The Sunday Oregonian., August 13, 1905, PART FOUR, Page 39, Image 39

V
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAtf, PORTIAND, AUGUST 13, 1905.
39
The Adventure of the
Speckled Band
ON glancing over my notes of (ha
seventy-odd cases In -which I have
during the last eight years stud
led the methods of my friend Sherlock
Holmes, I And many tragic, some comic,
a large number of merely strange, but
none commonplace; for, -working as h
did, rather for the love of his art than
for the acquirement of wealth, he re
fused to associate himself -with any
investigation which did not tend to
ward the unusual and even the fan
tastic Of all these varied cases, how
ever, I cannot recall any which pre
sented more singular features - than
that which was associated with the
well-known -Surrey family of he Roy
lotts of Stoke Moran. The events in
question occurred in the early days of
my association with Holmes, when we
were sharing rooms as bachelors In
Baker street. It is possible that I
might have placed them upon record
before, but a promise vof secrecy was
made at the time, from which I havo
only been freed during the last month
by the untimely death of the lady to
whom the pledge was givon. It is per
haps as well that the facts should now
come to light, for I have reasons to
know that there are widespread ru
mors as to the death of Dr. Grimesby
Roylott which tend to make the matter
even more terrible than the truth.
It was early in April in the year '83
that I woke one morning to find Sher
lock Holmes standing, fully dressed,
by the side of my bed. He was a late
riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the
mantelpiece showed me that It was
only a quarter past seven I blinked up
at him in some surprise, and perhaps
lust a littlo resentment, for I was my
self regular in my habits.
"Very sorry to wake you up, "Wat
son," said he, "but it's the .common lot
this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been
waked up, she retorted upon me, and
I on you."
"What is it, then a Are 7"
"No; a client. It seems that a young
.lad has arrived In a considerable
state of excitement, who insists upon
seeing me. She is waiting now in the
sitting-room. Now, when young ladies
wander about the metropolis at this
hour of the morning and knock sleepy
people out of their beds, I presume that
it is something very pressing which
they have to communicate. Should it
prove to be an interesting case you
would, I am sure, wish to follow it
from the outset. I thought, at any
rate, that I should call you and give
you the chance."
"My dear follow, I would not miss it
for anything."
I had no keener pleasure than in fol
lowing Holmes in his professional in
vestigations and in admiring the rapid
deductions, as swift as intuitions, and
yet always founded on a logical basis,
with which he unraveled the problems
which were submitted to him. I rapid
ly threw on my clothes, and was ready
In a few minutes to accompany my
friend down to the sitting-room. A
lady dressed In black and heavily veil
ed, who had been sitting In the win
dow, rose as we entered.
"Good morning, madam," said
Holmes, cheerily. "My name is Sher
lock Holmes. This is my intimate
friend and associate. Dr. Watson, be
fore whom you can speak as freely as
before myself. Ha! I am glad to see
that Mrs. Hudson has had the good
.sense to light the fire. Pray draw up
to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot
coffee, for I observe that you are shiv
ering." "It is not cold which makes me
shiver," said the woman in a low voice,
changing her seat as requested.
"What, then?"
"It Is fear, Mr. Holmes. It 1b tor
ror." She raised her veil as she spoke,
and we could see that she was Indeed
In & pitiable state of agitation, her face
all drawn and gray, with restless,
frightened eyes, like those of some
hunted animal. Her features and fig
ure were those of a woman of 30, but
tor hair was shot with premature
feray, and her expression was weary
end haggard. Sherlock Holmes ran
her over with one of his quick- allf
comprehensive glances.
"You must not fear," said he. sooth
ingly, bending forward and patting her
forearm- "We shall soon set matters
fight, I have no doubt Tou have come
in by train this morning, I soe."
Tou know me, then?'
"No; but I observe the second half
of a return ticket In the palm of your
left glove. Tou must have started
early, and yet you had a good drive in
a dogcart along heavy roads, before
you reached the station."
The lady gave a violent start and
etared In bewilderment at my com
panion. "There is no mystery, my dear mad
am," said he, smiling. "The left arm of
your jacket is spattered with mud in
no leBs than Beven places. The marks
are perfectly fresh. There is no vehi
cle save a dogcart which throws up
mud in that way. and then only when
you sit on the left-hand side of the
idrlver."
"Whatever your reasons may be, you
are perfectly correct," she said. "I started
from home before 6. reached leather
head at 20 past, and came in by the first
train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this
strain no longer; I shall go mad if it
continues. I havo no one to turn to
none, save only one, who cares for me
and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid!
I have heard of you. Mr. Holmes; I have
heard of you from Mrs. Farlntosh, whom
you helped in the hour of her sore need.
It was from her that I had your address.
Oh, sir, do you not think that you could
help me, too, and at least throw a little
light through the dense darkness which
surrounds mo? At present it is out of
my power to reward you for your services,
bu in a month or six weeks I shall be
married, with the control of my own In
come, and then at least you shall not find
me ungrateful."
Holmes turned to his desk and, un
locking it, drew out a small casebook,
which he consulted.
"Farlntosh," said he. "Ah, yes! I recall
the case; it was concerned with an opal
tiara. I think it was before your time.
Watson. I can only say, madam, that I
Bhall be happy to devote the same care
to your case as I did to that of your
frisnd. As to reward, my profession is Its
own reward; hut you are at liberty to de
fray whatever expenses I may be put to.
at the time which suits you best. And
now I beg that you will lay before us
everything that may help us In forming
an opinion upon the matter."
"Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very
horror of my situation lies in the fact
that my fears are so vague and my sus
picions depend so entirely upon small
points which might seem trivial to an
other, that even he to whom, of all others,
I have a right to look for help and ad
vice looks upon all that I toll him about
it as the fancies of a nervous woman. He
does not say so, but I can read it from
his soothing answers and averted eyes.
But I have hoard. Mr. Holmes, that you
can see deeply Into the manifold wicked
rTie .of the human heart. You may ad
vise me how to walk amid the dangers
which encompass me."
"I am all attention, madam."
"My name is Helen Stoner, and I am liv
ing with my stepfather, who is the last
survivor ofone of the oldest Saxon fami
lies in England, the Roylotts of Stoke
Moran, on the western border of Surrey."
Holmes nodded his head. "The name is
familiar to me," said he.
"The family was at one time among
tho richest in England, and the estates
extended over the borders into Berkshire
In the north and Hampshire In the west.
In tho last century, however, four suc
cessive heirs wero of a dissolute and
wasteful disposition, and tho family ruin
was eventually completed by a gambler
in the days of the Regency- Nothing was
left save a few acres of ground and the
DOO-year-old house, which is itself crushed
under a heavy mortgage. The last squire
dragged out his existence there, living
tho horrible life of an aristocratic pauper;
but his only son, my stepfather, seeing
that ho must adapt himself to the now
conditions, obtained an advance from a
relative which enabled him to take a
medical degree and went over to Calcutta,
where, by his professional skill and his
foroe of character, ho established a largo
practice. In a fit of anger, however,
caused by some robberies which had been
perpetrated in the house, he beat his
native butler to death and narrowly es
caped a capital sentence. As it was, ho
suffered a long term of imprisonment and
afterward returned to England a morose
and disappointed man.
"When Dr. Roylott was In India he mar
ried my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the young
widow of Major-General Stoner. of tho
Bengal Artillery. My sister Julia and I
were twins, and we wore only two years
old at the time of my mother's remar
riage. She had a considerable sum of
money not less than DOCK) a year and
this she bequeathed to Dr. Roylott en
tirely while we resided with him. with a
provision that a certain annual sum
should bo allowed to each of us In tho
event of our marriage. Shortly after our
return to England my mother died she
was kllled'clght years ago in a railway
accident near Crewe. Br. Roylott then
abandoned his attempts to establish him
self, in-practice in London and took us to
live with him in the old ancestral house
at Stoke Moran. The money which my
mother had left was enough for all our
wants, and there seemed to be no ob
stacle to our happiness.
"But a terrible change came over my
stepfather about this time. Instead of
making friends and exchanging visits with
our neighbors, who had at first been over
Joyed to see a Roylot or Stoke Moran back
In the old family seat, he shut hlmsolf up
In his house and eoldom came out, save
to indulge In ferocious quarrels with
whoever might cross his path. Violence of
temper approaching to mania has been
hereditary in tho men of the family, and
in my stepfather's case It had, I believe,
been Intensified "by his long residence in
the tropics. A series of disgraceful brawls
took place, two of which ended in the
Police Court, until at last ho became the
terror of the village, and the folks would
fly at his approach, for ho Is a man of
Immense strength and absolutely uncon
trollable in his anger.
"Last week he hurled the local black
smith oven a parapet into a stream, and
it was only hy paying jiver all the money
which I could gather together that I was
able to avert another public exposure. He
had no friends at all save the wandering
gypsies, and he would, give these vaga
bonds leave to encamp upon the few
acres of bramble-covered land which rep
resented the family estate, and would ac
cept In return tho hospitality of their
tents, wandering away with them some
times for weeks on end. He has a pas
sion also for Indian animals, which are
sent over to hhn by a correspondent, and
ho has at this moment a cheetah and a
baboon, which wander freely over his
grounds, and aro feared by the villagers
almost as much as thoir master.
"You can imagine from what I say
that my poor sister Julia and I had no
great pleasure In our lives. No servant
would stay with us, and for a long time
we did all the work of the house. She
was but thirty at the time of her death,
and yet her hair had already begun to
whiten, even as mine has."
"Your sister Is dead, then?"
"She died but two years ago, and It Is
of her death that I wish to speak to you.
You can understand that, living tho life
which I have described, we were little
likely to seo any one of our own age
and position. We had, however, an aunt,
my mother's maiden sister. Miss Honorla
Wcatphall, who lives near- Harrow, and
we were occasionally allowed to pay short
visits at this lady's house. Julia went
there at Christmas two years ago and
met there a half-pay major of marines,
to whom she became engaged. My step
father learned of the engagement when
my sister returned and offered no objec
tion to the marriage; but within a fort
night of the day which had been fixed
for tho wedding the terrible event occur
red which has deprived me of my only
companion."
Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back
in his chair with his eyes closed and
his head sunk in a cushion, hut he half
opened his lids now and glanced across
at the visitor.
"Pray, be precise as to details," said
he.
"It Is easy for me to be so, for every
event of that dreadful time Is seared Into
my memory. The manor-house Is, as I
have already said, very old, and only one
wing is now Inhabited. The bedrooms la
this wing are on the ground floor, the alt
tingrooms being in the central block of
tho buildings. Of these bedrooms the first
is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's
and tho third my own. There is no com
munication between them, but they all
open into the same corridor. Do I make
myself plain 7"
"Perfectly so."
