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ElapticAI-512

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is let loose at night to prevent him from endeavouring to communicate
with her. So much is fairly clear. The most serious point in the case
is the disposition of the child.
“What on earth has that to do with it? I ejaculated.
“My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining light as
to the tendencies of a child by the study of the parents. Don’t you see
that the converse is equally valid. I have frequently gained my first
real insight into the character of parents by studying their children.
This child’s disposition is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty’s
sake, and whether he derives this from his smiling father, as I should
suspect, or from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in
their power.
“I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes, cried our client. “A
thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have hit
it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor
creature.
“We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning man. We
can do nothing until seven o’clock. At that hour we shall be with you,
and it will not be long before we solve the mystery.
We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we reached the
Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside public-house. The
group of trees, with their dark leaves shining like burnished metal in
the light of the setting sun, were sufficient to mark the house even
had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the door-step.
“Have you managed it? asked Holmes.
A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. “That is Mrs.
Toller in the cellar, said she. “Her husband lies snoring on the
kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Mr.
Rucastle’s.
“You have done well indeed! cried Holmes with enthusiasm. “Now lead
the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black business.
We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a passage,
and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Hunter had
described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the transverse bar. Then he
tried the various keys in the lock, but without success. No sound came
from within, and at the silence Holmes’ face clouded over.
“I trust that we are not too late, said he. “I think, Miss Hunter,
that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put your shoulder to
it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in.
It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united strength.
Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There was no furniture
save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a basketful of linen. The
skylight above was open, and the prisoner gone.
“There has been some villainy here, said Holmes; “this beauty has
guessed Miss Hunter’s intentions and has carried his victim off.
“But how?
“Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it. He swung
himself up onto the roof. “Ah, yes, he cried, “here’s the end of a
long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did it.
“But it is impossible, said Miss Hunter; “the ladder was not there
when the Rucastles went away.
“He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and
dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were he
whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it would be
as well for you to have your pistol ready.
The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the
door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy stick in his
hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wall at the sight of
him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and confronted him.
“You villain! said he, “where’s your daughter?
The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open skylight.
“It is for me to ask you that, he shrieked, “you thieves! Spies and
thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I’ll serve
you! He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could go.
“He’s gone for the dog! cried Miss Hunter.
“I have 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 a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a horrible worrying
sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An elderly man with a red
face and shaking limbs came staggering out at a 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 of the house, with Toller
hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its black muzzle