Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-04-19
CHAPTER III


n LAURISTON GARDENS MYSTERY.
1 confess that l was considerably
startled by this fresh proof of the
practical nature Of my companions
theories. My re ,pect for his powers of
analysis increased wondrously. There
still remained some lurking suspicion
in my mind, however, that the whole
thing was a prearranged episode, in
tended to dazzle me, though what
earthly object he could have in taking
me in was past my comprehension.
When I looked at hirn he had finished
reading the note and his eyes had as
sumed the vacant, Iack-lustcr express
sion which showed mental abstraction.
GLOW in the world did you 1educe
tllat?" / asked.
"Deduce what?" said he, petulantly.
"IVhy, that he was a retired SER
geant of MAJ mes"
81 have no time for trifes," he re-
piled, brusquely. Then, with a smile:
Excuse my rudeness. You broke the
thread of my thoughts, but perhaps it
is as we'll. So you actually were not
able to see that that man was q ser
geant of m~arines?"
mo, indeed"
at was easier to know it than to ex-
plain why l know it. If you were
asked to prove hat two and two made
four, you might find some difficulty,
and yet you are quite sure OF the fact.
Even across the street / could see a
great blue anchor tattooed on the back
of the fellows hand. That smacked Oh
the sea. He had a military carriage,
however, and regulation side-whiskers.
There we have the marine. He was a
man with some amount of self-impor-
tance and a certain air - command.
You must ave observed the way il
which he held his head and swung hi.
cane. a steady, respectable, middle
aged man, too, on the face of him-aI
facts which led me to believe that he
had been g sergeant"
"WondeTfulr' I calculated.
commonplace" said Holmes
though l thought from his expression
that he was pleased at my evident sur
prise and admiration. Il said just
now that there were no criminals. II
appears that | ain wrong-look al
this!." He threw me over the note
which the conmissionaire had brought
why" 1 cried, Is I cast my eye
Over it, this is tcrrible!'
at does seem to be a little out o.
the common" he remarked, calmly
"Would you mind reading it to me
aloud?"
This is the letter which 1 read t.
him:
my DEAR MR.. HOLMES Their
hat ssen a bad business during the night at
Lauriston gardens, off the Brixton road. Gu
man on the heat saw q light there about two IL
the morning, and, as the house was al
empty one, suspected that something was
n-@Tro H. f,nd o 6Ao- ~-o- ~.
in the front room, which is bare O
furniture, discove red the body Of a gentleman
well dressed, arr having cards In his poke
bearing the name OF 'Enoch J. Drebber, Cleve
land, O., u. S A There had been no rob
berry, nor is there any evidence as to how thu
man met his death. There are marks of bloot
IN the room, but there Is no wound upon hi
person. We are at a loss as to how he cam,
into the empty house; indeed, the whole affai
is a puZzler. If you can come round to thu
house any time before twelve, you will find ms
there. have left everything in statu quo unit
I hear from you. If you are unable to come
shall give you fuller d etails, and would esteem
1t a great kindness II you would favor me with
your opinion
yours faithfully. TOBIAS GREGsoN."
"Gregson is the smartest of the Scot
land Yarders.' my friend remarked
che and Lestrade are the pick of a BAG
lot. They are both quick and ener
getic. but conventional-shockingly SO
They have their knives into on
another, too They are as Jealous as :
pair of professional beauties. Their
will be some fun V this case if the
are both put upon the scent"
1 was amazed at the calm wa il
which he rippled on. ''surely there i
not a moment to be lost" / cried
''Shall l go and order o a cab?"
81 am not sure about whether I shall
go. / am the most incurably laz,
devil that ever stood in shoe leather
that is, when the fit is on me, for I ca,
be spry enough at times"
"Why, it is just such a chance as yo1
have beer longing for"
My lear fellow, what does it mat
ter to me? Supposing l unravel tn
whole matter, you may be sure tina
Gregson, Lestrade & Co. will poke
all the credit. That comes of being a.
unofficial parsonage"
but he her1 you to help him."
Eyes. He knows that l am his ST
perior, and acknowledges it to me
but he would cut his tongue out befor
he would own it to any third person
However, we may as well go and hav
a look. shall work it out on my ow
hook. may have a laugh at them,
I have nothing else. Come on!"
He hustled on his overcoat, an
hustled about in a way that Shove
that an energetic fit had ~supersede
the a~pathetic one.
Get your hat" he said.
You wish me to Gomez
YES, if you have nothing better t
do" A minute later we were both
a hanson, driving furiously for til
Brixton road.
' 1t was a very foggy, cloudy morning
and a dun-colored veil hung yer tn
house tops, looking like the re1ectio
: of the m~ud-colored streets beneath
: My companion was in the best of spil
: its, and prattled away about Cremon
l fiddles, and the difference between
E Stradivarius and an Amati. As fe
r myself, l was silent, for the du-
e weather and the melancholy bushes
t upon which we were engaged depresse
e my spirits.
8 "You don't seem to give niue
q thought to the matter In hand.."I sal