Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-06-28
CHAPTER III.
The Iuuristan Garhap Ngystar

CHAPTER III.
The LauristOn Garden Mystery.
L confess that / was considerably
startled by this fresh proof of the
practical nature of my companions
theories. My respect for his powers
OF analysis increased w)ndrously.
There still remained some lurking sus-
plcion in my mind, however, that the
whole thing was a pr~earraaged cpl
sode, Intended to dazzle me, though
what earthly object he could have in
taking me in was past my comprehen-
sion. When L looked at him he had
finished reading the note, and his eyes
n assumed the vacant, lack-luSter ex-
preston which showed mental abStrac-
ton.
How in the world did you deduce
thatE' l asked.
"Deduce what?" said he petulantly.
why, that he was a retired sergeant
Of marines"
Il have no time for t~riies," he an
swered 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 the man was a ser
geant Of marinesY'
mo, indeed"
1T was easier TO know it than to ex-
plain why l know 1t. II you were ask
ed 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 n
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-
lance and a certain air Of command.
You must have observed the way in
which he aeld 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" l calculated.
Commonplace" said Holmes, though
l thought from his expression that he
was pleased at my evident surprise and
admiration. II 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 COM
| missionaire had brought.
why" l cried, as l cast my eyes
over it, this is terrible.
ut does seem to be a little out OF the
common he remarked calmly. Would
you mind reading it to me aloud?'
This is the letter which l read to him:
MY dear Mr.. Sherlock Holmes:
There has been a bad business during
the night at 3 Lauriston Gardens off
the Brixton Road. Our man on the
beat saw a light there about two in the
| morning, and as the house was an emp
" one, suspected that something was
amiss. He found the door open, and in
the front room, which is bare Of furni
ture. discovered the body Of a gentle
man, well dressed, and having cards in
his pocket bearing the name of 'Enoch
]. Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, U. s. A
There had been no robbery, nor Is there
any evidence as to how the man met
his death. There are marks OF blood III
the room, but there is no wound upon
the person. We are at a loss as to haW
he came into the empty house; indeed,
the whole thing Is a puzzler. III you
can come round to the house any time
before twelve, you will find me there. l
have left everything in statu quo until
I hear from you. If you are unable to
come I shall give you fuller details, u
would esteem 1t a great kindness II 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 energetic,
but conveutional-shockingly so. They
have their knives into n another, too.
They are as jealous as a pair Oh pro-
fessional beauties. There VIII De some
fun over the case If they both put upon
the scent. ..
I was amazed at the calm way In
which he rippled on. surely there Is
not a moment to be lost" L criea'
0shall l go and order you a cab:,
al am not u about whether L shail
on 7 am the most incurably lazy devll,
That ever stood in shoe leather-that Is,
when the fit is on me, for l can be spry
enough at tines
"Why, 1t is just such a chance Us you
have been longing for .
s.My dear fellow, what does IL matter
to me? Surprising l unravel the whole
matter, you may be sure that Gregson'
Lestrade & Co., will pocket all the ereu,
it. That comes Of being an unonciai
parsonage" IT,,
But he begs you to help him.
yes. He knows that l am MS su.
nerior, and acknowledges 1t before me-
bnt he would cut his tongue out berore
be would own It t any third person.
However, we may as well GO ana nav
n look. / may have a laugh at .,en'
II I have nothing else. Come on!
He hustled on his %overcoat, n Dus.
tied about in a way that showed upa'
an energetic fit had superseded the apa-
thetic one.
"Get your hat" he said:
.sYou wish me to Gomez %
.Yes, il you have nothing pe.aer IN
do" A minute later we were po. tho
a hanson, driving furiously ior "'
r. was a foggy, cloudy morning. anu
n Ann colored veil hung over tne ~ Tho
tons. looking like the reflections Oh come m.
."p .coIored streets beneath. NY con-,
Huu ,r tha hegt of 6plrltS, anu