Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 170: Investigating Strange Cases (12)
"Lying on her back. No sign of resistance, no murder weapon of any kind. And worst of all, Miss Dunbar's note to her is held in her left hand."

"You said she was holding a note?"

"Yes, and very tightly."

"This precludes the possibility of a forgery. Mrs. Gibson did have a note in her hand before she died. I still remember it:

I'll wait for you at Thunder God Bridge at nine o'clock.

Brother Dunbar

"Mr. Holmes, you remember very accurately."

"Has Miss Dunbar admitted this?"

"Now she doesn't want to say anything, she is going to defend herself at the circuit court trial."

"It's incomprehensible. The note is also vague and incomprehensible. Why on earth are you going there?"

The police officer said: "However, although I am very mediocre, I still want to express my opinion. The purpose of this note appearing in the deceased's hand is also very clear."

"It is very strange that I still have this note in my hand when I go to the appointment. The content of the note is very simple. Could it be that the deceased cannot remember the place and time of the appointment? If it is indeed written by Miss Dunbar, the purpose is obvious. Yet?"

"You're right."

"I need to sort out my thoughts." He fell silent, sitting on the stone railing and looking around.Immediately, as if he had discovered a new continent, he quickly ran to the railing on the opposite side of the bridge, and carefully observed the stone with a magnifying glass—there were chisel marks on it.

"It's weird, who did that on purpose?" he said.

"Yes, we also know about this situation. But it doesn't seem to have much to do with the case, maybe it was left by a pedestrian."

Gray stone with a gouge the size of a penny coin. The stone is so hard that the gouges can only be made when hit hard.

"It will take a lot of force," said Holmes excitedly. He struck the stone rail with his stick without leaving a mark, which proved his judgment. "It is certain. The problem is that the place where the gouging mark is very strange."

"But it's quite far away from where the corpse is lying, so it doesn't seem to matter much."

"It doesn't matter much. It's fifteen feet away. It's worth thinking about. Now, come here. Have you found any footprints nearby?"

"We checked everything, there were no footprints, there were no traces of any kind."

"Then there's no need to stay here anymore. I'll go and see Mr. Gibson's various weapons first, and then go to see that poor Miss Dunbar. I can think so much."

Gibson was not at home, and Mr. Bates, the nervous housekeeper who had tipped us off, showed us all of his master's collection of weapons.These gruesome weapons speak volumes about the adventures of their owners.Mr. Bates still loathes his master, and would like us to condemn Mr. Gibson for these weapons.

He said: "It is not uncommon for Mr. Gibson to have many enemies. His behavior can make him have no friends. Therefore, he keeps a loaded pistol by his bed every day. He is also afraid. He is very cruel and cold. Everyone is afraid of him, even his wife is afraid of him."

"Have you ever seen him beat her before?"

"I'm not sure about that. But the cruelest way to treat a person is to insult his personality and dignity. He once said many of the most shameless and despicable things to his wife, and in front of the servants. This is too unbearable gone."

On the way back, Holmes told me: "There are many things to criticize in this giant's family life. Our trip was not in vain. We got a lot of useful information, but the key problem has not been solved. Although Mr. Bates He wanted to execute his boss immediately, but he only gave us these circumstances. When the tragedy happened, Gibson was in the study, and he had no time to commit the crime. Nor did Bates have enough evidence to prove that Mr. Gibson stayed outside after returning home in the afternoon. Miss Dunbar had a meeting with Mrs. Gibson at the Bridge of Thor. We all know what happened before and after the meeting. Now, she won't say anything, but I have to see her and get some important questions out. The case is against her in every way, except Beyond one point, all the evidence points against her."

"Which point?"

"That pistol in her wardrobe."

I was surprised and said: "No, I think this is the biggest disadvantage to her!"

"You're wrong. At the beginning, I doubted this. After understanding the situation, this is indeed a doubt. I really can't find a reasonable reason to explain this."

"Can you explain in detail?"

