Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-02-23

n II II r. ID IL u y TX Il
retary. Mr. Stangerson, had been trav-
cling on the continent | noticed q
Copenhagen" label upon each of their
trunks, showing that that had been
their last stopping place. Stangerson
was 4 quiet, reserved man, but his en-
ployer. am sorry to say, was far other
wise. He was coarse in his habits and
british in his ways. The very night
~ his ar-.-al b. became 7ery much -.
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 more than once
in way which, fortunately. she is too
innocent to understand. On one occa-
sion he actually seized her in his arms
and embraced her-an outrage which
caused his own secretary to reproach
him for his unmanly conduct
"'But why did you stand all this?'
asked. i suppose that you can get rid
of your boarders when You wish
''Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my
pertinent question. Would to God
that | had given him notice on the
very day he came, she said. But it
was a sore temptation They were
paying pound day each-fourteen
pounds a week, and this is a slack sea-
son. am a widow, and my boy in the
navy has cost me much. grudged to
lose the money. | acted for the best.
This last was too much, however, and
gave him notice to leave on account
of it. That was the reason of his
going
"'Weu?'
"'My heart grew light when I saw
/ him drive away. My son is ON leave
just now, but | did not tell him any
thing of this, for his temper is violent,
and he is passionately fond of his sis
ter. When | closed the door behind
them load seemed to be lifted from
my mind Alasl in less than an hour
there was a ring at the bell, and I
learned that Mr. Drebber had re-
turned. He was much excited, and
evidently the worse for drink. He
forced his way into the room where |
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, land there is no law to stop you.
/ have money enough and to spare.
| Never mind the old girl here, but
| come along with me now straight
away You shall live like 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. /
screamed, and at that moment my son
| Arthur came into the room. What
happened then l do not know.
| heard oaths and the confused sounds
| of n scuffie. | was too terrified to
raise my head. When did look up
saw Arthur standing in the doorway
laughing, with a stick in his hand.
81 don't think that fine fellow will
trouble us again." he said. 81 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.. Drebbcr'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. made shorthand notes of all
that she said, however, so that there
should be no possibility of mistake. :"
Its quite exciting" said Sherlock
Holmes, with a yawn. "What happened
| next?'
"When Mrs. Charpentier paused" :"
the detective continued, 81 saw that
the whole case hung upon one point.
Fixing her with my eye in way which
l always found effective with women,
1 asked her at what hour her son re-
turned.
"T do not know she answered.
"'Not know?
"'No; he has latch-key, and let
himself in
"'After you went to bed?
eyes
"'When did you go to bed?'
"'About eleven
$50 your son was gone at least two
hours?'
eyes
Possibly four or fve?'
eyes
"'What was he doing during that
time?'
Il do not know, she answered, turn
ing white to her very lips.
''Of course after that there was
nothing more to be done. ! found out
where Lieut.. Charpentier was, took
two officers with me, and arrested him.
When | touched him on the shoulder
and warned him to come quietly with
us, he answered us as bold as brass: i
suppose you are arresting me for being
concerned in the death of that scoun-
drel, Drebber,' he said. We had said
nothing to him about it, SO that his
alluding to it had q most suspicious
aspect"
'Very," said Holmes.
"He still carried the heavy stick
which the mother described him as
having with him when he followed
Drebber. 1t was stout oak cudgeL"
What is your theory, then?"
well, my theory is that he followed
Drebber as far as the BriXton road
When there, fresh alteration arose
between them, in the course of which
Drebber received a blow from the
stick, in the pit of the stomach, per-
haps, which killed him without leaving
any mark. The night was so wet that
no one was about, SO Charpentier
dragged the body of his victim into
the empty house. As to the candle,
and the blood, and the writing on the
wall, and the ring, they may all be so
many tricks to throw the police on to
the wrong scent"
"Well done" said Holmes, in an en-
couraging voice. Really, Gregson,
you are getting along. We shall make
something of you yet"
81 fatter myself that | have man.
aged it rather neatly" the detective
answered proudly. THE young man
volunteered statement, in which he
said that after following Drebber some