The Globe-republican., 1894-04-27

piece udu peeicu Oh. leaving yellow
square of coarse plastering. Across
this bare space there was scrawled in
bloOd-red letters single word:
"RAcHE'
what 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 MUIR
derer has written it with his or her
own blood. See this smear where it
has tric!lled down the wall! That dis
poses of the idea of suicide, anyhow.
Why was that corner chosen to write
it on? will tell you. See that candle
on the mantel piece. It was lit at
the time. and if it was lit this corner
would be the brightest instead of the
darkest portion of the wall"
And what does it mean. now that
you have found it?" asked Gregson. in
a deprecatory voice.
.''Mean? Why, it means that the
writer was going to put the female
name Rachel, but was disturbed be-
fore 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 best, when all is said
and DONE"
Il really beg your pardon!" said my
companion, who had ruffied 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, it
bears every mark of having been
written by the other participant in
last nights mystery. l have not
had time to examine this room yet,
but Nth your permission I shall do SO
now"
AS he spoke he whipped tape
measure and a large, round magnify
ing glass from his pocket. With these
two instruments he trOtted nOiselessly
about the room, sometimes sto- ping,
occasionally kneeling, and once lying
fat on his face. So cngrossed was he
with his occupation that he appeared
to have forgotten our presence, for he
chartered away to himself under his
breath the whole time, keeping up
running fire of ordinations, groans,
whistles, and little cries suggestive of
encouragement and hope. AS
watched him / was irresistibly re-
minded of pure-blooded. well-trained
fox-hound as it clashes backward and
forward 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 occa-
sionally applying his tape to the walls
in an equally incomprehensible man
ner. In one place he gathered very
carefully little pile of gray dust from
the floor and packed it away in an
envelope. Finally he examined with
his glass the words upon the wall. go
ing over every letter of it with the
most minute exactness. This done, he
appeared to be satisfied, for he re-
placed the tape and glass in his pocket.
..They say that genius is an infinite
capacity for taking pains" he remarked
with smile. Its n very bad defini-
ton, but it does apply to detective
work"
Gregson and Lestrade had watched
the maneuycrs 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 Holmes
smallest actions were all directed to-
ward some definite and practical end.
What do you think of it?" they
both asked.
1T would be robbing you of the
! credit of the case if l was to presume
to help you," remarked my friend.
''You are doing so well now that it
would be n pity for anyone to inter
fere." There was world of sarcasm
in his voice. as he spoke. IF You will
let me know how your Investigations
60" he continued, 81 shall be happy
|! to give you any help can. In the
meantime, l should like to speak to
| the constable who found the body.
Can you give me his name and ad-
| dress?"
Lestrade glanced at his notebook.
John Rance" he said. HE is of
| duty now. You will find him at ~
Audley court, Remington park gate. y
Holmes took a note of the address.
Come along, doctor" he said; 1--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 a
man. He was more than six feet high
was in the prime of life. had small feet
for his height, wore coarse. square
toed boots and smoked TrichinOpoly
cigar. He came here with his victim
in a four-wheeled cab. which wa:
drawn by horse with three old shoe.
and one new one on his of fOre-leg
In all probability the murderer had {
florid face, and the finger-nails of hi.