"Okay, Watson. Let's reason first: if you are a woman who wants to kill someone, and all the careful planning - writing notes, keeping appointments, killing people with guns - no one knows, why don't you remember to destroy the stolen goods? Whoever came up with such a perfect plan is simply a clever fool. Instead of throwing the pistol away, he put it in the most noticeable place and waited for the police to find it? Watson, although you are not very shrewd, you are not so shy as to do such a thing. Stupid thing?"

"Probably not on purpose—"

"That's impossible. If it was a pre-planned murder, then we must think about the issue of how to deal with the murder weapon. We are blinded by the falsehood."

"But your hypothesis needs to be further verified."

"Yes, now we are going to verify it. You think about it from another angle, such as the most unfavorable evidence-the pistol. Dunbar said she didn't know what happened. If she is telling the truth, in my opinion, Someone must be trying to frame her. The person who put the gun in her closet must be the murderer. From the other side of the reasoning, we have made a major discovery."

Since the permit was not yet completed, I had to stay in Winchester that night.Dunbar's defense attorney, Joyce Cummings, accompanied us to see Dunbar in prison the next day.The lawyer was a rising star in the legal profession, and he had a bright future.Heard many rumors about her these days!I went to see this beauty I had never met with my own perspective, and she really left a deep impression on me.No wonder that ruthless and cruel financial tycoon was also purified by his soul and did some good deeds.She does have the power to conquer people, which Gibson also admits.Her respectable and noble temperament left a good impression on people.Her pretty face also shows that she is a decisive person.She is slender, with a steady expression and an extraordinary temperament.But those charming eyes lost their brilliance at this time, revealing a pitiful and helpless look.She is so perfect.Only we can help her now.We told her who we were and why we were here.She seemed to see God in holy light, with a hint of anger in her eyes, and her pale cheeks flushed.We really must help the poor girl.

She suppressed her excitement and said, "You must have heard about us from Neil Gibson?"

"Yes," said Holmes, "you need not repeat that. Now, I believe what he said--the special and innocent relationship between you two and the special part you played. But I do not see why it is not stated in court." What's up?"

"I thought it wasn't that serious. I was clean and sure one day people would find out. But it wasn't, and it was getting worse, almost out of control. If you didn't talk about embarrassing families It would be great if the scandal could be resolved."

Holmes was so anxious that he couldn't control himself: "My lady, please stop waiting passively. Your lawyer, Mr. Cummings, told you that your situation is very disadvantageous. If you don't cooperate, the consequences will be disastrous. Please Do your best to cooperate with us, only in this way can we be successful.”

"I will do my best to cooperate with you."

"Tell me how you and Mrs. Gibson got along."

"I don't know how to put it. Certainly she hates me, as much as she loves her husband, with all the madness of a tropical man. She misunderstands my relationship to him. She cannot understand the relationship between us." Time is only a spiritual connection, but her love for her husband is physical. She can't understand that I stay only because I want to have a good influence on him. She thinks that I want to take her husband away, so she is even more Hate me crazily. I shouldn't have stayed, maybe I was wrong! I've caused a long time of sorrow to others, a sorrow that can never be undone."

Holmes said: "Miss Dunbar, although no one believes you, please tell us the truth of the matter."

"I will tell the truth as I know it. Mr. Holmes, there are some very important situations for which I do not know the reasons."

"Just tell the truth without explaining."

"Well, I will tell you about the day at the Bridge of Thunder. That morning on the table in the room where the children were taught, I saw a note written to me by Mrs. Gibson. It said that she asked me to Wait for her at the bridge, and said that there is something important, let me put a reply on the sundial in the garden. Don't tell anyone about these things, I don't understand why she is so mysterious, but I didn't think much about it, so I did what she said She is very afraid of her husband, he always abuses her. She asked me to burn the note she gave me, and I burned it. I can understand that she must be afraid that her husband will get angry with her because of it. I do everything according to She did what she asked for."

"However, she deliberately left the note you wrote?"

