The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-19
CHAPTER Ill
THE LAuRIsroS GARDENS MYSTERY.

ChAPIEk Ill
THE LAuRIsroN GARDENS MYSTERY
/ 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 wondrously. There
still remained some lurking suspicion
id my mind, however, that the whole
thing was prearranged episode, in
tended to dazzle me, though what
earthly object he could have in taking
me in was past my comprehension.
When / looked at him he had finished
reading the note and his eyes had as
sumed the vacant, lack-luster express
sion which showed mental abstraction
Glow in the world did you deduce
that" asked.
"Deduce what?" said he, petulantly.
"Why, that he was retired SER
geant of marines
81 have no time for trihes," he re-
piled, brusquely. Then, with 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 that man was SER
geant of marines?"
mo, indeed"
at was easier to know it than to ex.
plain why know it. Ii you were
asked to prove that two and two made
four, you might find some difficulty,
and yet you Gre quite sure Of the fact.
Even across the street | could see a
great blue anchor tattooed on the bach;
of the fellows hand. That smacked Of
the sea. He had q military carriage,
however, and regulation side-wh:skers.
There we have the marine. He was a
man with some amount of self-impor-
tance and certain air of command.
You must have observed the way in
which he held hislhead 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" calculated.
Commonplace" said Holmes,
though l thought from his expression
that he was leased at my evident sur.
prise and admiration. II said just
now that there were no criminals. 1t
appears that l am wrong-look at
this" He threw me over the note
which the commissionaire had brought
Why" l cried, as cast my eye
over it, this is terrible"
1T does seem to be little out OF
the common" he remarked, calmly
Would you mind reading it to me
aloud?'
This is the letter which 1 read tc
him:
my DEAR Mr.. SHERLOCK HOLMES: There
has been bad business during the night at
Laur!ston gardens, OF the Brixtcn road ou
man on the beat saw light there about two ii
the morning, and as the house was al
empty one, suspected that something was
amiss, He found the door open, anC
in the front room, which is bare o
furniture discovered the body Of a gentleman
we'll dressed and having cards in his pocke
bearing the name OF 'Enoch j. Drebber Cleve
land, O., U. S A. There had been no rob
berry, nor is there any evidence as 10 Show thu
! man met his death. There are marks of blood
in the room, but there Is no wound upon hi'
| person We are at loss as to how he camC
! into the empty house; indeed, the whole affail
| is puZZler II you can come round TO the
house any time before twelve, you will find me
! there l have left everything In statu quo until
| hear from you. II you are unable TO come
shall give you fuller details, and would esteem
! II d 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 bad
lot. They are both quick and ener
getic, MISUNDERSTANDING but so
They have their knives into one
another, too, They are as Jealous as q
pair of professional beauties, There
will be some fun over this case if they
are both put upon the scent"
| was amazed at the calm way il
which he rippled on. Surely there il
not a moment to be lost" I cried
"Shall I go and order you cab?"
II am not sure about whether shal
go. l am the most incurably lay
devil that ever stood in shoe leather
that is, when the fit is on me, for cal
be spry enough at times"
"Why, it is just such chance as 20,
have been longing for"
My dear fellow, what does it mat
ter to me? Supposing l unravel tn,
whole matter, you may be sure tina
Gregson, Lestrade & Co. will pocle
all the credit. That comes of being al
unofficial parsonage"
But he begs you to help him"
Eyes. He knows that / am his su
perior, and acknowledges it to me
but he would cut his tongue out befor
he would own it to any third person
However, we may as well go and hav
look. shall work it out on my owl
hook. may have laugh at them, i
| have nothing else. Come on"
He hustled on his overcoat, an,
hustled about in way that Shove,
that an energetic fit had supersede,
the apathetic one.
"Get your hat" he said