The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-19

Come here" he said, bustling back
into the room, the atmosphere of
which felt cleaner since the removal of
its ghastly inmate. "Now stand there!"
He struck match on his boot and
held it up against the wall.
Look at thatl" he said, triumphant
ly.
have remarked that the paper had
fallen away in these parts. In this
particular corner of the room large
piece had peeled off, leaving a 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 mur-
derer has written it with his or her
own blood. See this smear where it
has trickled down the WALL That dis
poses of the idea of suicide, anyhow.
Why was that corner chosen to write
it on2 will tell you. See that candle
on the mantel piece. 1t 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. y
"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 a
woman named Rachel has something
to do with it. It's all very we'll 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"
'I 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 have not
had time to examine this room yet,
but with your permission l shall do so
now"
AS he spoke hS whipped a tape
measure and large, round magnify
ing glass from his pocket. With these
two instruments he trotted noiselessly
about the room, sometimes stopping,
occasionally kneeling, and once lying
fiat on his face. So engrossed 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 a
running fire of exclamations, groans,
whistles, and little cries suggestive OF
encouragement and hope. AS !
watched him I was irresistibly re.
minded of pure-blooded, well-trained
fox-hound as it dashes backward and
forward through the covert, whining
in its eagerness, until it comes across
the lost scent. For twenty minutes OF
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 a very bad deflni
ton, but it does apply to detective
work"
Gregson and Lestrade had watched
the maneuvers of their amateur com
panion with considerable curiosity ant
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 tht
credit of the case if l was to presume
to help you" remarked my friend
You are doing SO well now that 4
would be pity for anyone to inter
fere." There was world of sarcasm
in his voice, as he spoke. "If you viii
let me know how your investigation
CO." he continued, 81 shall be happy
to give you any help can. In th'
meantime, l should like to speak tt
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 a
Audley court, Remington park gate.
Holmes took note of the address.
"Come along, Doctor" he said; wv,
shall go and look him up. I'll tell yo,
one thing which may help you in tn
case," he continued, turning to tn
two detectives. "There has beef
murder done, and the murderer was
man. He was more than six feet high
was in the prime of life, had small fee
for his height, wore coarse, square
toed boots and smoked Trichinopol
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 off fore-leg
In all probability the murderer had
horid face, and the finger-nails of hi
right hand were remarkably long
These are only few indications, bu
they may assist you"
Lestrade and Gregson glanced a
each other with an incredulous smile
"If this man was murdered, no,
was it done?" asked the former.