Newspaper Page Text
m* I wis I •mC: Vs- ft: 8£: I1 & 4$ VM* t'r PS®? ^$i'r t: I v-fH /, CW Sk *r K'' tfcrA 1 f&.v C£s "Return of SHERLOCK O ME S By A. CON AN DOYLE,, Author of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,** "The Hound of the Baskervillcs." "The Sign of the Four," "A Study In Scarlet," Etc. Tke Adveiviure of the Norwood Builder No. 2 of the Series (Cl&f*ight, 190}, by A. Co nan Doyle and Collier't Weekly.) (Copjmqhty 1905, by McClure, Phillips Sf Co.) the point of view oC the crimiual expert," said Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "London has become a singularly uninteresting city since the death of the late lamented Pro fessor Moriarty." "I can hardly think that you would find many decent citizeus to agree with you," I answered. "Well, well. I must not he selfish." said he,.with a smile as he pushed back his chair from the breakfast table. "The community is certainly the gain er and no one the- loser save the poor out-of work specialist, whose occupa tion has gone. With that man in the field one luoruing paper presented in finite .possibilities. Ofteu it was only tW Smallest trace, Watson, the faint est indication, and yot it was enough to tell me that the great malignant brain was there, as the gentlest tre mors of the eflges of the \vH remind one of the foul spider which lurks in the center, rett.v thefts, wanton assaults, purposeless outrage—to the man who held (he clew all could be worked .into «ne connected whole. To the sol student of the higher criminal world no capital in Europe offered the advantages which London then pos sessed. But now"— He shrugged his shoulders in humorous deprecation of Copyright by Collier's Weekly. OUR 'UftlTbRTUNATK CLIENT ROSIfl, WITH A GHASTLY FACE. the state of things which he had him self done so much to'produce. At the time of which I speak, Holmes had been back for some months, aud I at his request had sold my practice and returned to share the old quarters in Baker street. A young doctor nam ed Verner had purchased my small Kensington practice and given with astonishingly little demur the highest price that I ventured to ask—au inci dent which only explained itself some lime later when I found that Verner was a distant relation of Holmes and "that It was my friend who had really found tho money. Our mouths 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 Murillo, and al so the shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Frieslaud, which so nearly cost us both our lives. His cold aud proud nature was always averse, how ever, to anything in the shape of public applause, and he bound me in the moat stringent terms to say no further word of himself, his methods or his suc cesses—a prohibition which, as I have explained, has only now been removed. Mr. Sherlock lijiuies was ijauing back in his chair after his whimsical protest and was unfolding his moruing paper la a leisurely fashion when our atten tion was arrested by a tremendous ring At the bell, followed immediately by a liollow drumming sound, as if some one were beating on the outer door with his fist. As it opened there cane a tumultuous rush into the hall, rapid feet clattered up the stair and an instaut later a wild eyed and fran tic fotuig man, pale, disheveled and palpitating, burst into the room. He looked Xrom one to the other of us, aud under our gaze of inquiry he became conscious that some apology was need ed for tills unceremonious entry. "I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes," he cried. "You mustn't blame me. I am nearly mad. Mr. Holmes, I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane." ILLUSTRATED BY F. D. STEELE He made the announcement as if the name abue .would explain both his visit and its 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. MeFarlane," said he, pushing his case across. "I am sure that with your symptoms my friend Dr. Watson here would pre scribe a sedative. The weather has been so very warm these last few days. Now, if you feel a ilttle more composed I should be glad if you would sit down in that chair and tell us very slowly and quietly who you are aud what it is that you want. You men tioned your name as if I should recog nize it, but I assure you that beyond tho obvious facts that you are a bach elor, a solicitor, a Freemason and an asthmatic I know nothing whatever about you." Familiar as I was with my friend's methods, it was not difficult for me to follow his deductions and to observe the untidiness of attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch charm and the breathing which had prompted them. Our client, however, stared in amaze ment. "Yes, I am all that, Mr. Holmes, aud iu addition I am the most unfortunate man at this moment in London. For heaven's sak don't abandon me. Mr. Holmes! II' they come