The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-05-18

panion said, confidently, "al the
threads which have formed such a
tangle. There are, of course, details
to be filed in. but am as certain OF
all the main facts. frcm the time that
Drebber parted from Stangerson at
the station up to the discovery of the
body of the latter, as if l had seen
them with my own eyes. will give
you proof of my knowledge. Could
you lay your hand upon those pills?"
81 have them" said Lestrade, pro-
ducing a small white box. 81 took
them and the purse and the telegram,
intending to have them put in place
Of safety at the police station. 1t was
the merest chance, my taking these
pills, for am bound to say that | do
not attach any importance to them"
''Give them here" said Holmes.
"Now, DOCTOR" turning to me, ARE
those ordinary pills?"
They certainly were not. They
were of pearly gray color, small,
round and almost transparent against
the light. From their lightness and
transparency l SHOULD imagine that
they are soluble in water" remarked.
Precisely So" answered Holmes.
"Now, would you mind going down
and fetching that poor little devil of a
terrier which has been bad so long,
and which the landlady wanted you to
put out of its pain Yesterday"
| went downstairs and carried the
dog upstairs in my arms Its labored
breathing and glazing eye showed that
it was not far from its end. Indeed,
its snow-white muzzle proclaimed that
It had already exceeded the usual term
of canine existence. I placed it upon
a cushion on the rug.
81 will now cut one of these pills in
two," said Holmes, and drawing his
penknife he suited the action to the
word. ''One-half we return into the
box for future purposes. The other
half | will place in this wine glass, in
which is teaspoonful of water. You
perceive that our friend, the doc
tor, is right, and that it readily dis
solves"
This may be very interesting" said
Lestrade, in the injured tone of one
who suspects that he is being laughed
at. 81 cannot see. however, what it
has to do with the death of Mr.. Joseph
Stangerson."
Patience, my friend, patience! You
will find in time that it has everything
to do with it. shall now add a little
milk to make the mixture palatable
and on presenting it to the dog we find
he laps it up readily enough"
As he spoke he turned the contents
of the wine glass into a saucer and
placed it in front of the terrier, who
speedily licked it dry. Sherlock
Holmes earnest demeanor had so far
convinced us that we all sat in silence,
watching the animal inteutly, and eX-
pecting some startling effect. None
such appeared. however. The dog con-
tinued to lie stretched upon the
cushion, breathing in labored way,
but apparently neither the better nor
worse for its draught.
Holmes had taken out his watch, and
as minute followed minute without re-
suit, an expression of the utmost cha
grin and disappointment appeared
upon his features He gnawed his lip,
drummed his fingers upon the table,
and showed every other symptom of
acute Impotence. So great was his
emotion that | felt sincerely sorry for
him, while the two detectives smiled
derisively, by no means dispieased at
this check which he had met.
1T can't be a coincidence" he cried,
at last, springing fsom his chair and
pacing wildly mp and down the room;
'it is impossible that it should be a