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


Alice, ard loforo my very face proposed
to her that she should fly with him.
"You are Of age" he said, "and there
is no law to stci. you. have money
enough and to spare. Never mind the
old girl hero. but como along with me
now straight away. You shall live like
q princess. Poor Alice was so fright
ened that she shrunk away from him,
but he caught her by the wrist and en-
deavored to draw her toward the door.
/ screamed, and nc that moment my son
Arthur came into the room. What hap
pened then do not know. Iheard oaths
and the confused sounds Of scuffie. |
was too terrified to raif1 my head. When
/ did look up, saw Arthur standing in
the doorway laughing, with stick in
his hand. II don't think that fine fell
low will trouble us again" he said. II
will Just go after him and see what he
does with himself" With those words
he took his hat and started of down the
street. The next morning we heard of
Mr.. Drebber's mysterious death.
This statement came from Mrs.
Charpentier's lips with many gasps and
pauses. At times she spoke so low that
/ could hardly catch the words. made
shorthand notes Of all that she said,
however, so that there should be no pos
sibility Of mistake" "
Its quite exciting" said Holmes,
with yawn. what happened next!''
when Mrs. Charpentier paused. "
the detective continued, saw that the
whole case hung upon one point. Fixing
her with my eye in way which l al
ways found effective with women.
asked her mt what hour her son returned.
81 do not know, she answered.
"'Not knowY
"'No; he has latchkey and let him
self in.
"After you went to bedf'
"Yes.'
"'When did you go to bedF
"About IL.
$50 your son was gone at least two
hours
"Yes.
POSSIBLY four or five''
"Yes.
"What was he doing during that
timer
"'I do not know. she answered, turn
ing white TO her very lips.
"Of course after that there was moth
ing more to be done. found out where
Lieutenant Charpentier was, took two
officers with me and arrested him.
When touched him on the shoulder
and warned him TO come quietly with
Us, he answered us rs bold as brass, !
suppose you are arresting me for being
concerned in the death of that scoundrcl
Drebber, be said We had said nothing
to him about it, so that his alluding 20
it had most suspicious aspect.
Very" said Holmes.
"He still carried the heavy stick which
the mother described him as having
with him when ho followed Drebber. IL
was stout oak cudgel.
What is your theory, them
well, my theory is that he followed
Drebber a. far As the Brixton road.
When there, fresh alteration arose
between them. in the course Of which
Drebber received a blow from the stick,
in the pit Of the stomach perhaps, which
killed him without leaving any mark
The night was SO wet that no one was
about, so Charpentier dragged the body
Of his victim into the empty house. As
to the candle, and the blood, and the
writing on the wall, and the ring. they
may all be so many tricks 70 throw the
police on To the wrong scent "
We'll done" said Holmes in All en-.
couraging voice. Really, Gregson, You
are getting along. We shall make some
thing Of you yet"
Il fiatter myself that have managed
1t rather neatly" the detective answer
ed proudly. THE young man volun-
teered statement, in which he said that
after following Drebber some time tho
latter perceived him and took cab IL
order to get away from him. On his
way home he met an old shipmate and
took q long walk with him. On being
asked where this old shipmate lived, he
was unable to give any satisfactory re-
ply | think the whole case fits together
uncommonly well. What amuses me Is
TO think Of Lestrade, who had started OIL
upon the wrong scent | am afraid he
won't make much Of it. Why, by Jove,
here's the very man himselfP'
1t was indeed Lestrade, who had as
cended the stairs while We Were talking,
and who now entered the room. The as
surance and jauntiness which generally
marked his demeanor and dress Were,
however, wanting. His face was disturb
ed and troubled, while his clothes were
disarranged and untidy. He had evi-
IDENTIFY come with the intention OF con-
sulting with Sherlock Holmes, for on
perceiving his colleague ne appeared to
be embarrassed and put out. He stood III
the center of the room, fumbling nerv-
ously with his hat and uncertain what
to do. "This is most extraordinary
case" he said at last, "a most incom'
prehensible affair.
'"Ah, you find it SO, Mr.. LestradeT
cried Gregson triumphantly. Il thought
you would come to that conclusion.
Have you managed to find the secretary.
Mr.. Joseph StangersonI"
"The secretary, Mr.. Joseph stanger-
son, )" said Lestrade gravely, "was mur'
dered at Halliday's Private hotel about
8 o'clock this morning."