to arrest me be fore 1 have finished my story make them give me time"so that I may tell you the whole truth. I could go to jail happy if I knew that you were working for me outs ie." "Arrest you!" said Holmes. "This is really most grati—most interesting. On what charge do you ?s^oct to lie ar rested "Upon the charge of murdering Mr. Jonas Oldacre of Lower Norwood." fi My companion's expressive face showed a sympathy which was not, I am afraid, entirely unmixed with sat isfaction. "Dear uie,". said he, "It was only this moment at breakfast that was say ing to my friend Dr. Watson that sen sational cases had disappeared out of our paners." Our visitor stretched forward a quiv ering hand and picked up the Daily Telegraph, which still lay upoti Holmes' "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 moruing. I feel as if my name and my misfortune must be in every man's mouth." He turued It over to expose the central page. "Here it is, and with your permission wi!'. read it to you. Listen to this, Mr. Holmes. The headlines are: 'Mysteriou Affair at Lower Norwood. Disappear ance of a Well Known Builder. Sum picion of Murder and Arson. A Clew to the Criminal.' That Is the clew which they are already following, Mr. Holmes, and I know that it leads in fallibly to me. I have been followed from Loudon Bridge station, and I am sure that they are only waiting for the warrant to arrest me. It vyili break my mother's heart—it will break her heart!" He wrung his hands iu an agony of apprehension and swayed backward and forward in hi:? chair. I looked with interest upon this man who was accused of being the perpe trator of a crime of violence. He was flaxen haired and handsome, In a wash ed out negative fashion, with frighten ed blue eyes and a clean shaven face, with a weak, sensitive mouth. His age may have been about twenty-seven, his dress and bearing that of a gentleman. From the pocket of hiq light summer overcoat protruded the bundle of in dorsed papers which proclaimed his profession. "We must use what time we have," said Holmes. "Watson, would you have the kindness to take, the paper and to read the paragraph fn Tiues tion?" T'nderneath the vigorous headlines which our client had quoted read the following suggestive narrative: I/.ito last niqrht or early this morning an Incident occurred at LOWT Norwood which prvints. it is feared, to a serious orlme. Mr Jonas Oldacre is a well known resident of that suburb, where he has car ried on his business as a builder for many years. Mr. Oldacre is a bachelor, tifty two years of a?\ and lives in Deep Dene House at the Sydenham end of the road of that name. He has had the reputation of beinEr a man -of eccentric habits, se cretive and retiring. For some years ho has practically withdrawn from the busl D'ss in which he is said to have amassed considerable wealth. A small timber yard still exists, however, at the. back of the house, and last night, about 12 o'clock, an alarm was given that one of the stacks was on fire. The engines were soon upon the spot, but the dry wood burned with great fury, and it was impossible to ar l'"st the conflagration until the stack had been entirely eonsumed. Up to this point the incident bore the appearance of :r ordinary accident, but fresh indication seem to point to serious crime. Surprise was expressed at the absence of the mas ter of the establishment from the scerin of the fire, and an inquiry followed, which showed that he had disappeared from tho lions*. Ah examination of his room re vealed that the bed had not been slept in, that a safe which stood in it was open, that a number of important papers wero scattered about the room and finally that there were signs of a murderous struggle, slight traces of blood being found within the room, anil an oaken walking stick which also showed stains of blood upon the handle. If. is known that Mr. Jonaa Oldacre had received a late visitor in his bedroom upon that night, and the stick found has been identified as the property of this person, who is a young London solicitor named John Hector McFarlane, junior partner of Graham a McFar ?ilne of 42ii Grusham buildings, E. C. Tho police believe that they have evidence in their possession which supplies a very convincing motive for the crime, and al together it cannot bo doubted that sensa tional developments will follow. L,ater.