Pittston Gazette

              CS^--- AaK* K Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Vi lley. 1'ITTSTON, LUZRIINR CO., IW., Fill I ESTABLISHED 1850. » VOL.. X Kill. NO. 71. ( AY, JANUARY 2(D, 18 D I . V and Family Journal. I 91.SO I'KR AXXUM 1 IN ADVANCE found her very paie ana distressed. Her daughter was in the room, too— an uncommonly fine girl she is, too; she was looking red about the eyes and her lips trembled as I spoke to her. That didn't escape my notice. I began to smell a rat. You know the feeling, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, when you come upon the right acent—a kind of thrill In your nerves. 'Hare you heard of the mysterious death of your boarder, Mr. Enoch J. Drebber, of Cleveland?" I asked. "When Mrs. Cliarpontier pause.!," the detective continued, "I saw that the whole case hung up!Dn ono point Fixing her with my eye in a way which I always found effective with women, I asked her at what hour her son returned.been waiting for a gentleman for two days.* to do with it. I shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palatable, and on presenting it to the dog we find he laps it up readily enough." fffltWWii, {".-uivo about it except Mr. iiesant, ana BT OOIfAlf DOTXJL . "The plCl pattern is good onm remarked Lestrade, "if ive can fin KS " V\ here is he now?' I asked. "Mleis upstairs in bed. He wished to be called at nine.' ; man to put them on." 1 th he won't tell I wish I had more space to describe the tower in and had an understanding with this paper whereby I would be paid by the column. I would then give -a word picture here which would save the reader $500 in traveling expenses and $3,000 in maritime nausea. " Very good, very pood," said Tfolmoq, smiling. "The cabman may as well help me with my boxes. Just ask him to step up, Wiggins." TILL i '"II. seemed to ma? that my sudden appearance might shake his nervesand lead him to say something unguarded. The Roots volunteered to show me the room; it was on the second floor, and there was a small corridor leading up to it. The Hoots pointed out the door to me, ami was about to go downstairs As he spoke he turned the contents of the wine glass into .a saucer and placed it in front of the terrier, who speedily licked it dry. Sherlock Holmes' earnest demeanor had so far convinced us that we all sat in silence, watching the animal intently, and expecting some startling effect. None Buch appeared, however. The dog continued to lie stretched upon the cushion, breathing in a labored way, but apparently neither the better nor worse for its draught. POIN IMG " '1 do not know,' she answered. I was surprised to find my companion speaking as though he were about to set out on a journey, since he had not Getting on a lluntfr That "'No; he has a latch-key, anil let himself in.' " 'Not know?' Dunravftn and ID Snine Cut*? Tricks. onged to A \ isit to the Towr of I.ondon, With Tho building looks as much like a tower as Tattersall's livery and sale stablo in New York. " 'After you went to bed?* " 'Yes.' " 'When did you go to bed?' " 'About eleven.' Stubborn Facts tCopyr "The mother nodded. She didn't seem able to get out a word. The daughter burst into tears. I felt more than ever that these people knew something of the matter. again, when I saw something that made m:' feel sickish, in spite of my twenty years' experience. From under the door there curled a little red ribhon of blood, which had meandered across the passage and formed a little pool along the skirting at the other side. 1 pave a cry, which brought the Hoots back. lie nearly fainted when he saw it. The door was lCielcd on the inside, but we put our shoulders to it, and knocked it in. The window of the room was opeu, and beside the window', all huddled up, lay the body of a man in his night-dress, lie was quite dead, and had been for some time, for his limbs were rigid and cold. When we turned him over the lioots recognized him at once as being the same gentleman who had engaged the room under the name of Joseph iStangerson. The cause of death was a deep stab in the left side, which must have penetrated tho heart. And now comes the strangest part of the affair. What do you suppose was above the murdered man?" L(»: Jan. 0, 1894, No. it does not, come to think it over —more like the Forty-second Street reservoir, or the depot at Council Bluffs, la. It is a sort of combination of these styles and is paired with old Dominick's, like the site of the old Bastille in Paris. They look like one-fourth of an acre of salt rising bread just ready to bake or the good intentions used on the road to the Bad Lands. " 'So your son was gone at least two Of Inte I am getting many points on th" subject of htiDting, especially fox bnnting. with a view to hunting the fox more when I get back to my estates in North Carolina, where the fox is to bo Been very often. We have a slow set of bounds, however, in North Carolina, and I am getting together t here a pack of the I hours?' " 'Yes.' Holmes had taken out his watch, and as minute followed minute without result, an expression of the utmost chagrin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He gnawed his lip, drummed his fingers upon the table, and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion that I felt sincerely sorry for him, while the two detectives smiled derisively, by no means displeased at this cheok which he had met. (CONTINUED) the address of the house at which he had boarded—a result which was entirely due to the acuteness and energy of Mr. Gregson, of Scotland Yard. " 'At what o'clock did Mr. Drebber leave your houae for the train?' I aaked. " 'Possibly four or five?' * It was close upon nine when he set out. I had no idea how long he might be, bnt I sat stolidly puffing at my pipe and skipping over the pages of Henri Murger's "Vie de Boheme." Ten o'clock passed, and I heard the footsteps of the maids as they pattered off to bed. Eleven and the more stately tread of the landlady passed my door, bound for the same destination. It was close upon twelve before I heard the sharp sound of his latch-key. The instant he entered I saw by his face that he had not been successful. Amusement and chagrin seemed to be  gllng for the mastery .until the former suddenly carried the day, and he burst Into a hearty laugh. " 'What was he doing during' that "'Yes.' " 'At eight o'clock,' she said, gulping In her throat to keep down her agitation. 