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

looked out with three tiers of vacant,
melancholy windows, which were
blank and dreary, save that here and
there a ITO Let" card had developed
like a cataract upon the bleared panes.
A small garden s~prinkled over with a
scattered eruption of sickiy plants sep
arated each Of these houses from the
street. and was traversed by a narrow
pathway, yellowish in color, and con-
sisting apparently OF a mixture of clay
and of gravel. The whole place was
very sloppy from the rain which had
fallen through the night. The garden
was bounded by q three-foot brick wall
with a fringe of wood rails upon the top,
and against this wall was leaning a
sta1wart police constable, surrounded
by a small knot of l~oafers, who craned
their necks and strained their eyes in
the vain hope Of catching some glimpse
of the proceedings within.
/ had imagined that Sherlock Holmes
would at once have hurried into the
house and plunged into a study of the
mystery. Nothing appeared to be far
Their from his intention. With an air
of nonchalance which, under the cir
c~umstances, seemed to me to border
oPoiA ~ ~ lS Up aAo
down the pavement. and gazed va
cantly at the ground, the sky, the op-
posite houses, and the line of ratings.
Having finished his scrutiny, he pro-
ceeded slowly dow the path, or rather
down the fringe Of grass which flanked
the path, keeping his eyes riveted upon
the ground. Twice he stopped, and
once / saw him smile and heard him
~. q r, 49,, -
There were many marks of footsteps
upon the wet, clayey soil, but since the
police had been coming and going over
it, l wa unable to see how my COM
panion could hope TO learn anything
from it. Still, l had such extraordi-
nary evidence of the quickness of his
perceptive faculties that had nodoubt
that he could see Il great deal which
was hidden from me.
At the door of the house we were
met by a tall, white-faced, haxen-
haired man, with a notebook in his
hand, who rushed forward and wrung
my companions hand with effusion.
cit is indeed kind of you to come" he
said; 81 have had everything left I'M
touched"
Except that.' my friend answered,
tllClI1S W GiiS pIUIihN " d ISID
f buffaloes had passed along there
could not be a greater mess. No
doubt, however, you had drawn your
own conclusions, Gregson, before you
permitted this"
81 have had so much to do inside
the house." the detective said evasive-
ly. My colleague, Mr.. Lestrade, is
| here. 1 had relied upon him to look
after this"
Holmes glanced at me, and raised
his eyes ~sardonically. with two such
men as yourself and Lestrade upon the
| ground, there will not be much for a
| third party to find out" he said.
Gregson rubbed his hands in a self.
| satisfied way. 81 think we have done
oil that can be DONE" he answered;
Its a queer case, though, and knew
your taste for such things"
You did not come here in a cab?''
asked Sherlock Holmes.
mo, SIR"
Nor Lestrade?"
mo, sir"
''Then let US go and look at the
room" With which inconsequent re
mark he strobe on into the house, fol
lowed by Gregson, whose features ex
| pressed MS aStOnlShmcnt.
A short passage, bare planked and
dusty, led to the kitchen and offices.
Two doors opened out of it to the left
and to the right. One of these had OBJ
viously been closed for many weeks.
The other belonged to the dining-room,
which was the apartment in which the
mysterious affair had occurred. Holmes
walked in, and / followed him with
that subdued feeling at my heart which
the presence of death inspires.
It was a large, square room, looking
all the larger for the absence of all
furniture. A vulgar, faring paper
adorned the walls, but it was blotched
in places with mildew, and here and
there great strips had become detached
and hung down, exposing the yellow
plaster beneath. Opposite the door
was a snowy fireplace, surmounted By
a mantle-piece 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 ths
light was hazy and uncertain, giving a
dull gray tinge to everything, which
was intensified by the thick layer o.
dust which coated the whole apart
ment.@
AL tItcSG "details L OOSCItSo dlOCE
ward. At present my attention wa:
conferred upon h single grim, motion
less figure which lay stretched upo1
the boards with vacant, sightless eye:
staring up at the diseolore ceiling
It was that of a mar about forty-thret
or forty-four years of age, middle
sized, broad-shouldered, with crisp
curling black hair and a short, stub
bly, beard. He was dressed in a heavy
broadcloth frock coat and waistcoat
with light colored trousers and i'm
maculate collar and cuffs. A top hat
well brushed and trim, was placed
upon the foor beside him. His hand
were clinched and his arms thrown
abroad, while his lower limbs were in
terlocked as though his death-strugg1
had been a grievous one. On his rigit
face there stood an expression of hor
ror and, as it seemed to me, of hatred
such as / have seen upon human
features. This malignant and terrible
contortion, combined with the 10y
forehead, blunt nose and p~rognathou
jaw, gave the dead man a singu1arl,
simious and ape-like appearance, whicl
was increased by his writing, unnai
ural posture. ! have seen death i
many forms, but never has it appeare,
Il -,~-- $1,000 81.