"The windows of the three rooms open
out -upon the lawn. That fatal night Dr.
Roylott had gone to his room early,
though we knew that he had not retired
to rest, for my sister was troubled by the
smell of the strong Indian cigars which It
was his custom to smoke. .She left her
room, therefore, and came into mine,
where she sat for some time, chatting
about her approaching wedding. At 11
o'clock she rose to leave me. but she
paused at the door and looked back.
" Tell me, Helen said she, Tiave you
ever heard anyone whistle In the dead of
the night?'
"Never said I.
" I suppose that you could not possibly
whistle, yourself. In your sleep?
" '.Certainly not. But why r
" 'Because during the last few nights I
have always, about 3 In the morning,
heard a low. clear whistle. I am a light
sleeper, and It has awakened me. I can
not tell where it came from perhaps from
tho next room, perhaps from the lawn.
I thought that I would Just ask you had
you heard It
" 'No, I have not. It must be those
wretched gypsies in the plantation.'
" "Very likely. And If it were on the
lawn. I wonder that you did not hear it
also
" 'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than
you
" 'Well, It is of no great consequence,
at any rate.' She smiled back at mo.
closed my door, and a few moments later
I heard her key turn in the lock.
"Indeed!" sold Holmes. "Was it your
custom always to lock yourselves in at
nlghtr
"Always."
"And why?"
"I think that I mentioned to you that
the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon.
We had no feeling of security unless our
doors were locked."
"Quito- so. Pray proceed with your
statement."
"I could not sleep that night A vague
feeling of Impending misfortune Impressed
me. My sister and I, you will recollect,
were twins, and you know how subtle
tho links which bind two souls which are
so closely allied. It was a wild night.
The wind was howling outside, and the
rain was beating and splashing against
the windows. Suddenly, amid all tho hub
bub of the gale, there burst forth the wild
cream of a terrified woman. I knew that
it was my sister's voice. I sprang from
my bed, wrapped a shawl round me and
rushed into the corridor. As I opened
my door 2' seemed to bear a low whistle,
such as my sister described, and a few
moments later a clanging sound, as if a
mass of metal had fallen. As I ran down
the passage my sister's door was un
locked and revolved slowly upon Its
hinges. I stared at it horror-stricken,
not knowing what was about to issue
from it. By the light of the corridor
lamp I saw my sister appoar at the open
ing, her face blanched with terror, her
hands groping for help, her whole figure
swaying to and fro like that of a drunk
ard. I ran to her and threw my arms
around her. but at that moment her
knees scorned to give way. and she fell
to the ground. She writhed as one who is
in terrible pain, and her limbs wore dread
fully convulsed. At first I thought that
she had not recognized me. but as I bent
over her she suddenly shrieked out in a
voice which I shall never forget: 'Oh.
my God! Helen! It was the band! The
speckled band!' There was something
else which she would fain havo said, and
she stabbed with her finger into tho air
in the direction of the doctor's room,
but a fresh convulsion seized her and
choked hor words. I rushed out, call
ing loudly for my stepfather, and I met
him hastening from his room In his dressing-gown.
When he reached my sister's
side she was unconscious, and, though
he poured brandy down her throat and
sent for medical aid from tho village, all
efforts were in vain, for sho slowly sank
and died without having recovered her
consciousness. Such was the dreadful
end of my beloved Bister."
"One moment," said Holmes; "are you
sure about this whistle and metallic
sound? Could you swoar to It?"
"That was what the County Coroner
asked mo at the Inquiry- It is my strong
impression that I hoard it, and yet.
among the crash of the galo and the
creaking of an old house, I may possi
bly have been deceived'
"Was your sister dressed7"
"No. sho was ' in her nightdress. In
her right hand was found the charred
stump of a match and In her left a
match box." I
"Showing that she had struck a light !
ana looked about her whon the alarm
took place. That Is important. And
what onclusions did the Coroner como
tor
"He investigated tho. case with great
care, for Dr. Roylott's conduct had long
been notorious In tho county, but he was
unable to And any satisfactory cause of
death. My evidence showed that tho
door had been blocked upon the inner
side, and the windows wero blocks by
old-fashioned shutters with broad Iron
bars, which were secured every night.
The walls were carefully sounded and
were shown to be quite solid all round,
and tho flooring was also thoroughly ex
amined, with the same result. The chim
ney Is wide, but it is barred up by four
large staples. It Is certain, therefore,
that my sister was qulto alone when
she met her ond. Besides, thero wero
no marks of any violence upon her."
"How about tho poison?"
"The doctors examined her for it, but
without success."
"What do you think that this unfor
tunate lady died of. then?"
"It is my belief that she died of puro
fear and nervous shock, though what it
was that frightened her. I cannot
imagine."
"Were there gypsies in the plantation
at .the time?"
"Yes, there are nearly always some
there."
"Ah, and what did you gathor from this
allusion to a band a speckled band?"
"Sometimes I have thought that it was
merely tho wild talk of delirium, some
times that it may have referred to somo
band of people, perhaps to these very
gypsies in the plantation. I do not know
whether the spotted handkerchiefs which
so many of them wear over their heads
might have suggested the strange ad
jective which she used."
Holmes shook his head like a man who
Is far from being satisfied.
"Theso ore very deep waters," said he.
rmy go on wun your narrative.
