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Page 6
"They are in the outhouse, those dreadful things," said she as
Lestrade entered. "I wish that you would take them away
altogether."
"So I shall, Miss Cushing. I only kept them here until my
friend, Mr. Holmes, should have seen them in your presence."
"Why in my presence, sir?"
"In case he wished to ask any questions."
"What is the use of asking me questions when I tell you I know
nothing whatever about it?"
"Quite so, madam," said Holmes in his soothing way. "I have no
doubt that you have been annoyed more than enough already over
this business."
"Indeed I have, sir. I am a quiet woman and live a retired life.
It is something new for me to see my name in the papers and to
find the police in my house. I won't have those things I here,
Mr. Lestrade. If you wish to see them you must go to the
outhouse."
It was a small shed in the narrow garden which ran behind the
house. Lestrade went in and brought out a yellow cardboard box,
with a piece of brown paper and some string. There was a bench
at the end of the path, and we all sat down while Homes examined
one by one, the articles which Lestrade had handed to him.
"The string is exceedingly interesting," he remarked, holding it
up to the light and sniffing at it. "What do you make of this
string, Lestrade?"
"It has been tarred."
"Precisely. It is a piece of tarred twine. You have also, no
doubt, remarked that Miss Cushing has cut the cord with a
scissors, as can be seen by the double fray on each side. This
is of importance."
"I cannot see the importance," said Lestrade.
"The importance lies in the fact that the knot is left intact,
and that this knot is of a peculiar character."
"It is very neatly tied. I had already made a note of that
effect," said Lestrade complacently.
"So much for the string, then," said Holmes, smiling, "now for
the box wrapper. Brown paper, with a distinct smell of coffee.
What, did you not observe it? I think there can be no doubt of
it. Address printed in rather straggling characters: 'Miss S.
Cushing, Cross Street, Croydon.' Done with a broad-pointed pen,
probably a J, and with very inferior ink. The word 'Croydon' has
been originally spelled with an 'i', which has been changed to
'y'. The parcel was directed, then, by a man--the printing is
distinctly masculine--of limited education and unacquainted with
the town of Croydon. So far, so good! The box is a yellow,
half-pound honeydew box, with nothing distinctive save two thumb
marks at the left bottom corner. It is filled with rough salt of
the quality used for preserving hides and other of the coarser
commercial purposes. And embedded in it are these very singular
enclosures."
He took out the two ears as he spoke, and laying a board across
his knee he examined them minutely, while Lestrade and I, bending
forward on each side of him, glanced alternately at these
dreadful relics and at the thoughtful, eager face of our
companion. Finally he returned them to the box once more and sat
for a while in deep meditation.
"You have observed, of course," said he at last, "that the ears
are not a pair."
"Yes, I have noticed that. But if this were the practical joke
of some students from the dissecting-rooms, it would be as easy
for them to send two odd ears as a pair."
"Precisely. But this is not a practical joke."
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