Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-21

and Through lines OF discolored linen
until wei came to 46, the door Of which
was decorated with small slip of brass.
on which tho name Rance was engraved.
On inquiry we found that the constable
was in bid, and we were shown into q
little froht parlor to await his coming.
He Appeared presently, looking lit.
tle irritlble at being disturbed in his
slumbers II made my report at the
office, ile said
Holmef took half sovereign from his
pocket ahd played with it pensively
I'VE Thought that we should like to
hear it all from your own lips. he said
II shiill be most happy to tell you
anything can. the constable answer
cd, with bis eyes upon the little golden
disk.
Just Yet us hear it all in your way.
as it occuFred .
Rance lat down on the horsehair sofa
and knitted his brows, as though de-
termined not TO omit anything in his
narrativc
IN tell il ye from the beginnin, Z"
he said. r'My time is from 10 nc night
to in ii 70 mornin. At IL there was
a fight at lhe White Hart; but, bar that.
all was q|iet enough on the beat AT
| o'clock It began to rain, and ] met
Harry MUrcher, him who has the Hol.
land grow beat, and we stood together
at the corn }er Of Henrietta street a-talkin
Presently maybe about or little aft.
or. thouiht would take look around
and see that oil was right down the
Brixton r,h bad. Ii was precious dirty and
lonely Not soul did meet oil the
way down, though a cab or two went
past me was a.strollin down, thinkin
between ourselves how uncommon handy
a four Of pot gin would bo, when sud.
denly int Of light caught my eye
in that saihe house Now knew that
them two houses in Lauriston gardens
was empty on account of him that owns
them, whc] won have the drain seed
10, though lhe very last tenant that lived
in one Of them died O. typhoid fever |
was knockid all in heap. therefore, at
seein q light in the window, and sus-
pected ~ sbmethin was wrong When
got TO tn! door
'You stepped and then walked back
to the gardbn gate, my companion in.
terrupted r'What did you do that for!'
Rance give aviolent Jump and stared
at Sherlock Holmes. with the utmost
amazemend upon his features.
why. hats true, sir. he said.
though nd W. you come TO know il heav
en- only kn4ws! Ye see, when got TO
tho door, itlwas so still and so lonesome
that | thought I'd be none the worse for
some one With me | amt afeard of
anythin oEi this side o. the grave, but
| thought that maybe it was him that
died o the typhoid inspectin the drains
what killed him The thought gave me
a kind o. iurn. and ! walked back 10
the gate 10 zoe il | could SEQ Murcher' $
lantern. butithcre WASH { no sign Of him
nor Of any lne else -
There Was no one in the street,
Not Hvin soul, sir, nor SO much
as a dog Then pulled myself together
and went baEk and pushed the door open
All was quitt inside. so went into the
room whcr| the light was a.burnin
There was a candle tiickerin OH the
manfelpiecol a red wax one. and by lis
light saw
YES. | kbow all that you saw You
walked around the room several times,
and you kiIclt down by the body. and
then you walked through and tried the
kitchen dool and then
John Ranto sprang TO his feet with a
frightened lace and suspicion in his
eyes. "Where was you hid to see all
that" he cried 1t seems TO me that
you knows n leal more than you should
Holmes llughcd and threw his card
across the IA pie 10 the constable Don I
get arresiinI me for the murder. he
said II an one of the hounds ana not
the wolf Mt Grcgson or Mr. Lestrade
will answer for that Go on, though
What did yoh do nexti"
Rance resumed his seat, without, how
ever, losing his mystitied expression
Il went haCk 10 the gate and sounded
my whistle. THAT brought Murcher and
two more to fhe spot
Was the Etreet empty them
well. it Eas, as far as anybody that
could be Of ahy good goes.
What do!you meanP'
The const lble's features broadened
into a grin I've seen many drunk
chap in my fine, he said. but never
any one so dryin drunk as that cove
He was at the gate when | came out
a-leanin up az i'm the railin's and a-singin
at the pitch ~ his lungs about Colum'
bine's new fahgled banner or some such
stuff BE coul dnt stand, far less help
What sori of man was he?" asked
Sherlock Holin ines
John Rance appeared to be somewhat
irritated at ibis digression. He was
an uncommon drunk sort o. man, he
said. Held ha' found hisself in the
station il we hadn't been so took up I"
"His face, his dress. Didn't You no
tice them?" Hblmes broke in inpatient
ly.
81 should think | did notice them,
seeing that had to prop him up, me
and Murcher between us. He was a
long chap, with red face, the lower
part mufiled rbund''-
That vii dol" cried Holmes
"What becam,e Of him?"
Wed enough to do without lookin
after him." me policeman said in an
aggrieved voiC p. I'm wager he found
his way home !all right
"How was l|e dressed:"
"a brown ofercoat. "
"Had he yfhip in his hand?
~ whip-np."
''Iio must blve left it behind" NUT.
tered MY colnpbnion. lyon didn't hap
pen 10 SEQ or htar q cab after that?
"No"
"Thcre's q half sovereign for you"
my colnpanioll said, standing up and
taking. his hail II am afraid. Rance,
that YOU will inever rise in the force.
That head Of yburs should be fer nse as
well as ornanlent. You might have
gained your ser keant's stripes last night.
Tho man whoLI you held in your hands
is the man wi 70 holds the clew Of this
mystery and ,Fhom we are seeking.
There is no use bf arguing about 1t now.
/ tell you th4t it is So Come along
doctor.
We started OF for the cab together,
leaving onr informant incredulous, Du'
obviously uncohfortable.
''The blund,iring fool!' Holmes SAID