The Globe-republican., 1894-04-20


tended to dazzle me, though what
earthly object he could have in taking
me in was past my comprehens on.
When looked at him he had finished
reading the note and his eyes had as
sumed the vacant, lack-luster express
sion which showed mental abstraction.
"How in the world did you deduce
that?" asked.
''Deduce what?" said he, petulantly.
''Why. that he was retired SER
geant of marines"
piled, brusquely. Then, with a smile:
Excuse my rudeness. You broke the
thread of my thoughts; but perhaps it
is as well. So you actually were not
able to see that that man was a SER
geant of marines?"
"No, indeed"
''It was easier to know it than to ex-
plain why know it. If you were
asked to prove that 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 of
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 of command.
You must have observed the way in
which he held his head and swung his
cane. A steady, respectable, middle
aged man, too. on the face of him-all
facts which led me to believe that he
had been a sergeant"
Wonderful" CALCULATED.
Commonplace" said Holmes,
though thought from his expression
that he was pleased at my evident sur
prise and admiration. 81 said just
now that there were no criminals. 1t
appears that I am wrong-look at
this" He threw me over the note
which the commissionaire had brought.
why" l cried, as cast my eye
over it. this is terrible!''
''It does seem to be little out of
the common" he remarked, calmly.
''Would you mind reading it to me
aloud?"
This is the letter which / read to
him:
my DEAR MIR. SHERLOCK HOLMES: There
has been a bad business during the night at
Lauriston gardens, OF the Brixton road Our
man on the beat saw light there about two in
the morning, and, as the house was an
empty one suspected that some thing was
amiss. He found the door open. and
in the front ROOM which is bare Of
furniture, discovered the body of gentleman,
well dressed, AID having cards In his pocket
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 the
man met his death. There are marks of blood
in the room. but there is no wound upon his
person. We are at loss as to now he came
into the empty house: indeed. the whole affair
is puzzler. II you can come round to the
house any time before twelve, you will find me
there. have left everything in statu quo until
l hear from you II you are unable to come
shall give you fuller details. and would esteem
it great kindness il you would favor me with
your opinion.
Yours faithfully, TOBIAS ERICSSON"
''Gregson is the smartest of the Scot
land Yarders." my friend remarked;
''he and Lestrade are the pick of a bad
lot. They are both quick and ener-
getic. but conventional-shockin so.
They have their knives into one
another. too. They are as jealous as a
pair of professional beauties. There
will be some fun over this case if they
are both put upon the SCENT
l was amazed at the calm way in
which he rippled on. Surely there is
not a moment to be lost" l cried.
''Shall 60 and order you a cab?''
II am not sure about whether shall
go. l am the most incurably lazy
devil that ever stood in shoe leather
that is. when the fit is on me, for can
be spry enough at times"
''Why, it is just such a chance as you
have been longing for.
MY dear fellow. what does it mat
ter to me? Supposing unravel the
whole matter, you may be sure that
Gregson. Lestrade & Co. will pocket
all the credit. That comes of being an
parsonage"
But he begs you to help him."
Eyes. He knows that l am his SUI
perior, and acknowledges it to me;
but he would cut his tongue out before
he would own it to any third person.
however. we uldy dS we'll ~ sAuu nave
a look. shall work it out on my own
hook. may have a laugh at them. if
l have nothing else. Come on!''
He hustled on his overcoat. and
hustled about in way that showed
that an energetic fit had superseded
the apathetic one.
''Get your hat" he said.
''You wish me to Gomez
''Yes, if you have nothing better to
do" A minute later we were both in
a hanson, driving furiously for the
Brixton road.
It was a very foggy. cloudy morning.
and a dun-colored veil hung over the
house tops, looking like the reflection
of the mud-colored streets beneath.
My companion was in the best of spir
its. and prattled away about Cremona
fiddles, and the difference between a
Stradivarius and an Amati. As for
myself. I was silent. for the dull
weather and the melancholy business
upon which we were engaged depressed