Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-04-04

Eyes. And, fortunately, we have no
| distance to go. Evidently what puzzled
| the dog at the corner of Knights
place was that there were two differ
ent trails running in opposite direc-
| tions. We took the wrong one. 1t only
remains to follow the other"
There was no difficulty about this.
On leading Toby to the place where he
had committed his fault, he cast about
in wide circle, and finally dashed of
in fresh direction.
1--WE must take care that he does not
now bring US to the place where the
| creosote barrel came FROM" observed
II had thought of that But you no
ttce that he keeps on the pavement
whereas the barrel passed down the
roadway. No, we are on the true scent
| now"
1t tended down towards the river.
side, running through Belmont place
and Princes street. At the end OF
| Broad street it ran right down to the
waters edge, where there was small
wooden wharf. Toby led US TO the
very edge of this, and there stood
whining, looking out on the dark eur
rent beyond.
1--WE are out of luck" said Holmes.
"They have taken to a boat here
Several small punts and skiffs were
lying about in the water and on the
| edge Of the wharf. We took Toby
! round to each in turn, but, though he
shifted earnestly, he made no sign.
Close to the rude landing stage was
small brick house, with a wooden
placard swung out through the second
window. "Mordecai Smith" was printed
across it in large letters, and under
meath: Boats to hire by the hour OF
day" A second inscription above the
door informed us that a steam launch
was kept-a statement which was con
frmed by great pile of coke upon the
jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly
round, and his face assumed an ominous
expression.
This looks bad" said he. "Those
fellows are sharper than l expected.
They seem to have covered their tracks.
There has, fear, been preconcerted
management here"
He was approaching the door of the
house, when it opened, and little
culy-headed lad of six came running
out, followed by a stoutish, red-faced
woman with large sponge in her hand
''You come back and be washed,
'acA' sIle a.ss.-,--tr-your father comes
home and finds you like that, he'll
let us hear of it,"
"Dear little chap said Holmes,
strategically. What a rosy-cheeked
young rascal! Now, Jack, is there any
thing you would hke?"
The youth pondered for moment.
I'D like a shillin'," said he.
Nothing you would like better?"
'rd like two shillin' BETTER" the
prodigy answered, after some thought.
Here you are, then! Catch-A fine
child, Mrs. Smith,
''Lor' bless you, sir, he is that, and
forward. He gets most too much for
me to manage, specially when my man
is away days at a time"
away, is hep said Holmes, in dis
appointed voice. Il am sorry for that,
for wanted to speak to Mr.. Smith"
Hes been away since yesterday
mornin', sir, and, truth to tell, am be-
ginnin' to feel frightened about him.
But if it is about boat, sir, maybe
could serve as we'll"
81 wanted to hire his steam launch.
''Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steam
launch that he has gone. That's what
puzzles me; for know there amt more
Goals in her than would take her tC
about Woolwich and back. If he'd been
away in the barge I'd ha' thought
nothin'; for many q time a job has taken
him as far as Gravesend, and then il
there was much doin' there he might ha
stayed over. But what good is steam
| launch without coals?'
"He might have bought some at q
wharf down the river"
''He might, sir, but it weren't his
way. Many time I've heard him cal
out at the prices they charge for few
odd bags. Besides, l don't like that
wooden-legged man, wi his ugly face
and outlandish talk. What did he
want always knockin' about here for2'
"a wooden-legged man?" said
Holmes, with bland surprise.
Eyes, sir, a brown, monbey-faceG
|
old man. 1t was him that reused hin
up yesternight, and, what's more, my
| man knew he was comm, for he had
steam up in the launch. l tell you
straight. sir, don't feel easy in my
mind about it."
But, my dear Mrs. Smith," said
Holmes, Struggling his shoulders
"you are frightening yourself about
nothing. How could you possibly tel
that it was the wooden-legged maj
who came in the night? 1 don't quite
understand how you can be so sure"
"His voice, sir. l knew his voice
which is kind o. thick and foggy. HI
tapped at the winder-about three i
would be. Show leg, matey,' say
he: time to turn out guard My ol(
man woke up Jim-that's my eldest
and away they went, without so mucl
as word to me. / could hear th'
wooden leg clacl1in' on the stones"
"And was this wooden-legged mai
alone?"
Couldn't say, am sure, sir. didn
hear no one else"
81 am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for wante
a steam launch, and have heard goo
reports of the Let me see, what
her name?"
The Aurora, sir"
"Ahl She's not that old green launc
with yellow line, very broad in tn
beam?"
"No, indeed. She's as trim a littl
thing as any on the river. She's bee
fresh painted, black with two re
streaks."
Thanks. l hope that you will hea
soon from Mr.. Smith. / am goin
down the river; and If I should Sc
anything of the Aurora 1 shall let hin
know that you are uneasy. A blac
funnel, you say?"
"No, sir. Black with white band.
"Ah, of course. 1t was the side
which were black Good morning
Mrs. Smith. There Is boatman her
with n wherry, Watson. We shall tax
it and cross the river
The main thing with people of tina
sort" said Holmes, as we sat in tn
sheets of the wherry, lis never to le
them think that their tnfQrua ton ca
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