'His secretary, Mr. Stangerson, ■aid that there were two trains—one at 9:15 and one at 11. He was to eatch the first.' time?' Sherlock Holmes and I read these notices over together at breakfast, and they appeared to afford him considerable amusement. " 'I do not know,' she answered, turning1 white to her very lips. There is a moat around the building, but it is dry, though they tell me it can be flooded at any time. I offered a beef eater 2 bob to flood it, and he was just going to do it when his superior came out and wanted 3 bob for himself. I saw that it would be no object to visit the Tower on Saturday if I fooled all my money away in this manner, so I withdrew the offer. "Of course after that there was nothinp more to be done. I f jimd out where Lieut. Charpentier \v:is. took two oflieers with me, and arrested him. When I touched him 011 the shoulder and warned him to come quietly with us, he answered us as bold as brnss: *i Buppose you are arresting1 me for liein; concerned in the death of that scoundrel, Drebber,' he said. We had said nothing to him about it, so that his alluding to it bad a most suspicious aspect." "I told you that whatever happened Lestrade and Gregson would be sure to score." " 'And was that the last which you saw of him?' "That depends on how it turns ont" "A terrible change came over the woman's face as I asked the question. Her features turned perfectly livid. It was some seconds before she could get out the single word 'Yes,' and when it dktemne out it waa in a husky, unnatural tone. "It can't be a coincidence," he cried, at last, springing from his chair and pacing wildly up and down the room; "it is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected in the case of Drebber are actually found after the death of Stangerson. And yet they are inert. What can It mean? Surely my whole chain of reasoning cannot have been false. It is impossible! And yet this wretched dog is none the worse. Ah, I have it! I have it!" With a perfect shriek of delight he rushed to the box, cut the other pill in two, dissolved it, added milk and presented it to the terrier. The unfortunate creature's tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened in it before it gave a convulsive shiver in every limb, and lay as rigid and lifeless as if it had been struck by lightning."Oh, bless you, it doesn't matter In the least If the man is caught it wiU be on account of their exertions; if he escapes it will be in spite of their ex.-rtiane . It's heads I win and tuiltyou lose. Whatever they do they will have followers. 'Un sot truve toujours on plus sot qui l'admlre.' " " v* nat on eartn is tnis?" 1 cried, for at this moment there came the pattering of many steps in the hall and- on the stairs, accompanied by audible expressions of disgust upon the part of our landlady. "just give Me a nKr.r with this BUCKLE, CABMAN." The Tower covers 13 acres, and tho pence paid in by the public does not pay for sweeping the sidewalk. saiel anything' to mo about it. There was a small portmanteau in the room, awl this he pulled out and began to strap. He was busily engaged at it when the cabman entered the room. "There wm silence (or A moment, and then the daughter spoke in a calm, clear voice: "Very," said Holmes. It was used by Henry II as a royal lodgment, but since has been mostly used as a place to jug Scotch kings in. Griffin, prince of Wales, was also a prisoner here, and in trying to escape from his turret broke the rope, and the place where he fell was a sight to behold. His son was killed in battle soon after and his head put up on the same turret by Edward, who slew him. It was the custom in those days to put the heads of your enemies on the gateposts to scare the post- "I wouldn't have the Scotland Yardera know it for the world," he cried, dropping' into bis chair; "I have chaffed them so much that they would never have let me hear the end of it. I can afford to laugh, because I know that I will be even with them, in the long run." "lie still carried the heavy stick which the mother described him a:, having with him when he followed Drebber. It was a stout oak cudgel." " 'No good can ever come of falsehood, mother,' she said. 'Let us be frank with this gentleman. We did see Mr. Drebber again.' 1 felt, a creeping of flesh, and a presentiment of coming horror, even before Sherlock Holmes answered: "Jnstgive me a help with this buckle, cabman," he said, kneeling over his task, and never turning his head. "What is your theory, then?' The fellow came forward with a somewhat sullen, defiant air, and put down his hands to assist. At that instant there was a sharp click, the jangling of metal, and Sherlock Holmes sprang to his feet again. " 'God forgive youl' cried Mme. Charpentier, throwing up her bands and ■inking back in her chair. 'You havo murdered your brother.' "Well, my theory is that he followed Drebber as far as the lirixt.on road When there, a fresh altercation arose between them, in the course of which Drebber received a blow from the stick, in the pit of the stomach. n-r-haps, which killed him without leaving any mark. The night was so wet that no one was about, so Charpeiitier dragged the body of his victim into the empty lupise. As to the candle and the blood, and -the writing on the wall, and the ring, they may all !DC• so many tricks to throw the police on t'» the wrong scent." "The word 'rache,' written in letters of blood," he said. "It's the Baker street division of the detective police force," said my companion gravely; and as he spoke there rushed into the room half a dozen of the dirtiest and most ragged street- Arabs that ever I clapped eyes on. "That was it," said Lestrade, in an awe-struck voice; and we were all silent for awhile. "What is it, then?" I asked. MAN AND nOUSE, "Oh, I don't mind telling a story against myself. That creature had gone a little way when she began to limp and show every sign of being foot-sore. Presently she came to a halt, and hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. I managed to be close enough to her to hear the address, but 1 need not have been so anxious, for she sang it out loud enough to be heard at the other aide of the street. 