The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-19


Stradivarius and an Amati. As for
myself, l was silent, for the dull
weather and the melancholy business
upon which we were engaged depressed
my spirits.
You don't seem to give much
thought to the matter in hand" said
at last, interrupting Holmes musical
disquisition.
"No data yet" he answered. ut is
a capital mistake to theorize before
you have all the evidence. 1t bases
the judgment"
"You will have your data SOON" I
remarked, pointing with my finger;
this is the Brixton road, and that is
the house, II l am not very much mis-
taken"
$50 it is. Stop, driver, stop" We
were still hundred yards or so from
it, but he insisted upon our alighting,
and we finished our journey upon foot.
No, 3 Lauriston gardens wore an i'll
omened and minatory look. 1t was
one of four which stood back some lit
tie way from the street, two being oc-
cupied and two empty. The latter
looked out with three tiers of vacant,
melancholy windows, which were
blank and dreary, save that here and
there TO Let" card had developed
like a cataract upon the bleared panes.
A small garden sprinkled over with u
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 mixture of clay
and of grav ell. 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 a fringe of wood rails upon the top,
and against this wall was leaning a
stalwart police constable, surrounded
by 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
would at once have hurried into the
house and plunged into a study of the
mystery. Nothing appeared to be far
ther 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 railings.
Having finished his scrutiny, he pro-
ceeded slowly down the path, or rather
down the fringe of grRss which hanked
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 rSarks of footsteps
upon the wet, clayey soil, but since the
police had been coming and going over
it, was unable to see how my CON-
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 notebook in his
hand, who rushed forward and wrung
my companions hand with effusion.
ut is indeed kind of you to come," he
said; Il have had everything left un-
touched"
Except that" my friend answered,
pointing to the pathway. IF a herd
of buffaloes had passed along there
could not be 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.
ly. 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 a
third party to find rat" he said.
Gregson rubbed his hands in self
satisfied way. II think we have done
all that can be DONE" he answered
Its queer case, though, and l knew
your taste for such things"
you did not come here in a cab?'
asked Sherlock Holmes.
mo, 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 astonishment.
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 1ining-room
which was the apartment in which the
mysterious affair had occurred. Holmes
walked In, and ! followed him with
that subdued feeling at my heart which
the presence Of death inspires.
II was large, square room, looking
all the larger for the absence of al
furniture. A vulgar, faring pape
adorned the walls, but it was blotcheC
In places with mildew, and here ant
there great strips had become detached
and hung down, exposing the yellow
plaster beneath. Opposite the doc
was snowy fireplace, surmounted b.
mantle-piece of Imitation white mar
BILE. On one corner of this was stucl
the stump of red wax candle. Th
solitary window was SO dirty that tn
light was hazy and uncertain, giving 1
dull gray tinge TO everything, whicl
was intensified by the thick layer o
dust which coated the whole apart
ment.
All these details / observed after
ward. At present my attention wa
centered upon the single grim, motion
less figure which lay stretched upol
| A. 4 4. al. Ia .,..s.