The Globe-republican., 1894-04-20

A small garden sprlnkled over with
scattered eruption of sickly plants sep
arated each of these houses from the
street, and was traversed by narrow
pathway, yellowish in color, and con.
sisting apparently of a mixture of clay
and of gravel The whole place was
very sloppy from the rain which had
fallen through the night. The garden
was bounded BY a three-foot brick wall
with fringe of wood rails upon the top,
and against this wall was leaning q
stalwart police constable, surrounded
by a small knot of loafers, who craned
their necks and strained their eyes in
the vain hope of catching some glimpse
of the proceedings within.
had imagined that Sherlock Holmes
wonld at once have hurried into the
house and plunged into study of the
mystery. Nothing appeared to be far
Their from his intention. With an air
of nonchalance which, under the cir
cumstances, seemed to me to border
upon affectation, he lounged up and
down the pavement, and gazed va
cantly at the ground, the sky, the op-
posite houses, and the line of ratings.
Having finished his scrutiny, he pro
ceeded slowly down the path. or rather
down the fringe of grass which fianked
the path, keeping his eyes riveted upon
the ground. Twice he stopped, and
once saw him smile and heard him
utter an exclamation of satisfaction.
There were many marks of footsteps
upon the wet, clayey soil, but since the
police had been coming and going over
it. l was unable to see how my COM
panion could hope to learn anything
from it. Still, had such extraordi-
nary evidence of the quickness of his
perceptive faculties that had no doubt
that he could see a great deal which
was hidden from me.
At the door of the house we were
met by a tall. white-faced, flaXen-
haired man. with a notebook in his
hand, who rushed forward and wrung
my companions hand with effusion.
sit is indeed kind of you to come" he
said; 81 have had everything left un-
touched"
Except that-' my friend answered,
pointing TO the pathway. IF herd
of buffaloes had passed along there
could not be a greater mess. No
doubt, however, you had drawn your
own conclusions, Gregson, before you
permitted this"
Il have had so much to do inside
the house," the detective said. evasive-
Iy. my colleague, Mr.. Lestrade, is
here. l had relied upon him to look
after this"
Holmes glanced at me, and raised
his eyes sardonically. with two such
men as yourself and Lestrade upon the
ground. there will not be much for
third party to find out" he said.
Gregson rubbed his hands in a self
way. II think we have done
all that can be DONE" he answered;
Its queer case, though, and I knew
your taste for such things"
"You did not come here in a cab?"
asked Sherlock Holmes.
''NO, SIR"
''Nor Lestrade?'
''No, SIR
'.Then let us go and look at the
room" With which inconsequent re-
mark he strobe on into the. house, fol-
lowed by Gregson, whose features ex-
pressed his establishment.
A short passage. bare planked and
dusty. led to the kitchen and offices.
Two doors opened out of it to the left
and to the right. One of these had OBJ
viously been closed for many weeks.
The other belonged to the dining-room,
which was the apartment in which the
fair had occurred. Holmes
walked in. and l followed him with
that subG feeling at my heart which
the presence of death inspires.
1t was a large, square room. looking
all the larger for the absence of all
furniture. A vulgar: flaring paper
the walls, but it was blotched
in places with mildew, and here and
there great strips had become detached