'Drive to 13 Duncan street, ' Iloundsditch,' she cried. This begins to look genuine, I cried, and having seen her safely Inside, I perched myself behind. That's an art which every detective should be an expert at. Well, away we rattled, and never drew a rein until we reached the street in question. I hopped off before we came to the door, and strolled down the street in an easy, lounging way. I saw the cab pull up. The driver jumped down, and I saw him open the door and stand expectantly. Nothing came out, though. When I reached him he was groping about frantically in the empty cab, and giving vent to the finest assorted collection of oaths that ever I listened to. There was no sign or trace of his passenger, and I {par it will be some time before he gets his fare. On inquiring at No. IS 1 found that the house belonged to a respectable paper-hanger, named Keswick, and (hat no one of the name either of Sawyer or Dennis had ever been heard of there." " 'Arthur would rather that we spoke the truth,' the girl answered firmly. swiftest razorbaok hogs In the state now, with a view to building up a more chaste and l)cautifnl hunt than I find here in England. My razorbacks have a strain of the finest and haughtiest aristocratic southern blood in their veins, having over a hundred years ago eaten a gentleman belonging to a very old family, and this, combined with their sterling qualities of mind and heart, which they breathe in with every Blue mountain zephyr of North Carolina, makes t'iem by birth and association well adapted to the chase. There was something so methodical and so incomprehensible about the deeds of this unknown assassin, that it imparted a fresh ghastliness to his crimes. My nerves, which were steady enough on the field of battle, tingled as'I thought of it. "Gentlemen," he cried, with flashing eyes, "let mo introduce you to Mr. Jefferson Hope, the murderer of Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson." lne wnole tning occurred in a moment—so quickly that I had no time to realize it. I have a vivid recollection of that instant, of Holmes' triumphant expression and the ring of his voice, of the cabman's dazed, savage face, as he glared at the glittering handcuffs, which had appeared as if by magic upon his wrists. For a second or two we might have boon a group of statues. Then with an inarticulate roar of fury, the prisoner wrenched himself free from Holmes' grasp, and hurled himself through the window. Woodwork and glass gave way before him: but before he got quite through, Gregson, Lestrade and Holmes sprang upon him liko so many stag-liounds. no was dragged back into the room, and then commenced a terrifio conflict. So powerful and so fierce was he, that the four of us were shaken off again and again, ne appeared to have tho convulsive strength of a man in an epileptic fit. Ilis face and hands were terribly mangled by tl»e passage through the glass, but loss of blood had no effect in diminishing his resistance. It was not until Lestrade succeeded in getting his hand inside his neck-cloth and half strangling him that we made him realize that his struggles were of no avail; and even then \fe felt no security until we had pinioned his feet as well as his hands. That done, we rose to our feet breathless and panting. But these customs have all been given up now, and football takes their place. uian.\ " Tentionl" cried Holmes, in a sharp tone, and the six dirty little scout)' drels stood in a line like so many statuettes. "In future you shall send up Wiggins alone to report, and the rest " 'You had best tell me all about it now,' I said. 'Half-confidences are worse tb*n none. Besides, you do not know how muoh we know of it.' Sherlock Holmes drew a long breath and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. "J should nave more faith," hp said. "I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to bo opposed to a long train of deductions it invariably proves to bo capable of bearing some other interpretation. Of the two pills in that box, one was the most deadly poison and the other was entirely harmless. I ought to have known that before ever I saw the box at all." . " 'On your head be it, Alice!' cried her mother; and then, turning to met 'I will tell you aU, sir. Do not imagine that my 'kgitation on behalf of my son arises from any fear lest he should have had a band in this terrible affair, lie is utterly innocent of it, My dread is, however, that in your eyes and in the eyes of others he may appear to be compromised. That, however, is surely impossible, His high character, his profession, his antecedent)) would all forbid it.' "The man was seen," continued Lcst trade. "A milk-boy, passing on his way to tho dairy, happened to walk down the lane which leads from tho mews at tho back of the hotel, lie noticed that a ladder, which usually lay there, was raised against one of the windows of the second floor, which was wide open. After passing, he looked back and saw a man descend tho ladder. He camo down so quietly and openly that the boy imagined him to be some carponter or joiner at work in the hotel. He took no particular notice of him, beyond thinking in his mind that it was early for him to be at work. He has .an impression that the man was tall, had a reddish face, and was dressed in a long, brownish coat. lie must have stayed in the room some little timo after the murder, for we found blood-stained water in the basin, where he had washed his hands, and marks on the sheet where he had deliberately wiped his knife." "WeTl done!" said Holmes, in an en couraging voice. "Really, Gregson. you arc getting along. We shall mala something of you yet." They are also perfectly free from the entanglements of pedigree. They sniff the glad morn, and with no bitter memories of who their parents were they curl their cute little tails over their keen, wire edge backs and scamper cross country like the "evil one beating tanbark."I flatter myself that I have managed it rather neatly," the detcetivi answered proudly. "The young man volunteered a statement, in which hC- said that after following Drebber some time, the Jatter perceived him. and took a cab In order to get away from him. On his way home he met an ol.' shipmate, and took a long walk with him. On being asked where this ol.l shipmate lived, he was unable to givt any satisfactory reply. I think tin whole case fits together uncommonly well. What amuses ine is t"D think o; Lestrade, who had started off upon the vrong scent. I nm afrsi'd be wn' '• This last statement appeared to mo to be so startling that I could hardly believe that he was in his sober senses. There was the .dead dog, however, to prove that his conjecture had ueen correct, n seemeu to me mat the mists in my own mind were gradually clearing away, and I began to have a dim, vague perception of the truth. " 'Your best way is to make a clean breast of the facts,' I answered. Depend upon ft, if your son is innocent he will be none the worse.' Here, where the horses' tails and the wages of the workingman are both docked, the fox has to be taken from the zoological garden, and that makes it expensive. This has driven the patrons of the chaso and descendants of Richard Cceur de Leon to the ftrag hunt, and the heroic sons of the crusaders may now be seen following the aiiiseseed bag across the Kate Greenaway heaths and dressed in John Gilpin clothes. "have you found it, WIOflIKi?" " 'Perhaps, Alice, you had better leave us together,' she said, and her daughter withdrew. 