—rt Im rumored as we go to press that John Hector McFarlane has actually been arrested'on the charge of the murder of JOnas Oldacre. It is at least certain that a warrant has been issued. There have been further and sinister develop ments in the investigation at Norwood, l.esides tho signs of a struggle in the room of the unfortunate builder il is now known that the French windows of his bedroom (which is on the ground floor) wore found to bo open, that thorn were marks as if some bulky object had been dragged across to the wood pile, and finally it is asserted that charred re mains have been found among the char coal ashes of the lire The police theory is that a most sensational crime 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 as to hide all traces of. the crime. Tho conduct of (he criminal investigation has been left in the experienced hands of in spector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, who Is following up the clews with his accus tomed energy and sagacity. Sherlock Holmes listened, with closed eyes and linger tips together, to this re markable account. "The case has certainly some points of interest." said he in his languid fashion. "May I ask, iu the tirst place, Mr. McFarlane, how it is that you are still at liberty, since there appears to be enough evidence to justify your ar rest?" "I live at Torrington Lodge, Black heath, with tny parents, Mr. Holmes, but last night, having to do business very late with Mr. Jonas Oldacre, stayed at a hotel in Norwood and came 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 hor rible danger of my position, and I hur ried to put the case into your hands. I have no doubt that I should have been arrested either at iny city office or at tny home. A man followed me from London Bridge station, aud I have no doubt— Great heaven! What is that?" It was a clang of the bell, followed instantly by heavy steps upon the stair. A moment later our old friend Lestrade appeared in the doorway. Over his shoulder I caught a glimpse of one or two uniformed policemen outside. "Mr. John Hector McFarlane?" said Lestrade. Our unfortunate client rose, with a ghastly face. "I arrest you'for the willful murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre of Lower Norwood." McFarlane turued to us with a ges ture of despair and sank into his chair ouce more like oue who is crushed. "One moment, Lestrade," said Holmes. "Half an hour more or less can make no difference to y'ou, and the gentleman was about to give us an ac count of this very interesting affair which might aid us in clearing it up." "I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up," said Lestrade grimly, "Noue the less, with your permis sion, I should be much interested to hear his account." (To be continued.) 15 IS Extra Long Feed your hair nourish it give it something to live on. Then it will stop falling, and will grow long and heavy. Ayer's Hair Vigor is the only hair-food you can buy. For 60 years ifj^has been doing just what we claim it will do. It will not disappoint you. My hair used to be very short. Bat after using A.yer'4 Hair Vi«or it short time it began to (?row, and now it fourteen inches long. This seems a splendid rejult to me after being almost without any hair."— MBS. J. H. FnrBR, Colorado Spring,. Colo. Kada by J.C. Ayer Co., tovtll, BlUpti, ill •o m&nufiwturtre of sarsapahlu. Au ijers PILLS. CHB8XV PPCTOSAL. M. M. Bradbury, Propr. EmAidLlAliilAAA.i The Place to Go Tk Case Corset A woman's eye is critical as to lines. W& DEMPSTER ih motlckvl on ri/ hl liru*H—»'!« cornet in ilsi'lf. WVur a untl whi» will up* provo. Th« Ltompxtor «h.i|Xund color HKiitunl nun urn! w^iMier. Tluirw'rt no iHu*r hut for Mio mom'*'— no tnau nct*il« a Iwttfrat $3.00 Hold by C. C. KEIMIMING Hwci'l. iiiMiipHUti* & ^J.'hi/iitfo, Mulcon*. Kodofl Dyspepsia Cur® Oiiioats what you eat. WHY COOK AT HOA© When The Palace Bakery can supply you with n- BREAD, HOT ROLLS, CAKES, PIES, Cookies, Delicatessen At Less Cost than Summer Cooking and without your having' any work, worry or over-heating? Give us an order and stop sweating over a hot stove. 4 EVERY DAx, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31,1905 Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Through Tourist Sleepers every day. Double berth $5.75 from Missouri River SHORT LINE. FAST TRAINS. NO DELAYS. Inquire o( E. L. LOMAX, Gen'l Pass, and Tkt. Agt. Uiilou Pacific Railroad, 0alalia. Neb. is the place where you get your money back if every thing is not all right. E. c. CHarnberiiti, The Jeweler is that kind of a fellow. is the Best Corset made. We have the exclusive sale in Crawford County. Bus, Cab and Transfer Line J. MELTON, Pi-op. CALLS MADE TO ANY PART OF THE CITY BAGGAGE. TO AND FROM THE DEPOTS Prompt Attention to Transfer Business Business Gonductod. 1 The Palace Bakery SARACHON S I S E S Call 'Bus Barn' I Either phone RBBBBHSKan L. M.SHAW, PRES. C. F. KUEHNLE, V-PBES. C. L. VOSS CASH. BINE OF DENI8CM. Long and Short Time Loans at Lowest Rates. Interest paid on Time Deposits flCCOUIJTS OF ALL SflfllJCMES OF BUSINESSCONOUCTED Personal attention given to investments for local patrons. ed in English or German. SHAW, SIMS & KUEHNLE. LAWYERS Real Estate Loans at Lowest Rates Business Conduct-