Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-07-05
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CHAPTER v1-CosrrsuEp.
BY A CONAN DOYLE.

IIouuAc Us again, ne SAID. Il 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
MIR. Drebber's mysterious death
This statement came from Mrs
Carpenters lips with many gas ps
and pauses. At times she spoke so
low that 1 could hardly catch the
words. l made shorthand notes of all
that she said, however, SO that there
should be no possibility of mistake -
''It's quite exciting said Sherlock
Holmes, with yawn. what happened
next?'
"When Mrs. Carpenter paused"
the detective continued, II saw that
the whole case hung upon one point.
Fixing her with my eye in a way which
always found effective with women,
I asked her at what hour her son re-
turned.
"I do not know she answered.
"'Not know"
"'No; he has a latch-key, and let
"'After you went to bed?'
"'Nhen did You go to bed?'
"'About eleven
hour 1872
Eyes
"'possibly four or five?'
EYES
"What was he doing during that
time"
"'l do not know she answered, turn
ing white to her very lips.
'(f course after that there was
notl ing more to be done. FUND out
whe:e Lieut.. Charpentier was, took
Whe a ] touched him on the shoulder
and warned him to come quietly with
us, Re answered us as bold as brass: 4
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
allud.ng to it had a most suspicious
aspect"
VERY" said Holmes.
''Ho still carried the heavy stick
which the mother described him as
having with him when he followed
Drebher. 1t was a stout oak cudgel."
What is your theory, them"
"Well, my theory is that he followed
Dreb3er as far as the Brixton road.
Whef, there, a 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 Carpenter
dragged the body of his victim into
the empty house. AS to the candle,
and che blood, and the writing on the
wall, and the ring, they may all be so
mary tricks to throw the police on to
the wrong scent"
''Wen done!" said Holmes, in an en-
couI aging voice. Really, Gregson,
you are getting along. We shall make
something of you yet"
II flatter myself that I have man
aged it rather neatly" the detective
ANSWERED proudly. 1.-THE young man
volunteered statement, in which he
said that after following Drebber some
time, the latter perceived him, and
took cab in order to get away from
him. On his way home he met an old
shipms te, and took long walk with
him. tfn being asked where this old
shipmase lived, he was unable to give
any satisfactory reply. l think the
whole c.tse fits together uncommonly
well. What amuses me is to think of
Lestrade, who had started off upon the
wrong scent. 1 am afraid he won't
make much of it. Why, by Jove, here's
the very ran himself!'
It was indeed Lestrade, who had
assembled the stairs while we were
talking, and who now entered the
room. 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. He had evidently come
with the intention of consulting with
Sherlock Holmes, for on perceiving his
colleague he appeared to be embar-
raised and put out. He stood in the
center of the room. fumbling nervous
ly with his hat, and uncertain what to
do. This is most extraordinary
case" he said at last-''a most incom-
prehensible affair"
''Ah, you find it so, Mr.. Lestradew
cried Gregson, triumphantly. 81
thought you would come to that con-
clusicn. Have You managed to find
the secretary, Mr.. Joseph Stangerson?''
THE secretary, Mr.. Joseph Stanger-
son." said Lest"ade, gravely, was muir
dered at Halliday's private hotel about
six o'clock this morning."