'Now, sir,' she continued, 'I bad »Q intention of telling you all this, but since my pooi daughter has disclosed it I have no alternative. Having once decided to speak, I will tell you all, without omitting any particular.' of you must wait in the street. Have you found it, Wiggins?" "No, sir, we hain't," said one of the youths. "All this seems strange to you." continued Holmes, "because you failed at the beginning of the inquiry to "grasp the importance of the single real clew which was presented to you. I had the good fortune to seize upon that, and everything which has occurred since then has served to confirm my original supposition, and, indeed, was the logical sequence of it. Hence things which have perplexed j-ou and made the case more obscure have served to enlighten me and to strengthen my conclusions. It is a mistake to confound strangeness with mystery. The most commonplace crime is often the most mysterious because it presents no new or special features from which deductions can be drawn. This murder would have been infinitely more difficult to unravel had the body of the victim been simply found lying in the roadway without any of those outre and sensational accompaniments which have rendered it remarkable. These strange details, far from making the caso more difficult, have really had the effect of making it less so." "I hardly expected you would. Yon must keep on until you do. Here are your wages." He handed each of them a shilling. "Now, off you go, and cotne back with a better report next time." v THOUGHT. make mnch of it. Why, by Jove, here's the very man himself!" Here Edward HI confined over 600 Jews, on the pretense that they were counterfeiters, when everybody knew that does not have to be a counterfeiter to make money. " 'It is your wisest course,' said I. It was indeed Lestrade, who had ascended the stairs while we were talking, and who now entered tho rpom- The assurance and jauntiness which generally marked his demeanor and dress were, however, wanting. His face was disturbed and troubled, while his clothes were disarranged and untidy. Ho had evidently come With the intention of consulting with Sherlock Holmes, for on perceiving his colleague he appeared to be embarrassed and put out. He stood in the center of tho room, fumbling nervously with his hat, and uncertain what to do. "This is a most extraordinary case," he said at last—"a most incomprehensible affair." Four years ago here I was given a hunter and very hospitably asked to join. One very sweet thing about the .Englishman is the fact that he gives the American credit for being a perfect deviJ to ride and a sure shot, ready and willing to put out a mosquito's eye at 50 yards with a revolver and let the spectator select which eye at that. I was fool enough to try it. for I had taken a goblet of shandygaff and was reckless, especially when I heard that we were after an aniseseed bag that would not turn when trodden upon. " 'Mr. Drebber has been with us nearly three weeks. He and his secretary, Mr. Stangerson, had been traveling on the continent. I noticcd a "Copenhagen" label upon each of their trunks, showing that that had lDeen their last stopping place. Stangerson was a quiet, reserved man, but his em ployer, I am sorry to say, was f»F otherwise. He was coarse in his habits and brutish in his ways. The very night v ' became very much thi I glanced at Holmes on hearing the description of the murderer, which tallied so exactly with his own. There was, however, no trace of exultation or satisfaction upon his face. He waved his hand, and they scampered away downstairs like bo many rats, and we heard their shriU voices next moment in the street. During the war of the roses the Tower was so full of royal prisoners that a prince had to engage his cell by telegraph or sleep on the billiard table. "Yon don't mean to say," I cried, in amazement, "that that tottering, feeble old woman was able to get out of the eab while it was in motion, without either you or the driver seeing Jier?" "Old woman be d—d!" said Sherlock Holmes, sharply. "We were the old women to be so taken In. It must have been a young man, and an active one, too, besides being an Incomparable actor. The get-up was inimitable. He saw that he was followed, no doubt, and used this means of giving me the slip. It shows that the man we are after is not as lonely as I imagined he was, but has friends who are ready to risk something for him. Now, doctor, you are looking done-up. Take my advice and turn in." "Did you find nothing in the room which could furnish a clew to tho murderer?" he asked. "There's more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a dozen of the force," Holmes remarked. "The mere sight of an official-looking person seals men's lips. These youngsters, however, go everywhere and hear everything. They are as sharp aa needles, too; all they want is organization."Every little while a message would come something like this: "Nothing. Stangerson had Drebber's purse in his pocket, but it seems that this was usual, as he did all the paying. There was eighty-odd pounds in it, but nothing had been taken. Whatever the motives of these extraordinary crimes, robbery is certainly not one of them. There were no papers or memoranda in the murdered man's "We have his cab," said Sherlock nolmes. "It will serve to take him to Scotland Yard. And now, gentlemen," he continued, with a pleasant smile, "we have reached the end of our little mystery. You are very welcome to put any questions that you like tome now, and there is no danger that I will refuse to answer them." Room Clerk, Tower, London, England: Please reserve Sir Simon of Barley's room for me as soon as lie is beheaded and oblige Richard II. The Scotch king James also pat up at the Tower for 18 years, but got out on a habeas corpus and again ruled his people. The hunter was one formerly owned by Lord Dunraven, well bred, except that he held his mutilated tail rather too high, I thought. Well, I took him from the groom, a high church young man with a complexion like the heart of a rose, and leading the hunter away to a fence got aboard of him. "Is It on this Brixton case that yon are employing them?" I asked. The Duke of Gloucester used the tower for his waiting room many years. Before he killed people he corralled them here. He drowned his brother, the Duke of Clarence, in a butt of wine here, making a kind of butt of the poor chap, as he had done for years, and then sold the wine to a "public'' down town for a high price on account of its bouquet "Yes; there is a point which I wish to ascertain. It is merely a matter of time. IIullol we are going1 to hear some news now with a vengeance! Here is Gregson coming down the road with beatitude written upon every feature of his face. Bound for ua, I know. Yes, he is stopping. There ho