Two years have passed since then.,
and my life has been until lately lonelier
than ever. A month ago, however, a dear
friend, whom I have known for many
years, has done me the honor to ask my
hand In marriage. His name Is Percy
Armitage second son of Mr. Armltage,
of Crane Water, near Reading. My step
father has offered no opposition to the
match, and we are to be married in the
course of the Spring. Two days ago soml
repairs were started In the west wing
of the building, and my bedroom wall
has been pierced, so that I havo had to
move into the chamber in which my sis
ter died and to sleep in the very bed In
which sho slept. Imagine, then, my
thrill of terror when, last night, as I
lay awake, thinking over her terrible
fate, I suddenly heard in the silence of
the night the low whlstlo which had
been the herald of her own death. I
sprang up and lit tho lamp, but nothing
was to be seen in the room. I was too
shaken to go to bed again, however, so
I dressed, and as soon as it was daylight
I slipped down, got a dogcart at tho
Crown Inn, which Is opposite, and drove
to Leatbcrhead. whence I have come on
this morning with tho one object of see
ing you and asking your advice."
"You have done wisely," said my friend.
"But have you told me all?"
"Yes. all'
"Miss Roylott, you have not. You are
screening your stepfather."
"Why, what do you mean?"
For answer Holmes pushed back the
frill of black lace which fringed tho hand
that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five
little livid spots, the marks of four fingers
and a thumb, were printed upon tho
whito wrist.
"You havo been cruelly used," said
Holmes.
The lady colored deeply and covered
over her injured wrist. "He Is a hard
man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly
knows his own strength."
Thero was a long silence, during whjcb.
Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands ;
and stared Into the crackling Are.
"This is very deep business." he mid
at last. "Thero are a thousand details
which I should desire to know before I
decide upon our course of action. Yet wo
have not a moment to lose. If we were
to come to Stoke Moran today, would It
be possible for us to roe over these
rooms without the knowledge of your
stepfather?"
"As It happens, he spoke of coming into
town today upon some important busi
ness. It Js probable that he will be away
all day, and that there would bo nothing
to disturb you. Wo have a housekeeper
now, but sho is old and foolish, and I
could easily get her out of the way."
"Excellent. You are not averse to this
trip. Watson V
"By no means."
'Then wo phall both coine. What are
you going to do yourself?"
"I have on-or two things which I would
wish to do now that I am in town. But I
shall return by the 12 o'clock train, so as
to bo there In time for your coming."
"And you may expect us early In the
afternoon. I myself have some small
business matters to attend to. Will you
not wait and breakfast?"
"No. I must go. My heart Is lightened
already since I have confided mytroubles
to you. I shall look forward to seeing
you again this afternoon." She dropped
her thick black veil over her face and
glided from the room.
"And what do you think of It all. Wat
son?" asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning
back in his chair.
"It seems to me to be a most dark and
sinister business."
"Dark enough and sinister enough."
"Yet If the lady is correct In saying that
the flooring and wall? are souflB. and that
the door, window and chimney are Impas
sable, then her sister must havo been
undoubtedly alone when she met her
mysterious end'
"What becomes, then, of these noc
turnal whistles, and what of the very
peculiar words of the dying woman?"
"I cannot think."
"When you combine the Ideas of whis
tles tat night, the presence of a band of
gypsies who ao on intimate terms with
this old doctor, the fact that we havo
every reason to believe that the doctor
has an Interest In preventing his step
daughter's marriage, the dying allusion
to a band, and, finally, the fact that Mtes
Helen Stoner heard a metallic clang,
which might have been caused by one of,
thore metal bars which secured the shut
ters falling into their place. I think that
thero Is good ground to think that the
mystery may be cleared along those
lines."
"But what. then, did the gypsies dor
."I cannot imagine."
"I see many objections to any such
theory."
"And so do L It is precisely for that
reason that we are going to Stoke Moran
this day. I want to see whether the ob
jections aro fatal, or If they may be ex
plained away. But what in tho name of
the devil!"
The ejaculation had been drawn from
my companion by the fact that our door
had been suddenly dashed open, and that
a huge man had framed himself in the
aperture;' His costume was a peculiar
mixture of the professional and of tho
agricultural, having a black top-hat, a
long frock coat, and a pair of high gait
ers, with a huntlng-cron swincintr In h!
hand. So tall was he that his hat actually
d rus.no a me crossbar of the doorway,
and his breadth seemed to span It across
from s!do to.Sde. A largo face, seared
with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow
with the sun. and marked with every evil
passion, was turned from one to the
other of us. while his deep-set. bile-shot
eyes, and his high, thin, fleshless nose
gave him somewhat the resemblance to a
fierce old bird of prey.
"Which of you is Holmes?" asked hf
apparition.
"My name, sir; but you hav the ad
vantage of me," said my companion, qui
etly. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoko
Moran."
"Indeed, doctor," sold Holmes, blandly
"Pray, take a seat."
T will -do nothing of tho kind. My step
daughter has been here. I have traced
her. What has she been saying toyou?"
"It Is a little cold for tho tlmd of the
year," said Holmes. '
"What has she been saying to you?"
screamed the old man. fnriouply.
"But I havo heard that the crocuses
promise well." continued my companion,
imperturbably.
"Ha! You put me off. do you?" sold our
new visitor, taking a step forward and
shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you,
you scoundrel! I have heard of you be
fore. You are Holmes, the meddler."
My friend smiled.
"Holmes, the busybody!"
His smile broadened.
"Holmes, the Scotland-Yard Jack-ln-office!"
Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your con
versation Is most entertaining," said he.
