Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-07-12
BY CONAN DOYLE.

"oN "oulu De, WITCH SuUupnlN
a gllnt OF a light caught my eye in
the window OF that same house. Now,
l knew that them two houses in Lau,
riston Gardens was empty on account
Oh MIN n a owns them, who won't
nave the drains seed to, though the
very last tenant what lived in one of
mem died O typhoid fever. / was
knocked all in n heap, therefore, al
seeing a light in the window, and
suspected as something was wrong,
When L got to the door"
You stopped, and then walked back
10 the garden gate" my companion in
for?" A"'
Rance gave a violent jump, and star,
ed at Sherlock Holmes with the ut
most amazement upon his features.
why, that's true, sir" he said
though how you come to know il
heaven only knows. Ye see, when
got up to the door, it was so still and
so lonesome that / thought I'd be none
tne worse for some one with me. I
amt afeared of anything on this side
or the grave, but l thought that maybe
IL was him that died o. the typhoid
Inspecting the drains what killed him.
II thought gave me a kind O. turn,
ana l walked back to the gate to see
II | could see Murcher's lantern. but
there wasn't no sign of him nor Of any
one else"
There was no n in the street,"
NOT a Twin soul, sir, nor as much
as q dog. Then | pulled myself togeth-
er ana went back and pushed the door
open. All was quiet inside, so l went
into the room where the light was
aburnin'. There was a candle flicker
in and the mantel- piece-a red wax
one-and by it's light / saw"
Yes, | know all that you saw. You
walked round the room several times.
and you knelt down by the body, and
II e you walked through and tried
the kitchen door, and then"
John Rance sprang to his feet with
a frightened face and suspicion in his
eyes. Where was you hid to see all
that" he cried. 1T seems to me that
you knows a deal more than you
should"
Holmes laughed and threw his caro-
across the table to the constable. DO
not get arresting me for the murder"
he said. Il am one Of the hounds, and
not the wolf; Mr.. Gregson or Mr.. Les
trade will answer for that. Go on,
though. What did you do next?"
Rance resumed his seat, without,
however, losing his mystified express
ion. Il went back to the gate and
sounded my whistle. That brought
Murcher and two more to the spot"
0 was the street empty them"
We'll, it was, as far as anybody that
could be of any good goes"
What do you mean?"
The c%onstable's features broadened
into a grin. I've seen many a chap
drunk in my time" he said, but never
any n so cryin' drunk as that cove.
He was at the gate when l came out.
a-singin' at the pitch o his lungs about
Columbine's New-fangled Banner, or
some such stuff. He couldn't stand,
far less help"
What sort of a man was her asked
Sherlock Holmes.
John Rance appeared to be somewhat
irritated at this depression. "Ee was
an uncommon drunk sort . man." he
said. He'd ha' found hisself in the
station If we hadn't been so took up"
Ills face-his d~ress-didn't you no
tice them?" Holmes broke In, impa-
tiently.
" should think / did notice them, see
ing that / had to prop him up-me and
Murcher between us. He was a long
chap, with a red face, tho lower part
muffled round
THAT will do" cried Holmes. What
became Of him?'
"We'd enough to do without lookin'
after him." the policeman said, in an
aggrieved voice. "In wager he found
his way home all right"
How was he dressed:'
"a brown o~vercoat."
Had he a whip in his hand?"
"a whip-no."
"He must have left 1t behind" NUT
tered his companion. You didn't hap
pen to see or hear q cab after that"
mo"
There's a half sovereign for YOU"
my companion said standing up and
taking his hat. II am afraid Rance,
that you will never rise in the force.
That head of yours should be for use
as we'll as ornament. You might have
gained your sergeant's stripes last
lhc hidh WhoLh Sou hSiu Al
your hands is the man who holds a
clew to the mystery, and whom we are
seeking. There Is no use of arguing
about 1t now. l tell you that 1t is so.
Come along, doctor"
We started off for the cab together,
leaving our informant in%credulous, but
obviously uncomfortable.
THE bluudering fool" Holmes said,
bitterly, as we drove back to our lodg-
ings. Just to think Of his having such
an Incompatible bit Of good luck and
not taking advantage of it."
II am rather in the dark still. 1t Is
true that the description Of this man
tallies with your idea Of the second
party in this mystery. But why should
he come back TO the house after leaving
it? That is not the way Of criminals
THE ring. man. the ring" that was
what he came back for. Ii we have no
other way Of catching him, We can al
WAYS bait our line with the ring. /
shall have him, doctor-Iu lay you two
to one that / have him. / must thank
you for it all. / might not have gone
but for you, and so have missed the fin
est study / ever came across; a study
In scarlet, eh? Why shouldn't we use
a little jargon? There's the scarlet
thread Of murder running through the
skein CT life, and our duty Is
TO u%nrayel 1t and isolate ii. and expose
every inch Of II. But now for lunch,
- -za- T-mu. YYnr nv