is!" "Ah, you find it so, Mr. Lcstrade!" pried Gregson, triumphantly. "I thought you would come to that conclusion. Have you managed to find the secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson?" xskcst, ex«spi1a slngte HE WOULDN'T GLT UP. Wr. Com fort Givtvs tl»i* lturi;t'ir IDnouftl Mr. Uregson, who had listened to this address with considerable impatience, could contain himself no longer. "Look here, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," ho said, "we are all ready to acknowledge that you are a smart man, and that you have your own methods of working. We want something* more than mere theory and preaching now, though. It is a case of taking the man. I have made mv case out, and it seems I was wrong. Young Charpentier could not have been engaged in this second affair. Lestrade went after his man, Stangerson, and it appears that he was wrong, too. You have thrown out hints here, and hints there, and seem to know more than we do, but the time has come when we feel that we have a right to ask yon straight how much you do know of the business. Can you name the man who dkl it?" ]:C■!DC', ami Hi- llangH Hliuiwlf, You have heard about the rider and the steed seeming almost like one, so utterly were they en rapport with each other. Well, most anybody could tell by looking clob'ely where the horse began and where I left off. That's one thing I like about myself—I cannot deceive any one. "The secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson," said Lestrade, gravely, "was murdered at Halliday's private hotel about si* o'clock this morning." "Silas!" whispered Mrs. Comfort to me the other night as she dug her elbow into my ribs, "are yon awake?" I was certainly feeling very weary, ao I obeyed his injunction. I left Holmes seated in front of the smoldering fire, and long into the watches of the night I heard the low, melancholy wailings of his violin, and knew that he was still pondering over the strange problem which he had set himself to unraveL He also had his two beautiful nephews murdered here and buried at the foot of the staircase of the White tower. "I wasn't a minute ago, but as yon have succeeded in arousing ino what is it you wish to observe?" There was a violent peal at the bell, and in a few seconds the fair-haired detective came up the stairs, three steps at a time, and burst into our sit* ting-room. LIGHT IN THE DAKK.VEHS. CHAPTER VII Richard killed quite a number of hia casual acquaintances and was the first to introduce what is now called in England "the function," at which he generally contributed a relative who had consented to oblige. The intelligence with which Lestrade greeted us was so momentous and so Unexpected, that we were all three fairly dumfounded. Gregson sprang out of his chair and upset the remainder of his whisky and water. I stared in silence at Sherlock Holmes, whose lips were compressed and tiis brows drawn down over his eyes. "Just listen to that noise!' "I hear it." & "But what is it?" "Look," I said, "ladies and gentlemen, and you will notice that there is no deception here. The streak of scenery is the line where I leave off and the horse begins." Then they all laughed •Merrily, for thCDy are as kind that way 1 gently bred as possible, and lots of "My dear fellow," he cried, wringing Holmes' unresponsive hand, "Congratulate me! I have made the whole thing as clear as day." "PEBHA.PI, AI4CE, YOU BAD BETTER UAVI US TOOETBKB." "Without having investigated tlio subject, I should say tho noise was caused by a rat knawing at the woodwork under the lavatory. Should I got outol bed and go prying about, I might (int: that it was Smith's goat mousing around the garbage can in the back yard. In either case we have nothing to do with it. If a rat. he will gnaw his way through to find that he is worse off than before. If it is the goat, ho will probably get choked to death on fishbones." worse for drink, and, indeed, after twelve o'clock in the day he could hardly ever be said to be sober. His manners toward the maid servants were disgustingly free and familiar. Worst of all, he speedily assumed the same attitude toward my daughter, Alice, and spoke to her than once in a way which, fortunately, she is too innocent to understand. On one occasion he actually seized bar Id his arm* and embraced her—an outrage which cansed his own secretary to reproach him for his unmanly conduct.' TOBIAS GkMSOI IBOWS WHAT HI CAH DO. CHAPTER VI Henry VIII did the same thing, contributing his wives and many other personal friends, including Cromwell, a rising young man, while Annie Askew, a cultivated young lady with a heart as pure as the best baking powder today, was tortured quite a good deal and then burned at Smithfield. The papers next day weje full of the "Brixton mystery," as they termed it- Each had a long account of the affair, and some had leaders upon it in addition. There was some information in them which was new to me. I still retain in my scrap book numerous clippings and extracts bearing upon the case. Here is a condensation of a few ,of them: A shade of anxiety seemed to me to cross my companion's expressive face. HE PLACED IT IN FRONT OF THE TERRIER, from « leveiancl aiiout a month ago, and containing the words: 'J. II. is in Europe.' There was no name appended to this message." "Do you mean that you are on the right track?" he asked. Euings I did that day were accepted as humor of a high order when it was as a matter of fact only the evidence that I had gnawed off more than I could chew. Did you ever see a self made man who "The right track! Why, sir, we have the man under lock and key." "Stangerson, too!" he muttered "The plot thickens." "It was quite thick enough before," grumbled Lestrade, taking a chair. "I seem to have dropped into a sort of council of war." "And there was nothing else?" Holmes asked. "And his name is?" I often wonder whether the Apaches were originally cruel or whether they got so by aping John Smith and the pilgrim fathers. Where are they? "Arthur Charpentier, sub-lieutenant in her majesty's navy," cried Gregson, pompously, rubbing his fat hands and inflating his chest. "Nothing of any Importance. The inan's novel, with which he had read himself to sleep, was lying upon the bed, and his pipe was on a chair beside him. There was a glass of water on the table, and on the window-sill a small chip ointment-box containing a couple of pills." did not think he eould ride on a horse as easily as he could on an annual pass? I never did. •'Are you—are you sure of this pieeo of intelligence?" stammered (Iregson. "I cannot help feeling that (iregson is right, sir," remarked Lestrade. "We have both tried, and we have both failed. You have remarked more than once since I have been in