The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-06-28

I Inc HluG man eyes SpuFtAISu us IN
spoke, and he was evidently In STATE
OF suppressed exultation lat having
scored point against his colleague.
Come here" he said. busting bach
into the room, the atmosphere of which
felt clearer since the removal of its
CHASTITY inmate Nov, stand there!
He struck a match on his boot and
held 1t up against the wall,
Look ut thatl' he said, triumphant
i ly.
l have remarked that the paper had
fallen away In parts. In this particu
lar corner of the room large piece
had peeled off, leaving yellow square
of coarse plastering. Across this bare
space there was scrawled in blood-rcd
| letters a single word ache."
''VShat do you think of that?' cried
the detective with the air of show.
man exhibiting his show. This was
/ overlooked because it was in the dark
est corner of the room, and no one
thought of looking there. The murder
er has written it with his or her own
| blood. See this smear where it has
trinkled dow nthe wall That disposes
of the idea of suicide anyhow. Why
was that corner chosen to write it on
I will tell you. See that candle on the
mantel-piece? 1t was lit at the time
| and if was lit this corner would be
! the brightest instead of the darkest por-
ton of the wall"
"And what does it mean, now that
you have found it?" asked Gregson, in
depreciatory voice.
Mean? Why, it means that the writ
er was going to put the female name
Rachel, but was disturbed before he or
she had time to finish. You mark my
words, when this case comes to be
cleared up, you will find that woman
named Rachel has something to. do
with it. It's all very well for you to
laugh, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes. You may
! be very smart and clever, but the old
hound is the best, when all is said and
DONE"
Il really beg your pardonp' said my
companion, who had RULED the little
mans temper by bursting into an ex-
| ploSion of laughter you certainly
| have the credit of being the first of us
to find this out, and as you say, il
bears every mark of having been writ
ten by the other participant in last
nights mystery. / have not had time
to examine this room yet, but with
your permission shall do so now"
AS he spoke he whipped tape meas
ure and a large round magnifying glass
| from his pocket. With these two i'm
PIGMENTS he trotted noiselessly about
the room, sometimes stopping, occa-
sionally kneeling. and once lying flat
upon his face. So engroSsed was he
with his occupation that he appeared
to have forgotten our presence, for he
| chatted away to himself under his
breath tie whole time, keeping up q
running fire of EXPLANATIONS, groans,
whistles and little cries suggestive of
encourage cement and of hope. AS !
| watched him was irresistibly remind
ed of pure blooded, well-trained fox
| hound as it dashes backward and for
| ward through the covert, whining in its
eagerness. until it comes across the lost
scent For twenty minutes or more he
| continued his researches, measuring
with the most exact care the distance
| between marks, which were entirely
| invisible to me, and occasionally apply.
| ing his tape to the walls in an equally
| incomprehensible manner. In one place
he gathered up very carefully a little
pile of gray dust from the floor aud
| udCi6Eu TT away In sIu envelope. F1nuf-
| ~ he examined with his glass the word
upon the wall, going over every letter
| of it with the most minute eXactness.
This done,he appeared to be satisfied
| for he replaced his tape and his glass
| in his pocket
s9They say that genius ia an infinite
capacity for taking palms," he remark
ed, with smile. Its a very bad def:
milton, but it does apply to detective
| work.
Gregson and Lestrade had watched
| the manoeuvres of their amateur com
panion with considerable curiosity and
some contempt. They evidently failed
to appreciate the fact which had be,
gun to realize that Sherlock Holiness
| smallest actions were all directed to-
ward some definite and practical end.
"yYhat do you think of it sir2" they
| both asked.
SIT would be robbing you of the cred
| 1t Of the case IL was to presume to
help you" remarked Iuy friend, "YoH
are doing so well COW that it would be
4 pity for any one to interfere" There
was world of sarcasm IN his voice as
| he spoke. If you will let me know
hcw your Investigations co. he con
tinued, II shall be happy to give you
any help ! can. In the rleantime,
should like to speak to the constable
who found the body. Can you give me
his name and addressF'
LestPade glanced at his notebook
'fJohn Rance" re said. HE is off duty
now You will find Kim at No. 46 Aud
| ley Court, Remington Park Gate"
| Holmes took ,lote of the address.
Come along, Doctor" he said; "we
shall go and look him up. I'll tell you
one thing which may help you in the
case" he continued, turning to the two
detectives There has been murder
done, and the murderer was man
He was more than six feet high, and
was in the prime Of life, had small feet
for his height, wore coarse, square-tocd
boots, and smoked Trichinopoly cigar
He came here with his victim In four
wheeled cab, which was drawn by q
1 horse with three old shoes and one new
one on his off fore leg. In all proba,
bility the murderer had a ford face
and the finger nails of his right hand
were remarkably long These are only
a few indications, but they may assist
you.'
Lestrade and Gregson glanced al
each other with an incredulous smile
4 If this man was murdered, how was
1t doneY asked the former.
Poison" said Sherlock Holmes, curt
ly, and strobe off. Zone other thing
Lestrade," he added, turning round al
the door, Rache' is the German fol-
revenge so don't lose your time look
| ing for Miss Rachel"
/ With this Parthian shot he walked
away, leaving the two RIVALS open
| mouthed behind him,
CHAPTER w.
What John Rance Had to Tell.
Tt was one o'clock when we left No
3 Lauriston Gardens Sherlock Holmes
led me to the nearest telegraph office
whence he dispatched a long telegram
He then hailed cab, and ordered the
driver to take us to the address given
us by Lestrade
There is nothing like first-class evi
H. - 6S..z. ~