looked at the maid, "I saw the men before ever they came Into the house," said she. "As I sat by my bed room wlndow( I saw three men in the moonlight down by the lodge gate yonder, but I thought nothing of it at the time. It was more than an bonr after that I heard my mistress scream, and down I ran. to fiud her, poor lamb, Just as she says, and him on the floor, with his blood and brains over the room. It was enough to drive a woman out of her wits, tied there, and ber very ' dress spotted with him, but she never wanted courage, did Miss Mary Fraser of Adelaide, and Lady Brackenstall of Abbey Grange hasnt learned new ways. You've questioned her long enough, you gentle men, aud now she Is coming to her own room, Just Willi her oil The resa, to get the rest that she badly needs." ' In releaslmr the lady tho cord had been slipped off her. but the knots with which it paratlvely early hour, and that no one could possibly hear a bell ring had been secured still remained. These do- in the kitchen. Therefore, he must navo neen in ciose league wun on of the servants. Surely that is evident Hut tnero are eignt servants, and all of good character." "Other things being equal," said Holmes, "one would suspect the one at whose head tho master threw a decanter. And yet that would involve treachery toward the mistress to whom this woman seems do voted. Well, well, tho point is a minor one, and when you have Ran- back, his faeo upturned, with his white dall you will probably find no difficulty in securing his accomplice. Iteetfc grinning through vEis , short, black .The lady's story certainly seems to be corroborated, If it needed cor- ' beard, 'vffikiwa clenched hanfts Were raised roboratlon, bjr every, detail before us." He walked to the French win- ' , ' dow and threw it open. "There are no signs here, "but the ground Is iron bard, and one would not expect to find them. I seo that these candles In the mantelpiece have been lighted." "Yos, it was by their tight, and that of the lady's bed room candle, that the burg lars saw their way about." "And what did they take?" "Well, they did not take much only half a dozen arti cles of plate off tho sideboard. Lady Brackenstall thinks that they were themselves so din. turbed by the death of Sir Eustace that they did not ran sack the house, as they would otherwise have done." "Ho doubt that Is true, and yet they drank some wine, I understand." "To steady their nerves. "Exactly. These three glasses upon the sideboard have been untouched, I sup pose.?" "Yes, and the bottle stands as they left it" "Let us look at It Halloa,, halloa! What is this?" The three glasses were grouped together, all of them tinged with wine, and one of them containing soma dregs of beeswing. The bottlekstood near them, two-thirds rail, and beside It lay a long, deeply stained cork. (Is Ap pearance and the dust upon the bottle showed that It was no common vintage which. the murderers had enjoyed, A change - came ovej Holmes' manner. He had lost his listless expression, and 1 again I saw an alert light of Interest In bis keen, deep-set eyes. He raised the cork and examined it minutely. "How did they draw itl he asked. Ilopklns pointed to a half opened drawer. In It lay some table linen and a. large corkscrew. "Did Lady Bracken say the corkscrew was used?" "No, you remember that she was senseless at the moment when the bottle was opened." "Quite so. As a matter of fact, that srrew was not used. This bottle was opened by a pocket hcrew, probably con tained In a knife, and not more than an Inch and a half long. If you will examine the top of the cork you will ol serve tint the screw was driven In three times before ' the cork was extracted. It 4HXRLOCK holmes EXAMINES the GLASSES has never bcea tnnt&xed. Ills ;;"- H4i3j.:-.r.r.. :.:'iyjh Ml Mj co