the room that you had all the evidence which you require. Surely you will not withhold it any longer." "Are you going to got up, Mr. Com- The Dally Telegraph remarked that in the history of crime there had seldom been a tragedy which presented 'Stranger features. The German name of the victim, the absence of all other motive, and the sinister inscription on the wall, all pointed to its perpetration Jby political refugees and revolutionist*. The socialists had many branchse •'in America, and the deceased had, no doubt, infringed their unwritten laws and been tracked down by them. After alluding airily to the Vehmgericht, aqua tofana, Carbonari, the Marchioness de Brinvilliers, the Darwinian theory, the principles of Malthus and the Ratcliff highway "murders, the article concluded by ad'monishing the government and advocating a closer watch over foreigners in England. The Standard commented upon the •fact that lawless outrages of the sort usually occurred under a liberal administration. They arose from the unsettling of the minds of the masses and the consequent weakening of all authority. The deceased . was an American gentleman who had been residing for some weeks in the metropolis. He had stayed at the boarding-house of Mme. Charpentier, In Torquay Terrace, Camberwell. lie was accompanied in his travels by hf& private secratary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson. The two bade adieu to their landlady upon Tuesday, the 4th inst., and departed to Euston station with the avowed intention of catching the Liverpool express. They were afterward seen together on the platorm. Nothing more is known of them until Mr. Drebber's body was, as recorded, discovered in an empty house in the Brixton road, many miles from Euston. How he came there or how to met his fate are questions which are still involved in mystery. Nothinjr is known of the whereabouts of Stangerson. We are glad to learn that Mr. Lestrade and Mr. Gregson, of Scotland Yard, are both engaged upon the case, and It is confidently anticipated that tnese wen-Known oncers win speedily throw light upon the matter. t'ortt" I was not in at the death of the aniseseed bag, but I want to say right here that witch hazel is one of the best things to relieve soreness that I ev.ir tried. Take the extract, filling a bathtub two-thirds full of it. get in gently and order a good, thrilling book and your meals. Continue till pain is re- Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh of r» lief and relaxed into a smile. "I have just come from his room," said Lestrade. "I was the first to discover what had occurred." "Certainly not." "Then I will!" The case of Lady Jane Grey was the saddest, for she had only reigned 10 days " 'But why did you stand all this?' I asked. 'I suppose that you can get rid of your boarders when you wish.' And she not only did, but raised the window and saw a man in the back yard and came back to bed to whisper to me: "Take a seat and try one of these cigars," he said. "We are anxious to know how you managed it. Will you have some whisky and water?" "We have been hearing Gregson's view of the matter," Holmes observed. "Would you mind letting us know what you have seen and done?" and wastworking on her message when she was imprisoned in the Tower and finally executed. After that to the time of the imprisonment and execution of Sir Walter Raleigh there was a good lively business going on, clear down to the deaths of Lords Balermo, Lovat and Kilmarnock. "Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my pertinent question. 'Would to God that I had given him notice on the very day he came,' she said. 'But it was a sore temptation. They were paying a pound a day each—fourteen pounds * week, and this is » slack season. I am a widow, aqd my boy in the navy has cost me much. I grudged to lose the money. 1 acted for the best- This last was too much, however, and I gave him notice to leave on account of it. That was the reason of his going.' Sherlock Holmes sprang from his chair with an exclamation of delight. "The last link," he cried, exultantly. "My case is complete." "Silas, do you want to lDe murdered in your lDed?" "I don't mind if I do," the detective answered. "The tremendous exertions which I have gone through during the last day or two have worn me out. Not so much bodily exertion, you un« derstand, as the strain upon the mind. You will appreciate that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, for we are both brain workers.""And delay in arresting the assassin," I observed, "might give him time to perpetrate some fresh atrocity." "Why, it might as well be in lDed an on tho stairs, down cellar or on the front steps." "I have no objection," Lestrade answered, seating himself. "I freely confess that I was of the opinion that Btangerson was concerned in the death of Drebber. This fresh development has shown me that I was completely lieved, amazement. The two detectives stared at him in Thus pressed by us all. Holmes showed signs of irresolution. He continued to walk up and down the room with his head suhk on his chest and his brows drawn down, as was his habit when lost in thought. I am ordering a whipper in froib Busbee, N. C., to take charge of my pack, and when spring opens j ou'll hear the whoops and hallos on my estates day after day. "I have now in my hands," my companion said, confidently, "all the threads which have formed such a tangle. There are, of course, details to be filled in, but I am as certain of all the main facts, from the time that Drebber iDarted from Stangerson at the station up to the discovery of the body of the latter, as if I had seen them with my own eyes. I will give you a proof of my knowledge. Could you lay your hand upon those pills?" "But aren't you going to scare tho man away?" "Buffetiers" is the word I was trying to recall, from which "beef eaters" is derived.The Wakefield tower is used as a jewelry store now and storage for crowns, etc. These are behind a strong cage, so built that no one has ever been able to realize on this stock of goods. Qtipen Victoria's crown, made in 1838, contains 2,783 diamonds, all of which are real, and the whole outfit is worth $560,000 or thereabouts. There are several crowns here used indoors by former monarchs and St. Edward's staff, a 90 pound cane, voted to him as the most popular man in town. The knob on the 4'ojfDis said to contain a sliver of the true cross. When we get the true history of the cross, I am led to believe we will find that it was drawn to the top of Calvary by an eight horse team. "No, dear. In the first place, ho may not be one of tho scary kind, and in tho nest his object in coming into the yard was probably t.o steal that old harness hanging on tho fence. Let him have it. It may not on!