James M. Dodd

It seemed to me that something was moving ahead of me.

I called his name.

It was no use.

When I got to the end of the path, there were several others branching in different directions to some outhouses.

But as I stood there hesitating, I distinctly heard the sound of a closing door.

It wasn't behind me in the house.

It was somewhere ahead in the darkness.

I knew then, Mr. Holmes, that what I'd seen was no vision.

Well then, Mr. Dodd, what else did you do?

There was nothing more I could do.

I spent an uneasy night trying to find some theory to cover the facts.

Well, next day I found the colonel rather more conciliatory.

His wife remarked that there were some places of interest in the neighborhood, and I saw an opening to ask her that I might stay there one more night.

Somewhat grudgingly, he agreed.

Which gave you a clear day in which to make your observations.

Yes.

I felt I must explore the garden and see what I could find.

There were several small outhouses, but at the end of the garden there was a detached building of some size.

It was heavily curtained.

I wondered if this could have been the place the sound of that shutting door had come from.