"That's what I'm curious about, and it's in my hand."

"What happened after that?"

"I came on time at night, and she was waiting for me. When I got there, I really understood how much this fanatic hated me. She was like a psychopath, yelling and shouting, using the worst and most despicable words in the world. If you scold me, you want to tear me into pieces. She is really like a lunatic, she doesn't care about anything on the surface, but she wants me to go to hell in the bottom of her heart. I didn't speak, I was stunned. She looked too crazy I couldn't take it anymore and turned and ran, and she was swearing when I left."

"Where she died?"

"Maybe in that range."

"But didn't you hear the gunfire?"

"No. Mr. Holmes, I made her mind go crazy at that time. I just wanted to get away from her. I didn't think of anything else. I went straight to my own room."

"You said you went back to your house. You left again next morning, didn't you?"

"Yes, I was shocked when I heard about the accident, so I went to see it with others."

"Is Mr. Gibson here?"

"Yes, he's in charge. He sent for the doctor and the police."

"What do you think of his state of mind?"

"He is very strong-willed and very self-controlled. He doesn't show his feelings lightly. But I found that he was really emotional at that time. After all, she is his wife."

"The worst thing against you right now is the gun. Have you seen it before?"

"Never seen."

"When did you discover it?"

"From the closet, when the police found it."

"Curled up in your clothes?"

"Correct."

"Can you estimate when it's in your closet?"

"The morning before, I hadn't seen it by then."

"Why do you say that?"

"I packed my clothes."

"Clear, this shows that someone wants to frame you."

"You are quite right, Mr. Detective."

"How to determine the time of committing the crime?"

"At mealtime or when I'm teaching the kids."

"About the same time as when you got Mrs. Gibson's note?"

"Correct."

"Miss Dunbar, you have helped me and yourself a lot. You have to seriously recall the situation that day and ask further questions."

"I'll do my best."

"I found at the scene that there were marks left by a heavy object on the stone railing opposite the place where the corpse lay. Didn't you find it meaningful?"

"I really can't think of it."

"This is a strange question that is hard to figure out. Why is the appearance of this imprint and the death of the deceased so coincidentally linked? — time and place."

"I hope you can figure this out."

The nerves on Holmes' face were tense, giving off a dull look.Knowing from my previous experience, he entered a rich fantasy world.All three of us stared at him, pinning all our hopes on his brain.He suddenly raised his hand and waved to us.

"Watson, come on, come with me!" Holmes jumped to the door.

Dunbar asked nervously, "What's wrong?"

"Miss Dunbar, don't worry. Mr. Cummings, the most outstanding barrister in the country will be you. I am honored that I have been inspired by God. An innocent suffering woman was saved. Have hope in life, you will regain free."

It was not far away, but because we were anxious, it seemed to be traveling around the world.Because of his excitement, Holmes couldn't control himself.Indeed, success or failure depends on this time, and I am also very nervous.When approaching Thunder God Lake, he took my hand and asked me in the tone of a child asking a mother:
"Watson, for my safety, you have been protecting me with a gun, haven't you?"

I also said in the tone of complaining and teaching: "You have to thank me for the gun. You always focus on saving others and forget yourself. You are in danger, but you still don't know it."

"What's so scary with you protecting me? I want to know if you have a gun now?"

I pulled the gun out of my hip pocket. It was short, light, and a handy weapon.He took the gun, opened the safety, ejected the bullet, and watched carefully.

"It's heavy," he said.

"Yes, real guy."

He held the gun and thought for a moment.

"The most important thing for me is that with its help, we can complete an experiment closely related to the case."

"Don't make a fuss."

"I'm telling the truth. At Thor's Bridge, let's do an experiment. If what I imagine is the same as the result of the experiment, then this case will be closed. Now put all the bullets in the gun chamber, and take out another bullet .”

I really don't know what kind of experiment he is going to do, and I don't have to think too much, let him imagine.After getting off the bus in Khanbu County, I traveled by car for more than ten minutes, and finally saw the honest and honest local police officer.