}- encourage him to steal a horse and buggy to go with it, but will save mo from dragging tho o1(Lqi1D bisli out into the alley. Come to bed, Mrs. Comfort. If the man  that he is being watched, he may walk off with the snow shovel instead of the harness." Another good thing about the razorback for fox chasing is that you do not have to follow him up on horseback to keep him on the scent. He doesn't care a scent whether ho can smell the fox or not, for ho follows him by sight and not by faith. Thus the disagreeable task of putting on a red coat ami tight white breeches and high hat to ride over fences and things is entirely saved. Set your well trr 1 razorback on the trail "You do me too much honor," said Holmes gravely. "Let us hear how you arrived at this most gratifying result""There will be no more murders," he said at last, stopping abruptly and facing us. "You can put that consideration out of the question. You have asked me if I know the name of tinassassin. I do. The mere knowing of his name is a small thing, limvever, compared with the power of lay nig our hands upon him. This I expect very shortly to do. I have good hopes of managing it through my own arrangements; but it is a thing which needs delicate handling, for wo have a shrewd and desperate man to deal with, • who is supported, as I have had occasion to prove, lDy another who is as clever as himself. As long as this man has no idea that anyone can have a clew there is some chance of securing him; but if he had the slightest suspicion he would change his name and vanish in an instant among the four million inhabitants of this great city. Without meaning to hurt any of your feelings, I am bound to say that I consider these men to be more than a match for the official force, and that is why I have not asked vour assistance. If I fail I shall of " 'Well?' The detective seated himself in the arm-chair and puffed complacently at his cigar. Then suddenly he slapped bis thigh in a paroxysm of amusement. " *Mv heart grew light when I saw mm drive away. My son la on leave just now, but I did not tell him anything of thia, for his temper is violent, and he is passionately fond of his sister. When I closed the door behind them a load seemed to be lifted from my mind. Alas! in less than an hour there was a ring at the bell, and I learned that Mr. Drebber had returned. He was much excited, and evidently the worse for drink. He forced his way into the room where I was sitting with my daughter, and made some incoherent remark about having missed the train. He then turned to Alice and, before my very face, proposed to her that she should fly with him. "You are of age," he said, "and there is no law to stop you. I have money enough and to Bpare. Never mind the old girl here, but come along with me now straight away. You shall live like a princess." Poor Alice was so frightened that she shrunk away from him, but he caught her by the wrist and endeavored to draw her toward the door. I screamed, and at that moment my son Arthur came into the room. What happened then I do not know. I heard oaths and the confused sounds of a scuffle. I was too terrified to raise my head. When I did look up 1 saw Arthur standing in the doorway laughing, with a stick in his band. "I don't think that fine fellow will trouble ns again," he said. "I will just go after him and see what he does with himself." With those words he took his hat and started off down the street. The next morning we heard of Mr. Drebbfir's mysterious death.' "This statement came from Mrs. Charpentier's lips with many gasps and pauses. At times she spoke so low that I could hardly catch the words. I made shorthand notes of all that she said, however, so that there should be no possibility of a mistake." "I have them," said Lestratio, producing a small white box. "I took them and the purse and the telegrami intending to have them put in a place of safety at the polioe station. It was the merest chance, my taking these pills, for I am bound to say that I do not attach any importance to them." "The fun of it is," he cried, "that that fool Lestrade, who thinks himself so smart, has gone off upon the wrong track altogether. He is after the secretary, Stangerson, who had no more to do with the crime than the babe unborn. I have no doubt that he has caught him by this time." Mrs. Comfort growled and lacked and called me coldblooded, and declared that I wanted to get her murdered, and for five long hours she did not shut her eyes in sleep. The man not only took the old harness, but at once felt that he must steal a horse to match it. In stealing the horse ho was caught, and got five years in prison, and thus another bad man wn,- roinoved from society. of a fox. ai may go and play well tra billiards if ovi-rtake the fox Not only will a und eat 1 pack often scare up two or tt more on the way and "(iive tliem here," said Holmes, "Now, doctor," turning to me, "are those ordinary pills?" sample them I took a pack of razor :s to Colo- The idea tickled Gregson so rf.aCA that he laughed until he choked. BESIDE THE WINDOW I.AT THE BOOT OF A MAN. could sv rado last on a \v;i hunt the jack rabbit tose« if they There are many other things, snch as scepters and various articles which I ■tried to get as Christmas presents for loved ones at home, but failed. "And how did you get yoxw clew?" mistaken. Full of the one Idea, I set myself to find out what had become of the secretary. They had been seen together at Huston station about halfpast eight on the evening- of the third. At two in the morning Drebber had been found in the Brixton road. The question which confronted me was to find out how Ntangerson had been employed between half-pasteightand the time of the crime, and what had become of hiin afterward. I telegraphed to Liverpool giving a description of the man, and warning them to keep a watch upon the American boats. 1 then set to work calling upon all the hotel and lodging houses in the vicinity of Euston. You sec, I argued that If Drebber and his companion had become separated, the natural course for the latter would be to put up somewhere in the vicinity for the night and then to hang about the station again next morning." They certainly were not. They were of a pearly gray color, small, rounCl and almost transparent against the light. "From their lightness and transparency I should imagine that they are solublein water," I remarked. which i reyhouml and a jack rabbit "Ah, I'll tell you all about it. Of Course* Dr Watson, this is strictly between ourselves. The first difficulty which we had to contend with was tha finding of this American's antecedents. Some people would have waited until their advertisements were answered, or until parties came forward and volunteered information. That is not Tobias Gregson's way of going to work. You remember the hat beside the dead man?" icerhc "Didn't I tell yon?" says I to Mrs. Com fort when I heard tiie news, but shC out that ing all summer. The block and heading ax gave me a good deal of comfort, for 1 could see by their use that once the English were as rude and course as we are now. It has taken thousands of years for the Briton to outgrow the use of the instruments of torture seen now in the council chamber of the Tower. lrtoked at me with a freezing expression and wouldn't say a word.—Detroit Free Then wt rt five er that Lalla minutes "Precisely so," answered Holmes. "Now, would you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil of a terrier which has been bad so long, and which the landlady wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday?" Press, we unleashed my Rookh and her assoc In 27 minutes thsy out of the jobn rabb A Man to Up Avoided, en the lif D»ing eight Iliggins—There comes Baggs. I don't care to meet that fellow. I asked him to lend me £10 one day last spring. mi nut way ,nd eating May we not hope some day to be also refined and cultivated? I trust so. course incur an xne Diame uue uD iiua omission; but that I am prepared for. At present I am ready to promise that the instant I can communicate with you without endangering my own combinations I shall do so." the groylu But eno "Yes," said Holmes; "by John Underwood & Sons, 129 Camberwell I went downstairs and carried the dog upstairs in my arms. Its labored Hoggins—He ought to have let you have it. He's rich. have t thein t Who irtir g matters Max O'Rell says the Englishman conceals his wickedness, wliilHPhe Frenchniitn boasts of it. The American does not boast of bis crimes, but he might as well. lie puts them all in the niorning paper next to pure reading matter. Higgius—Well, you ; cc, he diCl.— u Lift ace, bu rtD i us not allow ut things. ■C r heard of Do not be road." breathing and glazing eye showed that it was not far from its end. Indeed, its snow-white muzzle proclaimed that it had already exceeded the usual term of canine existence. I placed it upon Gregson looked quite crestfallen Oregson and Lestrade seemed to bo far from satisfied by this assurance or by the depreciating allusion to the detective police. The former had flushed up to the roots of his flaxen hair, while the other's beady eyes glistened with curiosity and resentment. Neither of them had time to speak, however, before there was a tap at the door and the spokesman of the street Arabs, young Wiggins, introduced his insignificant and unsavory person. A Melancholy Ret lection "Things do change," said Mr, nickle, as ho prepared a check to hand his wife. "Before we were married she enjoyed my letters. Now slD- take much interest in anything but my signature."—Washington Star the TC "I had no idea that you noticed that," he said. "Have you been there?" "No." Sin- ashamed hail soul (Inrins-; tl visi It is a v and as I riling it a (lav to [i cushion on t lie rug. I will now eut. one of these pills in loesn't The Daily News observed that there was no doubt as to the crime being a political one. The despotism and hatred of liberalism which animated the continental governments had had the effect of driving to our shores a number of men who might have made excellent citizens were they not soured by the recoUection of all that they had undergone. Among these men there was • stringent code of honor, any infringement of which was punished by death. Every effort should be made to find the secretary, Stangerson, and ascertain some particulars of the habits of the deceased. A great step had Imu ralnml h» Um dlnnnvni-v of "Hal" cried Orcgson, in a relieved voice; "you should never ncglect a chance, however small it may seem." two," said Holmes, anil drawing his penknife he suited the action to the word. "One-half wo return into the box for future purposes. The other half I will place in this wine glass, in which is a teaspoonful of water. You perceive that our friend, the doctor, is riff)it, and that it readily dissolves."it it 110T interestii few ts would "To a great mind nothing is. little," remarked Holmes, sententiously. A Gentle Remitnler mill, which latt much. read r rolling "They would be likely to agree on some meeting place beforehand," remarked Holmes. Bagley—You seem to forget what is dne to a gentleman. T 1 nil ilea very "Is the editor in chief in?" asked a stranger as he sauntered into the city reporter's room at 8 o'clock in the morning.Ills Duty, "Well I went to Underwood and asked him if he had sold a hat of that size and description. He looked over his books and came on it at once. He had sent the hat to a Mr. Drebber, residing at Charpentier's boarding establishment, Torquay terrace. Thus I got at his address." The i v at 'So it proved. I spent the whole of yesterday evening in making inquiries entirely without avail. This morning I began very early, and at eighto'eloek I reached llalliday's private hotel, in Little George street. On my inquiry as to whether a Mr. Stangerson was living there, they at once answered me in the affirmative. Brace—To what Clo you allude and, witl Fresh A Bagley—That five vou borrowed about i month ago,—P.. & S. S. S. Co. Bul- ut f "l'lease, sir," he said, touching liia forelock, "I have the cab downstairs." letin ro called of a "No, Pir." replied the janitor kindly. "He does not come down bo early. "In there anything I can do for you?" "This may be very interesting," said Lestrade, in the injured tone of one who shspects that, he is being laughed at. "I cannot see, however, what it has tojlo with the death of Mr. Joseph "ttood boy," said Holmes, blandly, "Why don't you introduce this pattern at Scotland Yard?" he continued, taking a pair of steel handcuffs from a drawer. "See how beautifully the spring works. They fasten in an instant," . , French w thing of t i is a "1 it uu'.-in any Young Man—Tommy, you are such a nice little bovl Time Wastwl "Perhaps so. Are yon connected with the poetical department of tho paper?" "I am, sir." "Smart—very smart!" murmured Sherlock Holmes. Tommy mo, Mr. Pi'fulgont fellow.—Tiut li. No iis« talking tlilit way to Sin already lias a ing Stmd "I next called upon Mme. Charpentier," continued the detective. "I "It's quite exciting," said Sherlock Holmes, with a yawn. "What happened next?" «"JJo doubt you ure the gentleman lie was expecting,' they said. 'He has ••ratienoe, my friend, patience! You will find in time that it has everything Stai/L'erson." went on S; It is paiCl to stand on the site of an old Roman fortress, but no one is perfectly "Ob! What do you do?" "I empty the wastebaskets, sir."— Texas Sittings.