late before Sherlock Holmes returned back alone, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings town

"The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down " of importance rain before able over the ground other hand, man at his very best and keenest for such nice work , and wish when fagged by long journey young McCarthy "

"And what did you learn ? "

"Nothing "

"Could he throw no light ? "

"None at all inclined at that who had done it and was screening him or her, but convinced now that as puzzled as everyone else very quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, think, sound at heart "

" admire his taste," I remarked, " indeed fact that averse to marriage with so charming young lady Miss Turner "

"Ah, thereby hangs rather painful tale This fellow is madly, insanely, in love with her, but some two , when only lad, and before he really knew her, for she away five years at boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get clutches of barmaid in Bristol and marry her at registry office ? No one knows word matter, but imagine how maddening it to him upbraided for not doing what give his very eyes , but what absolutely impossible sheer frenzy sort which made him throw his hands up air when his father, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Turner other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, father, who was by all accounts very hard man, thrown him over utterly had he known the truth barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Bristol, father know where Mark that point of importance Good out of evil, however, barmaid, finding papers that in serious trouble and likely hanged, has thrown him over utterly and to him that she has husband already Bermuda Dockyard, so really no tie that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all that he has suffered "

"But if innocent, who it ? "

"Ah ! who ? call your attention very particularly to two points One is murdered man had an appointment with someone pool, and someone his son, son was away, and know when return The second is murdered man was heard to cry 'Cooee ! ' before that his son had returned Those are the crucial points the case depends And now talk about George Meredith, please, and leave all minor matters until to-morrow "

no rain, as Holmes had foretold, morning broke bright and cloudless At nine o'clock Lestrade called carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm Boscombe Pool

" serious news ," Lestrade observed " said that Mr Turner, Hall, is so ill that his life is despaired of "

"An elderly man, I presume ? " said Holmes

"About sixty; but his constitution shattered by his life abroad, and he in failing health for This business has had very bad effect upon him an old friend of McCarthy's, and, add, great benefactor to him, for learned that him Hatherley Farm rent free "

"Indeed ! interesting," said Holmes

"Oh, yes ! In hundred other ways he has helped him Everybody about here speaks kindness to him "

"Really ! Does it not strike you as little singular McCarthy, who appears to little own, and under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of marrying his son to Turner's daughter, , presumably, heiress estate, very cocksure manner, it were merely case of proposal and all else would follow ? more strange, since that Turner himself was averse idea The daughter told us not deduce something ? "

" got deductions inferences," said Lestrade, winking at me " it hard enough to tackle facts, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies "

" right," said Holmes demurely; " find it very hard to tackle the facts "

"Anyhow, grasped one fact which you seem it difficult hold of," replied Lesbiade with some warmth

" is--"

"That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior all theories contrary are the merest moonshine "

"Well, moonshine is brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, laughing "But mistaken if Hatherley Farm left "

"Yes, it " widespread, comfortable-looking building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches of lichen grey walls The drawn blinds smokeless chimneys, however, gave it stricken look, the weight horror still lay heavy upon it We called door, maid, at Holmes's request, showed us the boots which her master wore death, and also pair son's, though not the pair which he had then had Having measured these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes desired led court-yard, we all followed the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool