"He's gone dog ! " cried Miss Hunter

" my revolver," said I

"Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed down the stairs together We had hardly reached the hall when we heard the baying of hound, and then scream of agony, with horrible worrying sound which dreadful to listen to An elderly man with red face and shaking limbs came staggering out at side door

"My God ! " he cried "Someone has loosed the dog It's not been fed for two days Quick, quick, or it'll be too late ! "

Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle house, with Toller hurrying behind us the huge famished brute, its black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and screamed ground Running up, I blew its brains out, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting great creases neck With much labour we separated them and carried him, living but horribly mangled, house We laid him drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Toller to bear the news wife, what to relieve his pain We were all assembled round him door opened, and tall, gaunt woman entered the room

" Mrs Toller ! " cried Miss Hunter

"Yes, miss Mr Rucastle let me out when back before he went up Ah, miss, pity you didn't let me know what you were planning, for told you that your pains were wasted "

"Ha ! " said Holmes, looking keenly at her " clear that Mrs Toller knows more about than anyone else "

"Yes, sir, , and ready enough what "

"Then, pray, sit down, hear it for several points confess that still dark "

" soon make it clear ," said she; "and I'd so before now if ha' got out cellar If there's police-court business over this, you'll remember that I one that stood your friend, Miss Alice's friend too

"She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, time that her father married again She was slighted like and had no say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until after she met Mr Fowler at friend's house as learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so quiet and patient, she was, that she never said word but just left everything in Mr Rucastle's hands safe with her; but when chance of husband coming forward, ask for all law would give him, then her father thought it time stop her to sign paper, whether she married or not, use her money When she wouldn't , he kept on worrying her until she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door Then she got better at last, all worn to shadow, and with her beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her young man, and he stuck to her as true as man "

"Ah," said Holmes, " that what good enough us makes the matter fairly clear, deduce all that remains Mr Rucastle then, I presume, took system of imprisonment ? "

"Yes, sir "

"And brought Miss Hunter down from London rid disagreeable persistence of Mr Fowler "

"That , sir "

"But Mr Fowler being persevering man, as good seaman , blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your interests were the same as his "

" Mr Fowler was very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Mrs Toller serenely

"And he managed that your good man no want of drink, ladder ready moment when your master had gone out "

" it, sir, just as it happened "

" we owe you an apology, Mrs Toller," said Holmes, "for certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us And here comes the country surgeon and Mrs Rucastle, so Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, as it seems locus standi now is rather questionable one "

And thus was solved the mystery sinister house copper beeches in front door Mr Rucastle survived, but was always broken man, kept alive solely care devoted wife They still live with their old servants, who probably know of Rucastle's past life that he finds it difficult to part Mr Fowler and Miss Rucastle were married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their flight, and now the holder of government appointment island of Mauritius Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further interest in her when once she had ceased the centre of one problems, and now the head of private school at Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success