The Red Cloud chief., 1893-12-15


oil the larger for the absence OF oil
furniture. A vulgar, fiaring paper
adorned the walls, but IL was blotched
in places with mildcw, and here and
there great strips had become detached
and hung down, exposing the yellow
plaster beneath. Opposite the door
was n snowy fireplace, surmounted by
a mantlc-piccc of imitation white mar
BILE. On one corner of this was stuck
the stump Of a red wax candle. The
solitary window was so dirty that the
light was hazy and uncertain, giving u
dull gray tinge to everything, which
was intensified by the thick layer OF
dust which coated the whole apart
mcnt. .
All these details ] observed after
ward. At present my attention was
conferred upon the single grim, notion
less figure which lay stretched upon
the boards with vacant, sightless eyes
staring up at the discolored ceiling.
IL was that OF q man about forty-thrce
or forty-four years Of age, middle
sized, broad-shouldercd, with crisp,
curling black hair and q short, stub
bly, beard. lie was dressed in a heavy
b%roadcloth frock coat and waistcoat,
with light colorcd trousers and i'm
maculatc collar and cuffs. A top hat,
well brushed and trim, va placed
upon the floor beside him. His hands
were clinchcd and his arms thrown
abroad, while his lower limbs were in
tcrlocked as though his death-struggle
had been u gricvous one. On his rigid
face there stood an expression Of hor-
ror and, as IL seemed TO me, of hatred,
such as | have never seen upon human
features. This malignant and terrible
c%ontortion, combined with the low
forehead, blunt nose and %prognathous
Jaw, gave the dead maj u s%ingularly
simious and ape-like appearance, which
was increased by his writhing, unnat-
nral posture. l have seen death in
many forms, but never has it appeared
in that dark, grimy apartment, which
looked out upon N OF the main arte-
ries of suburban London.
Lestradc, lean and ferret-like as
ever, was standing by the doorway,
and greeted my companion and myself.
This case will make u stir, sir" he
remarked. st beats anything l have
seen. and ] am no chicken"
"There is no clcw," said Gregson.
"Nonc Mt ALL" chimcd in Lestrade.
Sherlock Holmes approached the
body, and, knceling down, examined
IL ~intently. ''You are sure hat there
Is no wound" he asked, pointing to
numerous gouts and splashcs of blood
which lay all round.
"Positivc!" cried both detectives.
"Then, of course, this blood belongs
to u second individual-prcsumably
tho murderer, IL murder has been coma
mitted. II reminds me of the oircum-
stances attendant ON the drnth OF a
Jansen, in Utrecht. ia the year 1884.
DO you remember the case, G~regson?'
mo, sir"
Read it up-you really should.
There Is nothing new under the sun.
1t has all been done before"
As he spoke, his nimblc fingers were
Av;ng i,cre, there and everywhere,
~reeling, pressing, unbuttoning. exam
ming, while his eyes wore the same
far-away expression which ! have al
ready remarked upon. so swiftly was
the examination made that one would
hardly have guessed the minutcness
with which il was conducted. Finally,
he shifted the dead mans lips, and then
glanced at the soles of his patent
leather boots.
''Iie has not been moved at ALP" he
asked.
,''No morc'than was necessary for the
purpose of our examination"
"Iou can take him to the mortuary
now" he said. There is nothing more
TO he learned"
Gregson had a strctcher and -four
men at hand. At his call they entered
the room, and the stranger was lifted
and carried out. AS they raised him,