"Mr. Holmes, is there any progress?"

Holmes said: "It depends on the success of today's experiment. Please help me find a rope about ten yards."

It wasn't long before the officer bought back the rope he needed.

"Okay, let's complete this experiment together!"

The Inspector had no more idea of ​​what Holmes was going to do than I did.The difference is that I trust Holmes-no matter what he does, the police officer's disdain and suspicion of him are obvious.It seemed that Holmes was repressing his great agitation.

He said: "Watson, I know you have many doubts. I have connected the clues when Miss Dunbar and I stated the facts. Now only the last disconnection is missing. I am not sure that it will be successful. I Sometimes I lead myself astray. But I think I have grasped something very accurate, it depends on the experiment."

Started to experiment.Holmes found the place where the dead man lay, and stood there.He held a pistol in his hand, and one end of the rope was tied to the pistol, and the other end was tied to a very heavy boulder, which was hung around the stone railing on the lake.The rope was now taut.

"Start!" After shouting, he raised the gun to his head like suicide and let go of it.Because of the weight of the stone, the pistol immediately slid to the opposite side of the bridge, bumped into the stone railing and sank to the bottom of the water. Holmes ran to look down at the stone railing.The experiment worked, and he jumped up to show that his reasoning was on point.

He shouted to me: "Watson, I have succeeded! Can you see that the imprint left just now is different from the other one? Great, your pistol has done a good job!"

"Okay, let's have a good drink tonight, everything is clear. Get your fishing gear ready to bring up Watson's pistol." He said to the still dumbfounded police officer. "Of course you can also catch that perverted woman." The weapons used for the purpose—the three things you see—the pistol, the stone, the rope. Miss Dunbar will be free, and you will tell Mr. Gibson tomorrow morning that I want to visit him. He will certainly welcome it .”

We drank and celebrated our victory that night, and Holmes explained the truth.

"Although I have long felt that the marks on the stone railing have a lot to do with this case, the complicated facts can't make me apply my reasoning to the case. I'm too stupid. If you must record this case, I think that Doesn't account for my intelligence.

"You don't have to blame yourself. No one would have imagined such a cruel and peculiar way of revenge. She attributed her husband's abuse of her to Dunbar's delusion of him. She didn't understand and didn't want to understand the spiritual Love rival and physical rival. Her fiery love, burning herself and almost burning others, this kind of woman is unbearable. Dunbar became the object of her venting. She abused herself and took revenge on others even more crazily.

"She was very well planned. She happened to get a note from Dunbar, pretending that Dunbar planned to let her go to Thor Bridge. She seemed to have a perfect calculation, but she was clever. The note in her hand when she died showed her true purpose. .

"She chose two identical pistols from her husband—one for herself, which disappeared forever at the bottom of the lake after committing suicide, and the other, which was used as a tool to frame Miss Dunbar, and was placed in Dunbar's closet. She planned everything and made up her mind to die. When Miss Dunbar arrived, she poured out all her resentment like crazy. After Dunbar left, she started to carry out such a cruel plan again. This is the truth, such a simple thing But there have been so many twists and turns. In any case, we have done justice, and the talented Mr. Gibson and the beautiful and kind Miss Dunbar may really be a perfect match. After all this, the financial king may have received some kind of enlightenment!" Weird professor

I am not a very casual person, and therefore, although I have many accounts of Holmes' cases, not all of them have been made public.People living in the society, especially prominent figures in the limelight, should not waste their previous efforts because of a little problem.If so, I might as well be a complete secrecy.But it is very difficult to grasp, and Holmes has of late been asking me to open the case of Professor Presbury, which has for a long time been bad for his reputation.I should give you a reasonable explanation, but what will happen after the explanation is hard to predict.After careful consideration, it is better to choose carefully.

It was a Sunday night in September, 1903, and I received a note from Holmes, as incomprehensible as his mind:
Take some time, please—you have to make time if you don't have time.

SH

(End of this chapter)