"When you go out close the door, for
there Is a decided draught"
"I will go when I have said my say.
Don't you dare to meddle with my affairs.
I know that Miss Stoner has been here.
I traced her! I am a dangerous man to
fall foul of! See here." He stepped swift
ly forward, seized the poker, and bent it
Into a curve with his huge brown hands.
"See that you keep yourself out of my
grip." ho snarled, and hurling tho twisted
poker into the fireplace, he strode out of
tho room.
"He seems a very amiable person," said
Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so
bulky, but if he had remained I might
havo shown him that my grip was not
much more feeble than his own." As he
spoke he picked up the steel poker, and
with a sudden effort straightened it out
again.
"Fancy his having the insolenco to con
found me with the official detective force!
This incident gives zest to our Investiga
tion, however, and I only trust that our
little "friend will not suffer from her Im
'pudence In allowing this brute to trace
her. And now, Watson, wo shall order
breakfast, and afterward I shall walk
down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope
to get some data which may help us In
this matter."
It was nearly 1 o'clock when Sherlock
Holmes returned from his excursion. Ho
held In his hand a sheet of blue paper,
scrawled over with notes and figures.
"I have seen the will of the deceased
wife," said be. "To determine its exact
meaning I have been obliged to work out
the present prices of the Investments with
which It is concerned. The total income,
which at tho time of the wife's death was
littlo short of 1100. is now, through tho
fall in agricultural prices, not more than
730. Each daughter can claim an income
of 250. in case of marriage. It is evi
dent, therefore, that If both girls had
married, this beauty would have had a
mere pittance, while even one of them
would cripple him to a very serious ex
tent. My morning's work has not been
wasted, since it has proved that he has
tho very strongest motives for standing
In the way of anything of the sort- And
now, Watson, this Is too serious for
dawdling, especially as the old man Is
aware that we aro Interesting ourselves
In his affairs: so if you are ready, we
shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I
should bo very much obliged if you would
slip your revolver Into your pocket. An
Ely's No. 2 is an excellent argument with
a gentlemen who can twist steel pokers
Into knots. That and a toothbrush are, I
think, all that we need."
At Waterloo we were fortunate In catch
ing a train for Leatherhead. where we
hired a trap at the station inn, and drove
for four or five miles through the lovely
Surrey lanes. It was a perfect day, with
a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds In
the heavens. The trees and waysldo
hedges were (Just throwing outHheir first
green shoots and the air was full of the
pleasant smell of the moist earth. To
me at least thero was a strange contrast
between the sweet promise of the Spring
and this sinister quest upon which we
wero engaged. My companion sat in the
front of the trap, his arms folded, his
hat pulled down over his eyes, and his
chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the
deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he
startod. tapped me on the shoulder, and
pointed over the meadows.
"Look there!" said he.
A heavily timbered park stretched up
in a gentle slope, thickening Into a grove
at tho highest point. From amid the
branches there Jutted out the gray gables
and high roof-tree of a very old mansion.
"STbke Moran?" said he.
"Yes, sir, that be the houso of Dr.
Grimesby Roylott.' remarked the driver.
"There Is some building going on thero,"
said Holmes; "that is where we are go
ing." "There's the village," said tho driver,
pointing to a cluster of roofs pome dis
tance to tho left; "but if you want to get
to the house, you'll find It shorter to get
over this stile, and so by the footpath over
tho fields. There It is, where the lady is
walking."
"And the lady, I fancy. Is Miss Stoner."
observed Holmes, shading his eyes. "Yes,
I think we had better do as you suggest."
We got off. paid our fare, and tho trap
rattled back on Its way to Leatherhead.
"I thought It as well," said Holmes, as
wo climbed the stile, "that this fellow
should think wo had come here as archi
tects, or on some definite business. It
may stop his gossip. Good afternoon. Miss
Stoner. You see that we havo been as
good as our word."
Our client of the morning had hurried
forward to meet us with a face which
spoke her Joy. "I have been waiting so
eagerly for you," she cried, shaking hands
with us warmly. "All has turned out
splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town,
and it Is unlikely that ho will be back
before evening."
"We havo hod tho pleasure of making
the doctor's acquaintance," said Holmes,
and In a few words he sketched out what
had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white
to the Hps as she listened.
"Good heavens!" she cried, "he has fol
lowed me, then?"
"So it appears."
"He Is so cunning that I never know
when I am safe from him. What will ho
say when he returns?"
"He must guard himself, for he may
find that there la some one more cunning
than himself upon his track. You must
lock yourself up from him tonight. If ho
Is violent, wo shall take you away to your
aunt's at Harrow. Now. we must make
the best uso of our time, so kindly tako
us at once to tho rooms which wo are to
examine."
The building was of gray lichen
blotched stone, with a high central por
tion, and two curving wings, like tho
claws of a crab, throughout on each side.
In one of these wlng3 the windows wero
broken, and blocked with wooden boards,
while the roof was partly caved In, a pic
ture of ruin. The central portion was in
littlo better repair, but the right-hand
block was comparatively modern, and the
blinds In tho windows, with the blue
smoko curling up from the chimneys,
showed that this was where the family
resided. Some scaffolding had been
erected against the end wall, and the
stone-work had been broken Into, but
there were no signs of any workmen at
the moment of our visit. Holmes walked
slowly up and down the Ill-trimmed lawn,
and examined with deep attention tho
outsldes of tho windows.
