Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-07-26
CHAPTER VI-iContinued.1

80, F% $3.50 - AAANA - tIfS.
lheSe youngsters however go every
where and hear everything. They are
as sharp as needles, too; all they want
Is organization"
is it on this Brixton case that you
are employing them?" | asked.
Yes; there Is a point which / wish
10 ascertain. 1t is merely n matter of
une. Hullo! We are going TO hear
some news now with vengeance! Here
Is Gregson coming down the road with
beatitude written upon every feature
or his face. Bound for us, / know.
Yes, he is stopping. There he is"
There was a violent peal at the bell,
n in a few seconds the fair-haired
detective came up the stairs, three
steps at a time, and burst into our
sitting-room.
My dear fellow" he cried. wringing
Holiness unreSponsive hand, con
graduate me! 1 have made the whole
thing as clear as day"
A shade af anxiety seemed to me to
pass over my companions face.
DO you mean that you are On I
right trackT'
The right track! Why. sir, we have
the man under lock and key"
And his name isT"
Arthur Charpentier, a s~ub-lieutenant
In her majesty's navy" cried Gregson.
~pompously, rubbing his fat hands and
initiating his chest.
Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh of relief
and relaxed into a smile.
Take a seat and try one of those CT
CARS" he said. I'VE are anxious to
Ennup hnuy have p,onnunl ~ yNt1I
you have some whisky and water?"
II don't mind If l do" the detective
answered. The tremendous exertions
which l have gone through during the
last day or two have worn me out.
Not so much bodily eXertiOn, you I'M
derstand, as the strain upon the mind.
You will appreciate that. Mr.. 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 c~Omplacently at
his cigar; then suddenly, he slapped his
thigh in a parOXysm Of amusement.
'rhe fun of it is" he cried. that
that fool Lestrade. who thinks him
self so smart has gone off on the wrong
scent altogether. He is after the sec
rotary, S%tangersOn, who had no more
to do with the crime than Il babe I'M
born. ! have no doubt that he has
caught him By this time"
The idea tickled GregSCn so much
that he laughed until he checked.
And how did you get your clew?"
"Ah, I'll tell you all about it. OF
course, DR.. Watson. this is strictly be-
tween ourselves. The first difficulty
which We had to contend with was the
finding of his American antecedents.
Some people would have waited until
their advertisements were answered,
or until parties came forward and vol
unteered Information. This is not To
bias GregSon's way of going to work.
You remember the hat beside the dead
manT'
Yes" said Holmes; "by John Under,
wood & Sons, No. 129 Camberwell
road"
Gregson looked quite crest fallen.
II had no idea that you noticed that"
he said. Have you been there?"
mo"
Hal" cried Gregson. in q relieved
voice; you should never neglect n
chance, however small il may seem"
well. I went to Underwood and ask
ed him if he had sold 4 hat of that size
and description. He looked over the
books and came on it at once He had
sent the hat to Mr.. DrebbGr, residing
at Charpentier's boarding establish
ment, Torquay terrace. Thus | got his
address"
"Smart-very smart murmured
Sherlock Holmes.
II next called upon Nine. Charpen-
tier" continued the detective. II
found ner very pale and distressed.
Her daughter was in the room, too
an uncommonly fine girl she is, too:
she was looking red about the eyes,
and her lips trembled as / spoke to
her. That didn't escape my notice. l
began to smell n rat. You know the
feeling, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, when
you come upon the right scent-a kind
of thrill in your nerves. Have you
heard Of the mysterious death of your
late boarder, Mr.. Enoch ]. Drebber, of
ClevelandT / asked.
The mother nodded. She didn't seem
able to get out a word. The daughter
burst into tears. I felt more than ever
that these people knew something
about the matter.
At what o'clock did Mr.. Drebber
leave YOU house for the trainT' j ask
ed.
AT 8 o'clock she said, gulping in
her throat to keep down her agitation.
His secretary, Mr.. Stangerson, said
there were two ~trains-one at 9.15 and
one at IL. He was to catch the first
And was that the last which you
saw of himT
A terrible change came over the wo-
mans face as / asked the question.
Her features turned perfectedly hvid.
n was some seconds before she could
get out the single word. 'Yes'-and
when II did come it was In a husky,
unnatural voice.
There was a silence for a moment,
and then the daughter spoke in a calm
clear voice.
NO good can ever come Of false
hood, mother she said. Let us be
frank with this gentleman. We did
see Mr.. Drebber again.
God forgive you! cried Nine. Char
pentier. throwing up her hands and
sinking back In her chair. you have
murdered your brother
arthur would rather that we spoke
the truth the girl answered firmly.