"What make ? " he asked

The paper was covered with he tracings foot-marks of some small animal It had five well-marked foot-pads, an indication of long nails, whole print nearly as large as dessert-spoon

"It's dog," said I

"Did you ever hear of dog running up curtain ? distinct traces creature had done so "

"A monkey, then ? "

"But the print of monkey "

"What can it be, then ? "

"Neither dog nor cat nor monkey nor any creature that familiar with to reconstruct it measurements Here are four prints where the beast standing motionless no fifteen inches from fore-foot to hind Add to length of neck and head, and you get creature not much two feet long--probably more any tail But now observe this other measurement The animal moving, and the length stride In only about three inches an indication, , of long body with very short legs attached It considerate enough to leave any hair behind it But its general shape what indicated, and it can run up curtain, and carnivorous "

"How deduce that ? "

"Because it ran up the curtain canary's cage was hanging window, and its aim seems bird "

"Then the beast ? "

"Ah, if give it name it might go long way towards solving the case whole, probably some creature weasel and stoat tribe--and yet larger than any that "

"But what had it crime ? "

"That, also, is still obscure But learned , you perceive that man stood road looking quarrel Barclays--the blinds were up room lighted , also, that he ran across the lawn, entered the room, accompanied by strange animal, he either struck the Colonel or, as is equally possible, Colonel fell down from sheer fright sight of him, and cut his head corner fender Finally, the curious fact intruder carried away the key when he left "

"You discoveries seem left the business more obscure before," said I

"Quite so They undoubtedly showed affair was much deeper than was at first conjectured the matter over, and conclusion that approach the case from another aspect But really, Watson, keeping you up, and just tell you all this way to Aldershot to-morrow "

" , you rather too far to stop "

" quite certain that when Mrs Barclay left the house at half-past seven she was on good terms with her husband She was never, as said, ostentatiously affectionate, but she was heard coachman chatting Colonel in friendly fashion Now, equally certain that, immediately on her return, she had gone room she was least likely her husband, had flown to tea as an agitated woman will, and finally, coming in to her, had broken into violent recriminations Therefore something had occurred between seven-thirty and nine o'clock which had completely altered her feelings towards him But Miss Morrison with her during the whole hour and half absolutely certain, therefore, of her denial, that know something matter

"My first conjecture was, that possibly there some passages between this young lady old soldier, which the former had now confessed wife account angry return, and also girl's denial that anything had occurred Nor would it be entirely incompatible with most words overhead But the reference to David, and the known affection Colonel wife, to weigh against it, nothing tragic intrusion other man, which might, , be entirely disconnected with what had gone before not easy to pick one's steps, but, whole, inclined to dismiss the idea that there anything Colonel and Miss Morrison, but more than ever convinced young lady held the clue what which had turned Mrs Barclay to hatred of her husband the obvious course, therefore, of calling upon Miss M , of explaining to her that perfectly certain that she held the facts in her possession, and of assuring her that her friend, Mrs Barclay, might find herself dock upon capital charge unless the matter were cleared up

"Miss Morrison is little ethereal slip of girl, with timid eyes and blond hair, but her by no means wanting in shrewdness and common-sense She sat thinking for after I had spoken, and then, turning with brisk air of resolution, she broke into remarkable statement which condense for your benefit

"'I promised my friend that say nothing matter, and promise is promise,; said she; 'but if really help her when so serious charge is laid against her, and when her own mouth, poor darling, is closed by illness, then absolved from my promise tell you exactly what happened upon Monday evening

"'We were returning Watt Street Mission about quarter to nine o'clock way we had through Hudson Street, very quiet thoroughfare lamp , left-hand side, and approached this lamp man coming towards us with is back very bent, and something like box slung over one shoulders He appeared deformed, for he carried his head low and walked knees bent We were passing him when he raised his face to look at us circle of light thrown lamp, and as so he stopped and screamed out in dreadful voice, "My God, it's Nancy ! " Mrs Barclay turned as white as death, and fallen down had the dreadful-looking creature not caught hold of her going police, but she, to my surprise, spoke quite civilly fellow

" ' " you dead this thirty years, Henry," said she, in shaking voice

" ' "So ," said he, and awful to hear the tones that it in He had very dark, fearsome face, and gleam eyes that comes back in my dreams His hair and whiskers were shot with grey, face was all crinkled and puckered like withered apple

" ' "Just walk on little way, dear," said Mrs Barclay; " word man nothing afraid of " She tried boldly, but she was still deadly pale and could hardly get her words out trembling of her lips

" ' as she asked me, talked together Then she came down the street with her eyes blazing, and the crippled wretch standing lamp-post and shaking his clenched fists air he were made with rage She never said word until we were door here, when she took me hand and begged me no one what had happened

" ' "It's an old acquaintance who down ," said she When I promised her say nothing she kissed me, and never seen her since told you now the whole truth, and if I withheld it police because realise then the danger my dear friend stood can only be to her advantage that everything known '