Read Online The Adventure of the Tired Captain A Sherlock Holmes Case by K. Michael Gaschnitz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K. Michael Gaschnitz
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have one or two other matters to attend to. I shall see myself out.”
I poured myself a drink and rang for my maid. She appeared shortly.
“Make yourself ready to go next door,” I told her, “and hurry girl.”
“Very good, sir,” she replied as she turned to go up the stairs. She vanished into her own little chamber at the top of the house and was back in front of me in under ten minutes.
“You have everything you need?”
“Yes sir. I have put my nightdress, a toothbrush and one or two other items into this small bag which I can easily hide under my cloak.”
“Take the tray that you have prepared and be on your way. Have a pleasant evening and be ready for Mrs. Watson’s return in the morning.”
She favored me with a dainty curtsy and left. I went into the kitchen and checked with the cook on the preparations for our own dinner. I had asked her to do something special for Mary’s return home and she did not disappoint. The jugged hare and the Brown Windsor soup were unaccountably two of Mary’s favorites.
I went out to the front hall and paced up and down in expectation. After five or so minutes I walked over to the one window which faced my neighbour’s and peered out. The view was partially obscured at the best of times and I could see nothing.
Where was she? Had something happened? Mary had at times been of assistance to me in my surgery, was she now perhaps helping my neighbour with a patient who had come in following the conclusion of his normal surgery hours?
I went outside into the warm summer air, and lighting a cigarette I strolled leisurely down the front walk towards the Anstruther house. Light shone from within as I rang the bell.
There was no answer.
I knew that my neighbour kept at least one domestic, who should now be answering my ring. I went around to the dining room and looked in the window. Everything appeared to be normal. The table had been laid for three and I could see that a fire was burning in the fireplace. As both of the Anstruthers were elderly I was aware that they kept a fire burning during the evening meal no matter the season but the room was empty. I was quickly becoming apprehensive.
I continued my circumnavigation of the house until I came to the drawing room. I tried the window and to my surprise it was unlocked. I entered the room. All was silent save for the relentless and in the circumstances ominous ticking of the grandfather clock standing in the corner.
I called out. There was no reply.
Feeling no better than a common cracksman I began a search of the remaining ground floor rooms, beginning with the surgery. It was then that I heard a muffled cry from upstairs. I took the steps two at a time and stopped at the top to listen. From one of the bedrooms I again heard sounds.
I rapped on the door and without waiting for a reply I went inside.
What I saw made the blood freeze in my veins.
Three persons lay prostrate on the bed, secured hand and foot. Mrs. Anstruther, her maid and Mary Jane were each bound with rope and lay motionless together. The ropes not withstanding it appeared as if they were asleep. My wife and Dr. Anstruther were nowhere to be seen.
I rushed over to Mrs. Anstruther and untied the ropes binding her. I vigorously rubbed her wrists to restore circulation and from a pitcher on the night table I splashed some water onto the elderly lady’s forehead. She began to stir.
It was then that I not iced a familiar and not unpleasant odor coming from the night table. I picked up a cloth and took a cautious sniff. It smelled of chloroform. I examined the old woman’s face and saw the tell-tale blistering which is characteristic of the drug’s contact with the skin.
“What has happened, Margaret?” I cried as I gently patted her cheeks. She moaned quietly but otherwise did not respond. Leaving her for the moment I went around the bed to release the other two women. I splashed some water upon their foreheads and propped their feet up upon
I poured myself a drink and rang for my maid. She appeared shortly.
“Make yourself ready to go next door,” I told her, “and hurry girl.”
“Very good, sir,” she replied as she turned to go up the stairs. She vanished into her own little chamber at the top of the house and was back in front of me in under ten minutes.
“You have everything you need?”
“Yes sir. I have put my nightdress, a toothbrush and one or two other items into this small bag which I can easily hide under my cloak.”
“Take the tray that you have prepared and be on your way. Have a pleasant evening and be ready for Mrs. Watson’s return in the morning.”
She favored me with a dainty curtsy and left. I went into the kitchen and checked with the cook on the preparations for our own dinner. I had asked her to do something special for Mary’s return home and she did not disappoint. The jugged hare and the Brown Windsor soup were unaccountably two of Mary’s favorites.
I went out to the front hall and paced up and down in expectation. After five or so minutes I walked over to the one window which faced my neighbour’s and peered out. The view was partially obscured at the best of times and I could see nothing.
Where was she? Had something happened? Mary had at times been of assistance to me in my surgery, was she now perhaps helping my neighbour with a patient who had come in following the conclusion of his normal surgery hours?
I went outside into the warm summer air, and lighting a cigarette I strolled leisurely down the front walk towards the Anstruther house. Light shone from within as I rang the bell.
There was no answer.
I knew that my neighbour kept at least one domestic, who should now be answering my ring. I went around to the dining room and looked in the window. Everything appeared to be normal. The table had been laid for three and I could see that a fire was burning in the fireplace. As both of the Anstruthers were elderly I was aware that they kept a fire burning during the evening meal no matter the season but the room was empty. I was quickly becoming apprehensive.
I continued my circumnavigation of the house until I came to the drawing room. I tried the window and to my surprise it was unlocked. I entered the room. All was silent save for the relentless and in the circumstances ominous ticking of the grandfather clock standing in the corner.
I called out. There was no reply.
Feeling no better than a common cracksman I began a search of the remaining ground floor rooms, beginning with the surgery. It was then that I heard a muffled cry from upstairs. I took the steps two at a time and stopped at the top to listen. From one of the bedrooms I again heard sounds.
I rapped on the door and without waiting for a reply I went inside.
What I saw made the blood freeze in my veins.
Three persons lay prostrate on the bed, secured hand and foot. Mrs. Anstruther, her maid and Mary Jane were each bound with rope and lay motionless together. The ropes not withstanding it appeared as if they were asleep. My wife and Dr. Anstruther were nowhere to be seen.
I rushed over to Mrs. Anstruther and untied the ropes binding her. I vigorously rubbed her wrists to restore circulation and from a pitcher on the night table I splashed some water onto the elderly lady’s forehead. She began to stir.
It was then that I not iced a familiar and not unpleasant odor coming from the night table. I picked up a cloth and took a cautious sniff. It smelled of chloroform. I examined the old woman’s face and saw the tell-tale blistering which is characteristic of the drug’s contact with the skin.
“What has happened, Margaret?” I cried as I gently patted her cheeks. She moaned quietly but otherwise did not respond. Leaving her for the moment I went around the bed to release the other two women. I splashed some water upon their foreheads and propped their feet up upon
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