Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-03

youths.
81 hardly expected you would. You
must keep on until o do. Here r
your wages" He handed each Of them
a shilling. Now. off you go, and
ON back with a better report next
time"
He waved his hand, and they scam
pered away downstairs like SO many
rats, and we heard their shrill voices
next moment in the street.
There's more work to be got out of
one of those little beggars han out of
adozen of the force" Holmes remarked.
1.-THE mere sight OF an oficial-looking
person seals mems lips. These young
sters, however, go everywhere and
hear everything. They are as sharp as
needles, too; all they want is organi-
cation"
rs it on this Brixton case that you
are employing them?" I asked.
Yes; there is a point which / wish
to ascertain. 1t is merely a matter Of
time. Hullol we are going to hear
some new now with a -vengeancel
Here is Gregson coming down the road
with beatitude written upon every
feature OF his face. Bound for us, I
know. Yes, he is stopping. There he
isi'
There was q violent peal at the bell,
and in a few seconds the fair-haired
detective came up the stairs, three
steps at a time, and burst into our sit
ting-room.
MY dear fellow" he cried, wringing
Holmes unresponsive hand, "Congrat-
ulate me! / have made the whole
thing as clear as day"
A shade of anxiety seemed to me to
cross my companions expressive face.
D you mean thai you are on the
right track?" he asked.
THE right trackl Why, sir, we have
the man under lock and key"
And his name is?"
arthur Charpentier, sub-lieutenant
in her majesty's navy" cried Gregson,
pompously, rubbing his fat hands and
initiating his chest.
Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh OF re-
lief and relaxed into a smile.
"Take a seat and try one Of these
CIGARS" he said. eve are anxious to
know how you managed it. VIII you
have some whisky and water3"
II don't mind if l do the detective
answered. 1.-The tremendous exertions
which l have gone through during the
last day or two have worn me out.
Not so much bodily %exertion, you un-
d~erstand, as the strain upon the mind.
You will appreciate that, Nh. Sherlock
Holmes, for we are both brain work
ers."
You do me too much honor" said
Holmes gravely. Let US hear how
you arrived at this most gratifying re-
suit"
The detective seated himself in the
armchair and pulled complacent1y at
his cigar. Then suddenly he slapped
his thigh in a paroxysm Of amusement.
1.-THE fun of it is" he cried, that
that fool Lestrade, who thinks himself
so smart, has gone off upon the wrong
track altogether. He is after the sec.
rotary, ~Stangerson, who had no more
to do with the crime han the babe I'M
born. l have no doubt that he has
caught him by this time"
The idea tick1ed Gregson SO much
that he laughed until he choked.
"And how did you get your clew?"
"Ah, I'll tell you all about 1t. OF
course, DR.. Watson, this Is strictly be-
tween ourselves. = The first difficulty
which we had to contend with was the
finding Of this Observation-Disclosures.
Some people would have waited until
their advertisements were answered,
or until parties came forward and vol.
unteered information. That is not
Tobias G~regson's wey of going to
work. You remember the hi beside
the dead man?"
YES" said Holmes; "by John I'm.
derwood s. Sons, 129 Camberwell
road"
Gregson looked quite crestfallen.
st had no idea that you noticed
that he said. Have you been
there?"
NO"
"Har' cried Gregson, in a relieved
voice; '.you should eve neglect q
chance, however small it may SEEM"
ITO a great mind nothing is little
remarked Holmes, sententiously.
well I went to Underwood and
asked him If he lac sold a hat of thai
size and description. He looked ove1
his books and came on it at once. He
had sent the hat to a Mr.. Drebber, re
siding at Charpentier's boarding estab
lishment, Torquay GRACE Thus I got
at his address"
2sSmart-very smart" murmure6
Sherlock Holmes.
81 next called upon Nine. Char
pentier," continued the detective. -
found her very pale and distressed
Her daughter was in the room, too
an uncommonly fine girl she is, too
she wa looking red about the eye:
and her lips tremb1ed as spoke to her
That didn't escape my notice. 1 begar
to smell a rat. You know the feeling
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, when you come
upon the right scent-a kind Oh thrill
in your nerves. Have you heard o
the mysterious death Of your boarder
Mr.. Enoch J. Drebber, of Cleveland?
I asked.
1.-The mother nodded. h didn'
seem able to get out a word. TIL
daughter burst into tears. / felt NOR
than ever that these people knew
something of the matter.
AT what o'clock did MI. Drebbe
leave your house for the tramp
asked.
"tAt eight o'clock she said, gulpini
in her throat to keep down her agita
ton. His secretary, Mr.. Stangerson
said that there were two trains-on
at 9:15 and one at II. He was t
catch the first
land was that the last which yo1
saw of him?'
"a terrible change came over tn
woman's face as / asked the question
Her features turned perfectly livid. l
was some seconds before she could ge
out the single word Yes and when
did come out it was in a husky, unnat
11ra1 tone.