" no alternative, Mr Cunningham," said he "I trust may all prove an absurd mistake, but you that--Ah, would you ? Drop it ! " He struck out hand, and revolver which the younger man was act of cocking clattered down floor

"Keep that," said Holmes, quietly putting his foot upon it; " it useful trial But what we really wanted " He held up little crumpled piece of paper

"The remainder sheet ! " cried the Inspector

"Precisely "

"And where ? "

"Where sure it I'll whole matter clear presently , Colonel, that you and Watson might return now, again in an hour furthest The Inspector and word prisoners, but certainly see me back at luncheon time "

Sherlock Holmes was as good as his word, for about one o'clock he rejoined us Colonel's smoking-room accompanied by little elderly gentleman, who was introduced Mr Acton whose house the scene original burglary

"I wished Mr Acton present while I demonstrated this small matter ," said Holmes, " is natural that take keen interest details afraid, my dear Colonel, that regret the hour that you took stormy petrel as "

" contrary," answered the Colonel, warmly, "I consider it the greatest privilege permitted to study your methods of working I confess quite surpass my expectations, utterly unable to account result seen the vestige of clue "

" afraid that my explanation may disillusion you but it has always been my habit to hide none methods, either from my friend Watson or from take an intelligent interest But, first, as rather shaken knocking I had dressing-room, that help myself to dash of your brandy, Colonel My strength rather tried of late "

"I trust that you had no more nervous attacks "

Sherlock Holmes laughed heartily " come in its turn," said he " lay an account case in its due order, showing you the various points which guided me in my decision Pray interrupt me any inference not perfectly clear

" highest importance art of detection to recognise, out of number of facts, which are incidental and which vital Otherwise your energy and attention dissipated instead of being concentrated Now, in not the slightest doubt in my mind first key whole matter looked for scrap of paper dead man's hand

"Before going , draw your attention fact that, if Alec Cunningham's narrative was correct, and assailant, after shooting William Kirwan, had instantly fled, then it obviously he who tore the paper dead man's hand But not he, it must Alec Cunningham himself, for old man had descended several servants were scene The point is simple one, but the Inspector had overlooked it because he had started supposition county magnates had had nothing matter Now, I make pint of never having any prejudices, and of following docilely wherever fact may lead me, and so, very first stage investigation, myself looking little askance part which played Alec Cunningham

"And now very careful examination corner of paper which the Inspector had submitted at once clear formed part of very remarkable document Here not now observed something very suggestive ? "

"It has very irregular look," said the Colonel

"My ," cried Holmes, "there the least doubt that written by two persons doing alternate words When I draw your attention strong t's of 'at' and 'to', and to compare them weak ones of 'quarter' and 'twelve,' instantly recognise the fact very brief analysis four words would enable you utmost confidence 'learn' 'maybe' are written stronger hand, 'what' weaker "

"By Jove, it's as clear as day ! " cried the Colonel "Why on earth should two men write letter fashion ? "

"Obviously the business was bad one, and men who distrusted the other was determined that, whatever , each an equal hand Now, two men, clear one who wrote the 'at' and 'to' ringleader "

"How get ? "

" deduce it mere character one hand as compared other But more assured reasons than that for supposing it examine this scrap with attention come conclusion man stronger hand wrote all his words first, leaving blanks other up These blanks always sufficient, and you second man had squeeze to fit his 'quarter' in 'at' 'to,' showing latter were already written The man who wrote all his words first in undoubtedly the man who planned the affair "

"Excellent ! " cried Mr Acton

"But very superficial," said Holmes "We come now, however, to point of importance not be aware deduction of man's age writing is one brought to considerable accuracy by experts In normal cases one can place man true decade with tolerable confidence normal cases, because ill-health and physical weakness reproduce the signs of old age, even invalid is youth In , looking bold, strong hand one, rather broken-backed appearance other, which still retains its legibility although the t's have begun to lose their crossing, we one was young man other was advanced in years without being positively decrepit "

"Excellent ! " cried Mr Acton again

" further point, however, subtler and of greater interest something in common hands They belong to men blood-relatives It most obvious Greek e's, but many small points which indicate the same thing at all that family mannerism traced two specimens of writing only, , giving you the leading results now examination paper There were twenty-three other deductions which of more interest to experts than They all tend to deepen the impression upon my mind Cunninghams, father and son, had written this letter