The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-22
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''Now STAND CLEAR"
which thrust its wicked head and red
eyes between the bars of its cage.
ssDon't mind that, sir; it's only SLOW
worm. It hain't got no fangs, so I
gives it tAe r1,u y the room, for it
Keeps The beetles down. You must not
mind my bein' just little short WI
you at first. for I'm guyed at by the
children, and there's many a one just
comes down this lane to knock me up.
What was it that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
wanted, sir?"
'.He wanted dog Of yours"
s.Ah! that would be Toby
''Yes, Toby was the name"
'sToby lives at No. on the LETT
here" He moved slowly forward with
his candle among the queer animal
family which he had gathered round
him. In the uncertain, shadowy light
1 could see dimiy that there were
glancing, glimmering eyes peeping
down at US from every Granny and
corner. Even the rafters above our
heads were lined by solemn fowls, who
lazily shifted thei- weight from one
leg to the other as our voices dis
turbed their slumbers.
Toby proved to be an ugly. long
haired, lop-eared creaturc. half span
iel and half lurcher, brown-and-whitein in
color, with very clumsy waddling
gait. It accepted, after some hesita-
ton, a lump Of sugar which the old
naturalist handed to me, and, having
thus sealed an alliance, it followed me
to the cab, and made no difficulties
about accompanying me. 1t had just
struck three on the palace clock when
l found myself back once more at Pom
dicherry lodge. The ex-prize-fghter
McMurdo had, I found, been arrested
as an accessory, and both he and Mr.
Sholto had been marched off to the
station. Two constables guarded the
narrow gate, but they allowed me to
pass with the Dog ca my mentioning
the detectives name.
Holmes was standing on the door
step. with his hands in his pockets,
smokir his pipe.
..Ah, you have him there" said he
Good dog, then! Athelney Jones has
gone. We have had an immense dis
play of energy since You left. de has
arrested not only friend Thaddeus, but
the gatekeeper, the housekeeper, and
the Indian servant. We have the place
to ourselves, but for a sergeant upstairs
Leave the dog here, and come up"
We tied Toby t. the hall table, and
reascended the stairs The room was
as we had left it, save that sheet had
been draped over the central figure. A
weary-looking police sergeant rechned
in the corner.
Lend me your bnll's-eye, sergeant, :"
said my companion. ''Now tie this bit
Of card round my neck, so as to hang it
in front of me. Thank you. Now I
must kick off my boots and stockings!
Just you carry them down with you,
Watson. l am going to do little
climbing And dip my handkerchief
into the creosote. That will 10. Now
come up into the garret with me for a
moment"
We clambered up through the hole.
Holmes turned his light once more
upon the footsteps in the dust.
Il wish you particularly to notice
these foot.narks," he said. ''Do you OBJ
serve anything noteworthy about
them?'
They belong" said, 'to child or
a small woman"
Apart from their size, though. Is
there anything else?"
They appear to be much as other
footmarls. y
Not at all. Look ,ere. This is the
print Of right foot in the dust. Now
I make one with my naked foot beside
it. What is the chief difference"
Your toes are all cranped together.
The other print has each toe distinctly
divided"
Quite So That is the point Bear
that in mind. Now, would you kindly
step over 20 the fap-window and smell
;N.e edge Of the woodwork? I shau
stay over here, as have this handker-
chief in nay hand
did as he directed, and was in
stantly conscious Of strong tarry
snen.
That is where hc pat his foot in get
ting out If you can trace him, should
think that Toby VIII have no difficulty.
Now run downstairs, loose the dog,
and look out for Blpndin."
By the time that l got out into the
grounds Sherlock Holmes was on the
roof, and I could see him like an enor-
nous glow-worln, crawling very slowly
along the ridge. I lost sight Of him