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

of Vohn II. Watson, AZ. d., late Of h
dr'ly medical Department.
CHAPTER vi
Thb papers next day were full OF tn
"Britton Mystery" as they termed It
Each! had long account Of tho affair
and d bme had leaders upon IL in addi
ton. There was some information il
them which was new to me. l still 70
tain lin my scrapbook numerous clip
pingsl and extracts bearing upon th'
case. lHere is condensation Of few O
them
Thi Daily Telegraph remarked tha
In th,l history Of crime there had seldom
been } tragedy which presented stranger
featuIcs. The German name Of the VIC
tim, the absence Of all other motive ant
the sinister inscription on the wall, al
point}d to its preparation by politica
REFUGEES and revolutionists. The social
lists hid many branches in America, an(
the deceased had no doubt infringeC
their hnwritten laws and been tracked
down. by them. After alluding to til,
Vehm Eericght, aqua tofana, Carbonari
the itarchioness do Brinvilliers. tn,
Darwlnian theory. the principles Of Nal
thus Ind the RatolitY highway murders
the Article concluded by admonishinl
the government and advocating o closer
watch over foreigners In England.
Thl Standard commented upon the
fact q bat lawless outrages Of the sort
usually occurred under Liberal admin
istrat3bn. They arose from the unset
Ting lf the minds Of the masses and the
consequent weakening Of all authority.
The deceased was nm American gentle
man who had been residing for some
weeks In the metropolis. he had staid
ut theI boarding house Of Nine. Char
pentiet in Torquay Terrace, Camberwell.
He wax accompanied in his travels by
his private secretary, Mr.. Joseph Stan
gersoni The two bade adieu TO their
landlaty upon Tuesday, the 4th inst. 4.
and departed to Euston station with the
avoweh intention Of catching the Liver
pool express They were afterward seen
togethj on the platform. Nothing more
Is kno I'm Of them until Mr. Drebber's &
body yfns, ns recorded, discovered in nh
empty house in the Drixton road, many
miles from Euston. How he came there
or howl he met his fate are questions
which, are still involved in mystery.
Nothing is known Of the whereabouts Of
Stupgs rsoD. We are glad to learn that
Mr.. Llstrade and Mr.. Gregson Of SCOT
land y ard are both engaged upon the
case, ahd it is confidently anticipated
that these we'll known officers will
speedily throw light upon the matter.
The daily News observed that there
was nd doubt rs to tho crime being IA po-
litical pne. The despotism and hatred OF
Liberalism which animated the CONT
mental governments had had the effect
Of driving 10 our shores number OF
men who might have made excellent
ci,izcpt were they not soured by the rec
ollectiIn of all that they had undergone.
AmonlE these men there was stringent
code ck honor, any Infringement OF
which lgas punished by death Every ef-
fort shbuld be made TO find the secre-
tary, Skangorson, and to ascertain some
particulars of tho habits OF the deceased.
A great step had been gained by the dis
covery lof the address Of the house at
which be had boardcd-a result which
was entirely due 70 the acuteness and
energy bf Mr.. Gregson Of Scotland Yard.
Sherlock Holmes and ! read these no.
ticcs oker together ut breakfast, and
they apbeared to afford him considerable
amused bent.
II tjld you that what ever happened
Lestrslo and Gregson would be sure to
score.
'Thilt depends ON how it turns out "
"Oh| bless you, it doesn't matter in
the lea1t. II the man is caught, it will
b. on q tcount Of their exertions. II be
escapes il will be in spite Of their exer-
tions. It's heads win and tails you
lose. What ever they do, they will have
followefs. I'm sot trouve tou1ours un
Plus sol qul auinire.
"Wtlat OH earth is this?" cried, for
at this noment there came the patterins
of marH steps in the hall and Oh the
stairs, accompanied by audible EXPIRES
sions oi disgust upon the part Of our
landla6V.
"It's the Baker street division Of the
detectiJe police force" said my COM
panion Eravely. and as he spoke there
rushed into the room half dozen Of the
dirtiest and most ragged street arabs
that ev lr I clapped eyes OH.
"'Te htion!" cried Holmes in sharp
tone, AID tho six dirty little scoundrels
stood irl line like SO many disreputable
statuett es. "In future you shall send NJ
WiggipE to report, and the rest of you
must whit in the street Have you found
it, wiagins?''
"No, sir, we hain't," said one Of the
youths.
81 hd drdly expected you would. You
must keep on until you do. Here are
your wi|ges." He handed each Of them
shilli{g. "Now, off you 60. and come
back with better report next time. F"
He W hyed his hand, and they scamper-
ed ava! down stairs like so many rats,
and we! heard their shrill voices next
momen1 in the street
"Thete's more work to be got out OF
one of those little beggars than out OF q
dozen of the force" Holmes remarked.
"The Iere sight of an official looking
person deals mems lips. These young
sters, hbwever, go everywhere and hear
everything. They are as sharp as needles
too. Ali they want is organization. !"
"Is il on this Brixton case that you
are emf Illoying them1" I asked
eyes, there Is point which l wish
to ascertain. 1t is merely matter OF
time. Hello we are going to hear some
news nbw with q vengeance! Here il
Gregsod coming down the road with
beatitude written upon every feature Of
his facet Bound for us, / know. Yes,
ho is shipping. There he isl'
There was a violent peal at the bell,
and in d few seconds the fair haired do
tectiye fame up the stairs, three steps
at tirhe, and burst into our sitting
room.
my dear fellow. he cried. wringine
Holmes unresponsive hand, "congratu'
late me. have made the whole thini
as clear los day!"
A shahe Of anxiety seemed to me Il
cross m1 companions expressive face.
"Do Eou mean that you are ON the
right trickG" he asked.