could　do　nothing。　But　I　watched　the　criminal　news；　knowing　that　sooner
  or　later　I　should　get　him。　Then　came　the　death　of　this　Ronald　Adair。
  My　chance　had　come　at　last。　Knowing　what　I　did；　was　it　not　certain
  that　Colonel　Moran　had　done　it？　He　had　played　cards　with　the　lad；　he
  had　followed　him　home　from　the　club；　he　had　shot　him　through　the
  open　window。　There　was　not　a　doubt　of　it。　The　bullets　alone　are　enough
  to　put　his　head　in　a　noose。　I　came　over　at　once。　I　was　seen　by　the
  sentinel；　who　would；　I　knew；　direct　the　colonel's　attention　to　my
  presence。　He　could　not　fail　to　connect　my　sudden　return　with　his
  crime；　and　to　be　terribly　alarmed。　I　was　sure　that　he　would　make　an
  attempt　to　get　me　out　of　the　way　at　once；　and　would　bring　round　his
  murderous　weapon　for　that　purpose。　I　left　him　an　excellent　mark　in　the
  window；　and；　having　warned　the　police　that　they　might　be　needed…　by
  the　way；　Watson；　you　spotted　their　presence　in　that　doorway　with
  unerring　accuracy…　I　took　up　what　seemed　to　me　to　be　a　judicious
  post　for　observation；　never　dreaming　that　he　would　choose　the　same
  spot　for　his　attack。　Now；　my　dear　Watson；　does　anything　remain　for
  me　to　explain？〃
  〃Yes；〃　said　I。　〃You　have　not　made　it　clear　what　was　Colonel
  Moran's　motive　in　murdering　the　Honourable　Ronald　Adair？〃
  〃Ah！　my　dear　Watson；　there　we　come　into　those　realms　of
  conjecture；　where　the　most　logical　mind　may　be　at　fault。　Each　may　form
  his　own　hypothesis　upon　the　present　evidence；　and　yours　is　as　likely
  to　be　correct　as　mine。〃
  〃You　have　formed　one；　then？〃
  〃I　think　that　it　is　not　difficult　to　explain　the　facts。　It　came
  out　in　evidence　that　Colonel　Moran　and　young　Adair　had；　between
  them；　won　a　considerable　amount　of　money。　Now；　undoubtedly　played
  foul…　of　that　I　have　long　been　aware。　I　believe　that　on　the　day　of　the
  murder　Adair　had　discovered　that　Moran　was　cheating。　Very　likely　he
  had　spoken　to　him　privately；　and　had　threatened　to　expose　him　unless
  he　voluntarily　resigned　his　membership　of　the　club；　and　promised　not
  to　play　cards　again。　It　is　unlikely　that　a　youngster　like　Adair
  would　at　once　make　a　hideous　scandal　by　exposing　a　well　known　man　so
  much　older　than　himself。　Probably　he　acted　as　I　suggest。　The　exclusion
  from　his　clubs　would　mean　ruin　to　Moran；　who　lived　by　his　ill…gotten
  card…gains。　He　therefore　murdered　Adair；　who　at　the　time　was
  endeavouring　to　work　out　how　much　money　he　should　himself　return；
  since　he　could　not　profit　by　his　partner's　foul　play。　He　locked　the
  door　lest　the　ladies　should　surprise　him　and　insist　upon　knowing
  what　he　was　doing　with　these　names　and　coins。　Will　it　pass？〃
  〃I　have　no　doubt　that　you　have　hit　upon　the　truth。〃
  〃It　will　be　verified　or　disproved　at　the　trial。　Meanwhile；　come　what
  may；　Colonel　Moran　will　trouble　us　no　more。　The　famous　air…gun　of
  Von　Herder　will　embellish　the　Scotland　Yard　Museum；　and　once　again　Mr。
  Sherlock　Holmes　is　free　to　devote　his　life　to　examining　those
  interesting　little　problems　which　the　complex　life　of　London　so
  plentifully　presents。〃
  …THE　END…
  。