man was striding up the path which led door tall, handsome, swarthy fellow, clad in suit of grey flannel, with Panama hat, bristling black beard, and great, aggressive hooked nose, and flourishing cane as he walked He swaggered up the path as place belonged to him, and we heard his loud, confident peal bell

" , gentlemen," said Holmes, quietly, "that we had best take up our position behind the door Every precaution is necessary when dealing fellow need your handcuffs, inspector leave the talking "

We waited in silence for minute -- one minutes which one can never forget Then the door opened man stepped in In an instant Holmes clapped pistol head and Martin slipped the handcuffs over his wrists all done so swiftly and deftly fellow was helpless before that attacked He glared from one other of us with pair of blazing black eyes Then he burst into bitter laugh

"Well, gentlemen, the drop on me I seem knocked up against something hard But here in answer to letter from Mrs Hilton Cubitt Don't tell me that ? Don't tell me that she helped to set trap ? "

" Mrs Hilton Cubitt was seriously injured at death's door "

The man gave hoarse cry of grief which rang house

"You're crazy ! " he cried, fiercely " he that was hurt, not she hurt little Elsie ? threatened her, God forgive me, but have touched hair of her pretty head Take it back -- you ! Say that hurt ! "

"She was found badly wounded side of her dead husband "

He sank with deep groan on settee and buried his face manacled hands For five minutes silent Then he raised his face once more, and spoke cold composure of despair

" nothing to hide , gentlemen," said he "If I shot the man he had his shot at me, and there's no murder But hurt that woman, then you don't know either me or her I tell you never man world loved woman more than I loved her I had right to her She was pledged Who Englishman that come ? I tell you that I had the first right to her, only claiming my own "

"She broke away from your influence when she found the man that ," said Holmes, sternly "She fled from America to avoid you, and she married an honourable gentleman in England You dogged her and followed her and made her life misery to her to induce her to abandon the husband whom she loved and respected to fly , whom she feared and hated ended by bringing death of noble man and driving his wife to suicide your record business, Mr Abe Slaney, and answer law "

"If Elsie dies I care nothing what becomes of me," said the American He opened one hands and looked at note crumpled up palm "See here, mister, he cried, with gleam of suspicion eyes, "you're not trying to scare me over this, ? lady is hurt as bad say, who that wrote this note ? " He tossed it forwards on table

" it to bring you here "

"You wrote it ? no one on earth outside the Joint who knew the secret dancing men How came you to write it ? "

"What one man can invent another can discover," said Holmes cab coming to convey you to Norwich, Mr Slaney But, meanwhile, time some small reparation injury wrought aware that Mrs Hilton Cubitt has herself lain under grave suspicion murder of her husband, and only my presence here knowledge which I happened to possess saved her accusation ? The least that you owe her is it clear whole world that she was in no way, directly or indirectly, responsible tragic end "

"I ask nothing better," said the American "I guess the very best case make absolute naked truth "

" my duty to warn you used against you," cried the inspector, magnificent fair-play British criminal law

Slaney shrugged his shoulders

"I'll chance that," said he "First of all, you gentlemen to understand that known this lady since she was child There were seven of us in gang in Chicago, and Elsie's father boss Joint clever man, was old Patrick he who invented that writing, which would pass as child's scrawl unless you just happened the key Well, Elsie learned ways; but she couldn't stand the business, and she had bit of honest money of her own, so she all the slip and got away to London She engaged , and she married me, I believe, if I had taken over another profession; but she nothing with anything cross only after her marriage Englishman that able out where she was to her, but got no answer over, and, as letters were no use, I put my messages where read them

"Well, here month now I lived farm, where I had room down below, and could get in and out every night, and no one the wiser I tried all to coax Elsie away that she read the messages, for once she wrote an answer under Then my temper got the better of me, and I began to threaten her She sent me letter then, imploring me away and saying would break her heart if any scandal should come upon her husband She said that come down when her husband was asleep at three morning, and speak with me end window, if go away afterwards and leave her in peace She came down and brought money with her, trying to bribe me This made me mad, and I caught her arm and tried to pull her window moment in rushed the husband revolver hand Elsie had sunk down floor, and we were heeled also, and I held up my gun to scare him off and let me get away He fired and missed me I pulled off almost same instant, and down he dropped away across the garden, and as I went I heard the window shut behind me That's God's truth, gentlemen, every word of it, and I heard no more until that lad came riding up with note which made me walk in here, like jay, and give myself into your hands "

cab had driven up whilst the American talking Two uniformed policemen sat inside Inspector Martin rose and touched his prisoner shoulder

" time "

"Can her first ? "

"No, conscious Mr Sherlock Holmes, I only if ever again an important case the good fortune by my side "

We stood window and watched the cab drive away As I turned back my eye caught the pellet of paper which the prisoner had tossed table It note Holmes had decoyed him

"See read it, Watson," said he, with smile

It contained no word, but little line of dancing men

" use the code which explained," said Holmes, " simply means `Come here at once ' convinced an invitation which refuse, since never imagine could come from anyone but the lady And so, my dear Watson, ended by turning the dancing men to good when so often been the agents of evil, and that fulfilled my promise of giving you something unusual for your note-book Three-forty is our train, and I fancy back in Baker Street for dinner

word of epilogue The American, Abe Slaney, was condemned to death winter assizes at Norwich; but his penalty was changed to penal servitude in consideration of mitigating circumstances, certainty that Hilton Cubitt had fired the first shot Of Mrs Hilton Cubitt I only know that heard she recovered entirely, she still remains widow, devoting her whole life care poor and administration of her husband's estate