Thor Bridge- Arthur Conan Doyle

Thor Bridge

"You've heard of Neil Gibson, the Gold King?"

"The millionaire? Yes. He's lived in England for some time now. I know him from newspapers."

"So, you've heard of the sad death of his wife And you know that the police have a woman in prison for it" "Yes."

"This letter came this morning. "

CLARIDGE'S HOTEL, October 3rd

DEAR MR SHERLOCK HOLMES,

I can't let a good woman go to her death.I am speaking of Miss Grace Dunbar, the governess who teaches my two children. The police believe she killed my wife and they are keeping her in Winchester prison. Miss Dunbar wouldn't hurt a fly, and I know she didn't kill my wife.you must believe me. I want your help at any price. Please you must try to save her.

yours, J NEIL GIBSON

"I believe Gibson is the strongest man in the world of money, is he not?" Holmes said.

"Yes. He live at a big country house at Thor place.Do you remember the story of his wife's death?"

"Not very well. "

"one of the servants found her body at Thor Bridge , at late night. She wore her dinner dress, and she had a bullet in her head, there was no gun near her, remember that, Watson."

" Why did the police take away the governess?"

" They found a gun on the floor of a cupboard in her bedroom. The police told the newspapers"This gun had shot one bullet, and the bullet in Mrs Gibson's head is the right size for that gun"

"That seems bad for Miss Dunbar." Said Watson

"There is something worse .There was a note in the dead woman's hand. It was from the governess and it was about a meeting at Thor Bridge that night."

"And did she really go there ?"

" A villager saw her there."

"Oh dear. What can you do, Holmes?"

" I think our friend is already here. "

The famous millionaire came into the room. When Holmes first saw him, he could understand the hates of other businessmen.

" I will say here and now, Mr Holmes, money means nothing to me. You can burn it if you want. But you must save this woman from prison."

"My costs are always the same,but you must tell me your true feelings for Miss Dunbar. "

"you have the right to ask this question. "

Gibson looked at the floor and he said "I can tell in a very few words, Mr Holmes I met my wife when I was in Brazil.I loved her and I married her. But after many years.... We didn't think in the same way and my love for her slowly died ,then a governess came for our two children Miss Grace Dunbar and she is a very beautiful woman, I think you understand these, MrHolmes. "

"Some of you rich men must learn that you can't reach out a hand for all your wants. "

"Yes. I feel the same way now. Miss Dunbar wanted to leave the house after I spoke of my feelings, I said that I would never speak of it again, but there's something else. The world of money is a hard one, , and sometimes I've had to break another man's business, but Miss Dunbar saw things differently. She believes that a rich man must not build his world on the bodies of ten thousand poor men.She wanted me to be a better man. I think she stayed because she wanted to help. "

Holmes asked ,"What can you tell me about your wife's death? "

Gibson said sadly, " Things look bad for Miss Dunbar. But it was my wife who was full of hate not Miss Dunbar. I can only think that my wife wanted Miss Dunbar to leave, so she took a gun with her... Perhaps she only wanted Miss Dunbar to be afraid, but there may be was a fight ... Oh,I don't know.But I just don't believe Miss Dunbar killed her."

"I think we can get to Winchester by the evening train. I'll know much when I've talked to this young

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woman. "

Winchester Prison would not let us make a visit that evening, it was too late. So we went to Mr Gibson's house at Thor Place.

Gibson did not come with us,but we found Sergeant Coventry, he was the first who arrived at Thor Place after Mrs Gibson's death.While the three of us walked to Thor Place, Holmes asked about the gun.Sergeant Coventry said "It was his gun, you know."

"Mr Gibson's? I didn't know that. "

"Oh yes, sir. It was one of two. came from a box for two guns. " " where is the other?"

" We've never found it. There was a lot of guns in that house But we couldn't find the second one."

A walk of about a kilometre brought us to the grounds of Thor Place. Not far from the house there was a stone bridge, and here we stopped.Sergeant Coventry said, "This is where we found Mrs Gibson's body."

"Who sent for you?" "Mr Gibson. When he heard the news, he ran out of the house with the others."

"The newspapers said the bullet went into Mrs Gibson's head."

"Just behind the right ear.The body was on its back. Nothing to show there was a fight."

"And the note was in her hand."

"The left hand, sir, yes. It was hard to take it out of the fingers."

"Ah. So the killer did not put it there after the death. A short note?"

"Yes, sir. It just said, I will be at Thor Bridge at 9 o'clock -- G Dunbar. It's one of the few easy things about this business."

"I don't understand it. This note reached Mrs Gibson some