Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-21


Leaning back i'm the cab. this anna
teur bloodhound caroled away like q
lark, while / meditated upon the many
sidednoss Of the human mind.
CHAPTER v.
Our mornings exertions had been toe
much for my weak health. and was
tired out in the afternoon. After Holmes
departure for tho concert, ! lay down
upon the sofa and endeavored to get o
couple Of hours sleep. It was use-
less attempt My mind had been too
much excited by all that had occurred,
and tho strangest fancies and surmises
crowded into it, Every time that
closed my eyes saw before me the dis
torted, balloonlike countenance OF the
murdered man. So sinister was the ex.
preston which that face had produced
upon me that found it difficult to feel
anything but gratitude for him who had
removed its owner from the world. II
ever human features bespoke vice OF the
most malignant type, they were certain
" those OF Enoch ]. Drobber OF Cleve-
land. Still recognized that justice must
be done, and that the depravity OF the
victim was no condonement in the eyes
of tho law.
Tho more thought Of il. the more ox-
traordinary did my companions hypoth-
esis that the man had been poisoned ap-
pear. ! remembered how he had shifted
his lips and had no doubt that he had
detected something which had given
rise to the idea. Then, again, il not
poison. what had caused the mans
death. since there was neither wound
nor marks Of strangulation. But. on
the other hand, whose blood was that
which lay so thickly upon the floor?
There was no signs Of struggle, nor
had the victim any weapon with which
he might have wounded an antagonist.
As long as all these questions were un-
solved felt that sleep would be no easy
matter either for Holmes or myself. His
quiet, self confident manner convinced
me that he had already formed theory
which explained all the facts, though
what IL was could not for AL instant
conjecture.
He was very late in returning. so late
that l knew that the concert coulh not
have detained him all the time. Dinner
was on the table before he appeared.
1T was magnificent, he said rs he
took his seat. ''Do you remember what
Darwin says about musicy He claims
that the power Of producing and appre-
ciating II existed among the human race
long before the power OF speech was ar
rived at Perhaps that is why We are
so subtly influenced by 1t. There are
vague memories in our souls of those
misty centuries when tho world was in
its childhood. "
That's rather broad idea," re-
marked.
"One's ideas must be as broad rs ma
sure If they are to interpret nature, he
answered. Whats the matter? You re
not looking quite yourself This Brix-
ton road affair has upset you. p"
ITO toll the truth, it has, said. 81
ought to be more case hardened after my
Afghan experiences. l saw my own
comrades hacked TO pieces at Maiwand
without losing my nerve. "
II can understand There is a mys-
terry about this which stimulates the
Imagination. Where there is no imag
ination there is no horror. Have yop
seen the evening paper:"
mo"
''It gives fairly good account OF the
affair. IL does not mention the fact that
when the man was raised up u woman's
wedding ring fell upon the floor. It's
Just as well it does not.
"Why?'
Look at this advertisement, he aE.
this morning Immediately after the af
fair:
He threw the paper across to me, and
/ glanced at the place indicated. II
was the first announcement in the
Found column. In Brixton road this
morning, it ran, "a plain gold wed
ding ring, found in the roadway between
the White Hart tavern and Holland
grove. Apply DR.. Watson, 22lb Baker
street. between s and 0 this evening.
Excuse my using your namc." he
said. IF used my own, some one OF
these dunderheads would recognize it
and want to meddle in the affair
That is all right" l answered.
"But. supposing any one applies. have
no ring"
"Oh, yes, you have" said he, hard
ing me one. This will do very well.
1t is almost facsimile. J."
"And who do you expect will answer
this advertisement"
why, the man in the brown coat,
our florid friend with the square toes
II he does not come himself, he will send
an accomplice. "
Would he not consider it rs too dan
gerousg"
mot at all. II my view Of the case
is correct, and have evory reason to be-
lieve that it is, this man would rather
risk anything than lose the ring. Ac-
cording to my notion, he dropped II
while stopping over Drebber's body and
did not miss it at the time. After leav-
ing the house he discovered his loss and
hurried back, but found the police al
ready in possession, owing to his own
folly in leaving the candle burning. He
had to pretend to be drunk in order to
allay the suspicious which might have
been aroused by his appearance at the
gate. Now, put yourself in that mans
place. On thinking the matter over it
must have occurred to him that it was
possible that he had lost the ring in the
road after leaving the house. What
would he do then? He would eagerly
look out for the evening papers in the
hope of seeing it among the articles
found. His eye. of course. would light
upon this. He would be overjoyed.
Why should he fear trap? There would
be no reason in his eyes why the find
ing of the ring should be connected with
the murder. He would come. he will
come. You shall see him within an
hour"
"And them" asked.
ION, you can leave me to deal with
him then. Have you any arms?"
II have my old service revolver and
q few cartridges.
"You had better clean It and load 1t.
He will be a desperate man, and though
| / shall take him unawares it is rs well
to be ready for anything. g."
Iwent to my bedroom and followed
h;a advice When returned with the