"This. I take it. belongs to tho room in
which you used to sleep, the center one
to your sister's, and the one next to tho
main building to Dr. Roylott s chamber?"
"Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in
the middle one."
"Pending the alterations, as I under
stand. By the way, there does not seem
to be any very pressing need for repairs
at that end wall."
"Thero were none. I believe it was an
excuse to movo me from my room."
"Ah! that Is suggestive. Now, on tho
other side of this narrow wing runs tha
corridor from which these rooms open.
There are windows in it, of course?"
"Yes. but very small ones. Toc narrow
for anyone to pass through."
"As you both locked your doors at
night, your rooms were unapproachablo
from that side. Now, would you havo
the kindness to go Into your room and
bar your shutters?"
Miss Stoner. did so. and Holmes, after
a careful examination through tho open
window, endeavored in every way to force
the shutter open, but without success.
There was no slit through which a knlfa
could be paused to raise the bar. Then
with his lens he tested the hinges, but
they were of solid iron, built firmly into
the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he,
scratching his chin In some perplexity;
"my theory certainly presents some diffi
culties. No ono could pais these shutters
if they wero bolted. Well, we shall see
If the Inside throws any light upon tho
matter."
A small side door led Into tho white
washed corridor from which the threo
bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to ex
amine the third chamber, so we passed
at once to the second, that in which Miss
Stoner was now sleeping, and in which
her sister had met her fate. It was a
homely little room, with a low celling and
a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old
country houses. A brown chest of draw
ers stood In one corner, a narrow whlto
counterpaned bed In another, and a dress
ing table on tho left-hand side of the win
dow. These articles, with two small
wicker-work chairs, made up all the fur
niture In the room, save for a square of
Wilton carpet In the center. The boards
round ond tho paneling of the walls wero
of brown, worm-eaten oak. so old and dis
colored that It may havo dated from the
original building of the house. Holmes
drew one of the chairs into a corner and
sat silent, while his eyes traveled round
and round and up and down, taking In
every detail of the apartment.
"Where does that bell communicate
with?" ho asked, at last, pointing to a
thick bell-ropo which hung down besido
the bed. the tassel actually lying upon
the pillow.
"It goes to the housekeeper's room."
"It looks newer than tho other things?"
"Yes, it was only put there a couplo
of years ago."
"Your sister asked for It, I suppose?"
"No, I never heard of her using it. We
always used to get what we wanted for
ourselves."
"Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put
o nico a bell-pull there. You will excuso
me for a few minutes while I satisfy
myself as to this floor." He threw him
self down upon his face with his lens In
his hand, and crawled swiftly backward
and forward, examining minutely tho
cracks between the boards. Then he did
the same with the woodwork with which
the chamber was paneled. Finally ho
walked over to the bed, and spent some
time In staring at It. and in running his
eye up and down the wall. Finally he
took the bell-rope in his hand and gave
it a brisk tug.
"Why. it's a dummy," said he.
"Won't It ring?"
"No, It Is not even attached to a wire.
This is very interesting. You can see now
that It is fastened to a hook Just above
where the little opening for the ven
tilator Is."
"How very absurd! I never noticed that
before."
"Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pull
ing at ho rope. "Thero aro one or two
very singular points about this Toom. For
example, what a fool a builder must be
to open a ventilator Into another room,
when, with tho same trouble, ho might
have communicated with the outside air!"
"That is also quite modern," said the
lady.
"Dona about the same time' as the bell
rope?" remarked Holmes.
"Yes. there were several little changes
carried out about that time."
"They seem to have been of a most In
teresting character dummy bell-ropes,
and ventilators which do not ventilate.
With your permission, MIs3 Stoner, we
phall carry our rescarchoo into tho- inner
apartment."
Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was
larger than that of his stepdaughter,
but was as plainly furnished. A camp
bed, a small wooden shelf full of books,
mostly of a technical character, an
arm-chair beside tho bed. a plain
wooden chair against the wall, a round
table, and a large iron safe were the
principal things which met the eye.
Holmes walked slowly around and ex
amined each .and all of them with the
keenest Interest.
"What's in here?" he asked, tapping
the safe.
"My stepfather's business papers."
"Oh, you have seen inside then."
"Only once, some, years ago. I re
member that It was full of papers."
"There isn't a cat in it. for example?"
"No. What a strange Idea."
''Well, look at this!" He took up a
small saucer of milk which stood on
the top of it.
"No; we don't keep a cat. But thero
Is a cheetah and a baboon."
"Ah. yes, of course! Well, a cheetah
Is Just a big cat, and yet a saucer of
milk does not go very far In satisfying
Its wants. I daro say. There Is ono
point which I should wish to deter
mine." He squatted down in front of
the wooden chair, and examined the
seat of It with the greatest attention.
"Thank you. That is quite settled,"
said ho. rising and putting his lens in
his pocket. "Hello! hero Is something
Interesting!"
The object which had caught his eye
was a small dog-lash hung on one cor
ner of the bed. The lash, however, was
curled upon itself, and tied so as to
make a loop of whipcord.
"What do you make of that, Wat
son?" "It's a common enough lash. But I
don't know why it should be tied."
"That Is not so common. Is It? Ah,
me! it's a wicked world, and when a
clever man turns his brains to crime it
is the worst of all. I think that I have
seen enough new, Miss Stoner, and with
your permission wo shall walk out
upon the lawn.
I had never seen my friend's face so
grim or his brow so dark as it was
when we turned from the scene of this
investigation. Wo had walked several
times up and down tho lawn, neither
Miss Stoner nor myself liking to break
in upon his thoughts before ho roused
himself from his reverie.
