Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-02-21


energetic ft had superseded the apathet-
10 one
"Get your hat. he said.
''You wish me to Gomez"
"Yes, if you have nothing better to
do" A minute later we were both in a
hanson, driving furiously for the Brix-
ton road
1t was a foggy, cloudy morning, and
dun oolored veil hung over the house
tops, looking like the reflection of the
mud colored streets beneath. My COM
papion was in the best of spirits and
prattled away about Cremona fiddles
and the difference between Stradiva-
rius and an Amati. AS for myself,
was silent, fer the dull weather and the
melancholy business upon which we
were engaged depressed my spirits
"You don't seem to give much thought
to the matter in hand," said at last,
interrupting Holmes musical disquisi-
tion.
''No data yet, = ne answered. lit Is a
capital mistake to theorize before you
have all the evidence. 1t biases the judg-
ment."
''You will have your data soon," / re-
marked, pointing with my finger. "This
is the Brixton road, and that is the
house, if l am not very much mistaken.
$50 it is. Stop, driver, stopp' We
were still hundred yards or so from it,
but be insisted upon our alighting, and
we finished our journey upon foot.
No. Lauriston Gardens wore an i'll
omened and minatory look. 1t was one
of four which stood back some little
way from the street. two being occupied
and two empty. The latter looked out
with three tiers of vacant, melancholy
windows, which were blank and dreary,
save that here and there '"To let"
card had developed like cataract upon
the bleared panes. A small garden,
sprinkled over with scattered eruption
of sickly plants, separated each of these
houses from the street and was traversed
by narrow pathway, yellowish in col
or and consisting apparently of mix
ture Of clay and gravel.
The whole place was very sloppy from
the rain which had fallen through the
night. The garden was bounded by
three foot brick wall, with fringe Of
wood rails upon the top, and against
this wall was leaning stalwart police
constable, surrounded by small knot
of loafers who craned their necks and
strained their eyes in the vain hope of
catching some glimpse Of the proceed
irgs within,
/ had imagined that Sherlock Holmes
would at once have hurried iuto the
house and plunged into study Of the
mystery, Nothing appeared to be farther
from his intention. With an air Of
nouohalance, which, under the oiroum-
stances, seemed to me to border rpon
affectation, he lourged up and down
the pavement and gazed vacautly at the
ground, the sky, the opposite houses and
the line of ratings. Having finished
his scrutiny, he proceeded slowly down
the path, or rather down the fringe of
grass which fianked the path, keeping
his eyes riveted upon the ground. Twice
he stopped, and once saw him smile
and heard him utter an exclamation of
satisfaction. There were many marks
of footsteps upon the wet, clayey soil,
but since the police had been coming
and going over it was unable to see how
my companion could hope to learn any
thing from it. Still had had such ex-
traordinary evidence of the quickness of
his perceptive faculties that l had no
doubt that he could see great deal
which was hidden from me.
At the door of the house we were met
by tall, white faced, flaxen haired
man, with notebook in his hand, who
rushed forward and wrung my compan-
ions hand with effusion. "It is in
deed kind of you to come" he said. II
have Aad everything left untouched" "
Except that!' my friend answered,
pointing to the pathway. eff herd
of buffaloes had passed along, there could
not be a greater mess. No doubt, how
ever, you had drawn your own conclu-
sions, Gregson, before you permitted
this
81 have had so much to do inside
the house." the detective said evasive-
ly. "My colleague, Mr.. Lestrade, is
here. I had relied upon him to look
after this
Holmes glanced at me and raised his
eyebrows sardonically.
"With two such men as yourself and
Lestrade upon the ground there will not
be much for a third party to find out, y
he said.
Gregson rubbed his hands in self
satisfied way. II think we have done
all that can be done, +" he answered.
"It's queer case, though, and l knew
your taste for such things"
"You did not come here in cab?"
asked Sherlock Holmes
"No, sir"
"Nor Lestrade?''
"No, sir"
"Then let us go and look at the
room." With which inconsequent re-
mark he strobe on into the house, fol-
lowed by Gregson, whose features ez-
pressed his astonishment.
A short passage, bare Llanked and
dusty, led to the kitchen and offices.
Two doors opened out of it to the left
and to the right. One of these had OBJ
viodsly been closed for many weeks,
The other belonged to the dining room-
which was the apartment in which the
mysterious affair had occurred. Holmes
walked in, and l followed him with
that subdued feeling at my heart which
the presence of death inspires.
1t was large. square room, looking
ali the larger for the absence of all fnr-
niture. A vulgar, flaring paper adorned
the walls, but it was blotched in places
with mildew, and here and there great
strips had become detached and hune
down, exposing the yellow plaster be-