"ARAT,"

"And now ? " He raised his hand

"BALLARAT "

"Quite so That word the man uttered, and his son only caught the last two syllables trying to utter the name murderer So and so, of Ballarat "

" wonderful ! " I exclaimed

" obvious And now, , I had narrowed the field down considerably The possession of grey garment was third point which, granting the son's statement correct, was certainty come now out of mere vagueness definite conception of an Australian from Ballarat with grey cloak "

"Certainly "

"And one who was at home district, pool can only be approached farm or estate, where strangers could hardly wander "

"Quite so "

"Then comes our expedition of to-day By an examination ground I gained the trifling details which imbecile Lestrade, personality criminal "

"But how did you gain them ? "

" my method founded observation of trifles "

"His height that roughly judge length stride His boots, too, told from their traces "

"Yes, they were peculiar boots "

"But his lameness ? "

"The impression right foot was always less distinct than his left He put less weight upon it Why ? Because he limped-- lame "

"But his left-handedness "

"You were yourself struck nature injury as recorded surgeon inquest The blow was struck from immediately behind, and yet was left side Now, how can that be unless it were by left-handed man ? He had stood behind that tree during the interview father and son He had even smoked there the ash of cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian cigar , , devoted some attention , and written little monograph ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco Having found the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump moss where he had tossed it an Indian cigar, variety which are rolled in Rotterdam "

" cigar-holder ? "

"I end mouth Therefore he used holder The tip cut off, not bitten off, but the cut was not clean one, so I deduced blunt pen-knife "

"Holmes," , " drawn net round this man escape, and saved an innocent human life as truly as had cut the cord hanging him the direction all this points The culprit is--"

" Mr John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door sitting-room, and ushering in visitor

The man who entered was strange and impressive figure His slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, enormous limbs showed that possessed of unusual strength of body and of character His tangled beard, grizzled hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined an air of dignity and power appearance, but his face was of an ashen white, while his lips corners nostrils were tinged with shade of blue clear at glance that grip of some deadly and chronic disease

"Pray sit down sofa," said Holmes gently "You had my note ? "

"Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up You said that you wished me here to avoid scandal "

" people would talk if I went Hall "

"And why did you wish me ? " He looked across at my companion with despair weary eyes, his question was already answered

"Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather words " so all about McCarthy "

The old man sank his face hands "God help me ! " he cried "But have let the young man come to harm I my word that spoken out went against him Assizes "

" you say so," said Holmes gravely

" spoken now had it not been dear girl It would break her heart-- break her heart when she hears that arrested "

"It may not come ," said Holmes

"What ? "

" no official agent I understand your daughter who required my presence here, and acting in her interests Young McCarthy got off, however "

" dying man," said old Turner " diabetes for years My doctor says question whether live month Yet rather die under my own roof than in jail "

Holmes rose and sat down table pen hand and bundle of paper before him "Just tell us the truth," " jot down the facts sign it, and Watson here can witness it Then produce your confession last extremity to save young McCarthy I promise you that use it unless absolutely needed "

"It's ," said the old man; "it's question whether live Assizes, so it matters little , but wish to spare Alice the shock And now thing clear ; acting, but will not take me long

"You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy devil incarnate I tell you that God keep you clutches man as he His grip upon me these twenty years, and he has blasted my life I'll tell you first how power

" early '60's diggings young chap then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready my hand at anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck with my claim, took bush, and in word became what call over here highway robber There were six of us, and we had wild, free life of it, sticking up station , or stopping the wagons road diggings Black Jack of Ballarat name I went under, party is still remembered colony Ballarat Gang