"It Is very essential. Miss Stoner,"
said he, "that you should absolutely
follow my advice In every respect."
"I shall most certainly do so."
"The matter Is too serious for any
hesitation. Your life may depend upon
your compliance."
"I assure you that I am in your
hands."
"In the first place, both my friend
and I must spend the night In your
room."
Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him
in astonishment.
"Yes, It must bo so. Let me explain.
I beliovo that that is the village Inn
over there?"
"Yen. that Is the 'Crown.'"
"Very good. Your windows would be
visible from there?"
"Certainjy."
"You must confine yourself to your
room, on pretense of a headache, when
your stepfather comes back. Then
whon you hear him retire for the
night you must open tho shutters of
your window undo tho hasp, put your
lamp there ns a signal to us. and then
withdraw quietly with everything
which you are likely to want Into tho
room which you used to occupy. I have
no doubt that, in spite of the repairs,
you could manage there for ono night."
"Oh yes, easily."
"The rest you will leave in our
hands."
"But what will you dor
"Wo shall spend the night In your
room, and we shall Investigate the
cause of this noise which has dis
turbed you."
"I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have
already made up your mind," said
Miss Stoner. laying her hand upon my
companion's sleeve.
"Perhaps I havo."
"Then, for pity's sake, tell mo what
was the causa of my sistij 's death."
"I should prefer to Hive clearer
proofs before I speak."
"You can at least tell mo whether my
own thought Is correct, and If sho died
from sudden fright."
"No, I do not think so. I think that
there was probably more tangible cause.
And now. Miss Stoner, we must leave
you. for if Dr. Roylott returned and saw
us our Journey would be In vain. Good
bye, and be brave, for If you will do what
I have told you, you may rest assured
that we shall soon drive away the dan
gers which threaten you."
Sherlock Holmes and I had no diffi
culty In engaging a bedroom and sitting
room at tho "Crown Inn." They were on
the upper floor, and from our window wo
could command a view of the avenue
gate and of the inhabited wing of Stoko
Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw
Dr. Grimesby Roylottdrlve past, hl3 huge
form looming up bes'lde the little figure
of the lad who drove him. The boy had
some slight difficulty in undoing the
heavy Iron gates, and we heard the
hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and
saw, the fury with which he shook his
clinched fists at him. The trap drove on.
and a few moments later we saw a sud
den light spring up among the trees as
the lamp was lit In one of the sitting
rooms. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes,
as we sat together in the gathering dark
ness. "I have really somo scruples as to
taking you tonight. There is a distinct
element of danger."
"Can I be of assistance?"
"Your presence might be Invaluable."
."Then I shall certainly come."
"It Is very kind of you."
"You speak of danger. You have evi
dently seen more in those rooms than was
visible to me."
"No, but I fancy that I may have de
duced a little more. I Imagine that you
saw all that I did."
"I saw nothing remarkable save the
bell-rope, and what purpose that could
answer I confess 13 more than I can
imagine."
"You saw the ventilator, too?"
"Yes. but I do not think that It is
such a very unusual thing to have a small
opening between two rooms. It was so
small that a rat could hardly pass
through."
"I knew that we should find a ventila
tor before ever we came to Stoke Moran."
"My dear Holmes!"
"Oh yes, I did. You remember in her
statement she said that her sister could
smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now. of course,
that suggested at onco that there must
be a communication between the two
rooms. It could only be a small one,
or It would havo been remarked upon at
the Coroner's inquiry. I deduced a venti
lator." "But what harm can thero be in that?"
"Well, there is at least a curious coin
cidence of dates. A ventilator Is made, a
cord Is hung, and a lady who sleeps In the
bed dies. Does not that strike you?"
"I cannot as yet see any connection."
"Did you observe anything wry pecu
liar about that bed?"
"No."
"It was clamped to the floor. Did you
ever see a bed fastened like that be
fore?" "I cannot say that I have."
"This lady could not move her bed- It
must always be In the same re!atlvo po
sition to the ventilator and to the rope
for so we may call it. since it was clearly
never meant for a bell-pull."
"Holmes," I cried. "I seem to see dimly
what you are hinting at- Wo are only
Just in tlmo to prevent some subtle and
horrible crime."
"Subtla enough and horrible enough.
When a doctor does go wrong, he is tho
first of criminals. Ho has nerve and ha
has knowledge. Palmer and Prltchard
were among tho heads of their profes
sion. This man strikes even deeper, but
I think. Watson, that wo shall be able
to strike deeper still- But we shall havo
horrors enough before the night is over;
for goodness' sake, let us have a. quiet
pipe and turn our minds for a few hours
to something more cheerful."
About 9 o'clock the light among the
trees was extinguished and all was
dark In the direction of the Manor
House. Two hours passed slowly away,
and then suddenly. Just at the stroke
of 11, a single bright light shone out
right in front of us.
"That is our slgnaj," said Holmes,
springing to his feet; "it comes from
the middle window."
As wo passed out he exchanged a
few words with the landlord, explain
ing that we were going on a late visit
to an acquaintance, and that It was
possible that we might spend the night
there. A moment later we were out on
tho dark road, a chill wind blowing In
our faces, and ono yellow light twink
ling in .front of us through tho gloom
to guide us on our somber errand,
Thero was little difficulty in entering
the grounds, for unrepaired breaches
gaped in tho old park wall. Making
our way among the trees we reached
tho lawn, crossed it, and were about
to enter through the window when out
from a clump of laurel bushes thero
darted what seemed to be a hideous
and distorted child, who threw Itself
upon the grass with writhing limbs,
and then ran swiftly across the lawn
Into the darkness.
"My God!" I whispered; "did you see
It?"
Holmes was for tho momont as
startled as I. His hand closed like a
vise upon my wrist in his agitation.
Then he broke into a low laugh and
put his Hps to my ear.
"It is a nice household." he mur
mured. "That is the baboon."
I had forgotten the strange rots
which the Doctor affected. There was
a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find
it upon our shoulders at any moment,
I confess that I felt easier in my mird
when, aftor following Holmos's exam
ple and slipping off my shoes. I found
myself inside tho bedroom. My com
panion noiselessly cloned the shutters
moved the lamp on to the table and
cast his eyes round the room. All was
as we had seen it in tho daytime. Then
creeping up to me and making a trum
pet of his hand, he whispered into my
ear again so gently that It was all that
I could do to distinguish the words
"The least sound would be fatal to
our plans."
I nodded to show that I had heard.
"Wo must sit without light. He
would seo it through the ventilator.
I nodrjod again.
"Do not go asleep; your very llfo
may depend upon It. Have your pistol
ready in case we should need it, I
will sit on the side of the bed and you
in that chair."
I took out my revolver and laid it on
tho corner of the table.
Holmes had brought up a long thin
cane, and this ho placed upon the bed
besido him. By it he laid the box of
matches and the stump of a candle
Then ho turned down the lamp and
we were left In darkness.
How shall I ever forgot that dread
ful vigil? I could not hear a sound
not even the drawing of a breath, and
yet I knew that my companion sat
open-eyed, within a few feet of me.
in tho same state of nervous tension In
which I was myself. The shutters cut
off the roast ray of light, and we wait
ed in absolute darkness. From outside
came the occasional cry of a night
bird, and once at our very window a
long-drawn cat-like whine, which told
us that the cheetah was indeed at lib
erty. Far away we could hear tho
deep tones of the parish clock, whfv-h.
boomed out every quarter of an hour.
How long they seemed, those quar
ters! Twelve struck, and one and two
and three, and still we sat waiting
silently for whatever might befall
Suddenly there was the momentary
gleam of a light up in the direction
of the ventilator, which vanished im
mediately, but was succeeded by a
strong smell of burning oil and heated
metal. Someone In the next room had
lit a dark lantern. I heard a gentle
sound of movement, and then all was
silent once more, though the smell
grew stronger. For half an hour I sat
with straining ears. Then suddenly an
other sound became audible r very
gentle, soothing sound, like that of a
small jet of steam escaping continual
ly from a kettle. Tho Instant that wo
heard it Holmes sprang from the bed.
struck a match and lashed furiously
with his cane at the bell-pull.
"You see it, Watson." he yelled.
"You see It?"
But I saw nothing. At tho moment
when Holmes struck the light I heard
a low, clear whistle, but the sudden
glare flashing Into my weary eyes
made it impossible for me to tell what
It was at which my friend lashed so.
savagely. I could, however, see that
his face was deadly pale, and filled
with horror and loathing.
He had ceased to strike and was gaz
ing up at the ventilator, when sudden
ly there broke from the silence of tho
night tho most horrible cry to which I
have ever listened. It swelled up loud
er and louder, a hoarso yell of pain
and fear and anger all mingled In the
ono dreadful shriek. They say that
away down In the village, and even In
the distant parsonage, that cry raise I
the slecpors from their beds, it struck
cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing
at Holmes, and he at me. until the last
echoes of It had died away Into the si
lence from which It arose.
"What can it mean?" I gasped.
It means that It Is all over." Holmes
answered. "And perhaps, after all. It Is for
tho best. Take your pistol, and we wir
enter Dr. Roylott's room."
With a grave face he lit the lamp and
led the way down the corridor. Twice ho
struck at the chamber door without any
reply from within. Then he turned tho
handle and entered, I at his heels, with
the cocked pistol In my hand.
It was a singular sight which met our
eyes. On the table stood a dark-lantem
with tho shutter half open, throwing a
brilliant beam of light upon the Iron safe
the door of which wa3 ajar. Besido this
table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr
Grimesby Roylott. clad In a long, gray
dressing-gown. his bare ankles protruding
beneath, and his feet thrust Into red
heelles3 Turkish slippers. Across his lap
lay the short stock with the long lash
which we had noticed during the day. His
chin was cocked upward , and his eyes
wero fixed In a dreadfud. rigid stare at
the corner of the celling. Round his brow
he had a peculiar yellow band, with
brownish speckles, which seemed to bo
bound tightly round his head. As we en
tered he made neither sound nor motion.
"Tho band! the speckled band!" whis
pered Holmes.
I took a step forward. In an Instant his
strange headgear began to move, and
thero reared itself from among his hair
the squat diamond-shaped head and
puffed neck of a loathsome serpent
"It is a swamp adder!" cried Holf.est
"the deadliest snake in India. He has
died within ten seconds of being bitten.
Violence does, in truth, recoil upon tho
violent, and the schemer falls into tho
pit which he digs for another. Let us
thrust this creature back into Its den.
and we can then remove Miss Stoner
some place of shelter, and let the county
police know what has happened."
As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swift
ly from the dead man's lap. and throwing
(Concluded oa Pass 430t