Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-29
BY CONAN DOYLE.

selves now uncOmmOnly handy u four
of gin hot would be, when suddenly
a CLINT of a light caught my eye in
the window of that same house. Now,
knew that them two houses in Lau-
! ristOn Gardens was empty on account
of him that owns them, who won't
have the drains seed to, though the
very last tenant what lived in one of
them died O. typhoid fever. / was
knocked all in heap, therefore, at
seeing a light in the window, and l
suspected as something was wrong.
When got to the door"
you stopped, and then walked back
to the garden gate 1ly companion in
terrupted. "What did you do that
fOr?''
Rance gave violent jump, and star
ed at Sherlock Holmes with the ut
most amazement upon his features.
''Why, that's true, SIR" he said;
though how you come to know it
heaven only knows. Ye see, when I
got up to the door, it was so still and
so lonesome that thought I'd be none
the worse for some one with me.
amt afeared of anything on this side
of the grave, but I thought that maybe
it was him that died O. the typhoid
inspecting the drains what killed him.
The thought gave me kind O. turn,
and I walked back to the gate to see
if could see Murcher's lantern, but
there wasn't no sign of him nor Of any
one else."
There was no one in the street?'
''Not a Ivin' soul, sir, nor as much
as dog. Then pulled myself togeth-
er and went back and pushed the door
open. All was quiet inside, so went
into the room where the light was
Albumin. There was a candle flicker
in and the ntel-piece-a red wax
one-and by it's light I saw
Eyes, | know all that you saw. You
walked round the room several times,
and you knelt down by the body, and
then you walked through and tried
the kitchen door, and then"
John Rance sprang to his feet with
frightened face and suspicion in his
eyes. where was you hid to see all
that?' he cried. TT seems to me that
you knows deal more than you
should
Holmes laughed and threw his card
across the table to the constable. do
not get arresting me for the murder"
he said. II am one of the hounds, and
not the wolf; Mr., Gregson or Mr.. Les
trade will answer for that Go on,
though. What did you do next?"
Rance resumed his seat, without,
however, losing his mystified express
ion. II went back to the gate and
sounded my whistle. That brought
Murcher and two more to the spot"
"Was the street empty them"
We'll, it was, as far as anybody that
could be of any good goes"
What do you mean?"
The constable's features broadened
into q grin. Eve seen many a chap
drunk in my time" he said, ''but never
any one SO cryin' drunk as that cove
He was at the gate when I came out.
a-singin' at the pitch O. his lungs about
Columbine's New-fangled Banner, or
some such stuff He couldn't stand,
far less help"
''What sort of a man was he?" asked
Sherlock Holmes.
John Rance appeared to be somewhat
irritated at this depression. "He was
an uncommon drunk sort D man." he
said. He'd ha' found hisself in the
station if we hadn't been so took up"
Ills face-his dress-didn't you no.
tice them?" Holmes broke in, impa-
tiently
g should think I did notice them, see
ing that / had to prop him up-me and
Murcher between us. He was long
chap, with red face, the lower part
muff1ed rOund"-
THAT will do,' cried Holmes. ''What
became of him?"
WED enough to do without lookin'
after him." the policeman said, in an
aggrieved voice. I'll wag er he found
his way home all right"
How was he dressed:"
"a brown overcoat."
'Had he whip in his hand?"
"a whip-no."
''He must have left it behind" NUT
tered his companion. ''You didn't hap
pen to see or hear q cab after that:"
mo"
There's a half sovereign for yOu,"
my comp lion said standing up and
taking his hat Il am afraid Rance,
that you will never rise in the force.
That head of yours should be for use
as well as ornament. You might have
gained your SergeantS stripes last
night The man whom you held in
your hands is the man who holds q
clew to the mystery, and whom we are
seeking There is no use of arguing
about it now. I tell you that it is so.
Come along, DOCTOR"
We started off for the cab together,
leaving our informant incredulous, but
obviously uncomfortable.
1.-The laundering fool" Holmes said,
bitterly, as we drove back to our lodg-
ings. 'Just to think of his having such
an incompatible bit of good luck and
not taking advantage of it!'
II am rather in the dark still. 1t is
true that the description of this man
TALES with your idea of the second
party in this mystery. But why should
he come back to the house after leaving
it? That is not the way of criminals"
THE ring man. the ring" that was
what he came back for. If we have no
other way of catching him, we can al
ways bait our line with the ring.
shall have him, doctor-Tll lay you two
to one that I have him. [ must thank
you for it ALL l might not have gone
but for you, and so have missed the fin
7 study