Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-28

ers. ~
"You do me too much HONOR" said
Holmes gravely. LET rs hear how you
arrived at this most gratifying result. !"
The detective seated himself In the
armchair and puffed oomplacently at
his cigar Then suddenly he slapped his
thigh in q paroxysm Of amusement.
"The fun Of it is" he cried. that
that fool Lestrade, who thinks himself
so smart, has gone of upon the wrong
track altogether. He Is after the secre-
tary, Stangerson, who had no more to
do with the crime than babe unborn.
I have no doubt that hs has caught him
by this time.
The idea tickled 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. DIR. Watson, this Is strictly be-
tween ourselves The first difficulty
which we had to contend with was the
finding Of this Americans anteoedents
Some people would have waited until
their advertisements were answered. or
until par ties came forward and volun.
teered information. That Ia not Tobias
Gregson's way Of going to work. You
remember the hat beside the dead mani"
Yes" said Holmes; "by John Cn-
ierwood & Sons, 129 Camberwell road. "
Gregson looked quito crestfallen.
II had no idea that you noticed that,
he said Have you been thereT
mo"
Hal" cried Gregson. in . relieved
voice "You should never neglect a
chance. however small II may SEEM"
ITO great mind nothing Is little,
remarked Holmes sententiously.
well, | went to Underwood, and
asked him IL he had sold hat Of that
size and description. He looked over his
books and came on it ut once. He had
sent the hat to q Mr. Drebber, residing
asCbarpentier' boarding establishment,
Torquay Terrace. Thus got at his ad-
dress.
"Smart-very smart" murmured
Sherlock Holmes
Il next called upon Nine. Charpen-
tier, continued the detective II found
her very pale and distressed, Her daugh-
ter was in the room, too-an uncommon
ly fine girl she is too She was looking
red about the eyes. and her lips trem-
bed us spoke to her. That didn't es-
cape my notice. began to smell rat
You know the feeling, Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes, when you como upon the right
scent---a kind Of thrill in your nerves.
Have you heard Of tho mysterious death
Of your late boarder, Mr.. Enoch J. Dreb-
Der Of Cleveland;' / asked.
"The mother nodded She didn't seem
able 10 ges out n word. Tho daughter
burst into tears felt more than ever
that these people knew something Of the
matter.
"'At what o'clock did Mr.. Drebber
leave your house for the train! asked
"'At s O'Clock, she said, gulping in
her threat 10 keep down her agitation
His secretary, Mr.. Stangerson, said
that there were two trains--one at 9:l5
and one at II. He was to catch the first.
"'And was that the last which You
saw Of himY
"a terrible change came over tho wo-
mans face rs asked the question. Her
features turned perfectly livid. 1t was
some seconds before she could get out
tho second word, Yes, and when it did
come it was in husky, unnatural tone.
There was silence for moment, and
then the daughter spoke IL calm, clear
voice
"'No good can ever come OF falsehood,
mother, she said. Let us be frank with
this gentleman. We did see Mr.. Dreb-
Der again.
"'God forgive you!' cried Nine
Charpentier, 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.
"'You had best tell me all about 1t
now, l said Half condolences are
worse than none. Besides you do not
know how much we know Of it.
"'On your head be it, Alicep criet.
her mother, and then, turning to me: i
will tell you all, sir. Do not imagine
that my agitation on behalf OF my son
arises from my fear lest TO should have
had hand in this terrible offair. He is
utterly innocent Of it. My dread is,
however, that in your eyes and II to
eyes Of others no may apear to bo CON-
promised. That. however, is surely i'm
possible. His high character, his profes'
sion, his antecedents would all forbid it.
| Your best way is to make q clean
breast Of tho facts, ] answered. Dc
pend upon it, if your son is innocent, no
will be none the worse
Perhaps, Alice, you had better
leave us together she said. and her
daughter withdrew. Now, sir, she con-
tinued, I had no intention Of telling
you all this, but since my poor daughter
has disclosed it havo no alternative.
Having once decided to speak, ! will
tell you all without emitting any par.
ticular.
"'It is your wisest course, said !.
"'Mr. Drehber has been with Us near
" three weeks He and his secretary.
Mr.. Stangerson, had been travelling Oh
the continent. noticed "Copenha-
gen. label upon each Of their trunks.
showing that that had been their last
stopping place Stangerson was aquiet,
reserved man, but his employer, am
sorry to say, was far otherwise. He was
coarse in his habits and british in his
ways. The very night Of his arrival he
became very much the worse fer drink,
and indeed after IL o'clock in the day
he could hardly ever be said to be sober.
His manners toward the maidservants
were disgustingly free and familiar.
Worst Of all. he speedily assumed the
same attitude toward my daughter,
| Alice, and spoke to her more than once
in way which, fortunately. she Is too
innocent to understand. On one occa-
sion no actually seized her III his arms
and embraced her-an Outrage which
caused his own secretary to reproach
him for his unmanly conduct.
"'But why did you stand all this? l
asked. i suppose that you can get rid
Of your boarders when You wish.
"Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my per-
tinent question. Would to God that ]
had given him notice on the very day he
came, she said. But it was sore
temptation. They were paying pound
day each. e14 week, and this Is q
slack SEASON. ] am widow, and my
boy in the navy has cost me much. /