Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-15
CHAPTER III.

The LauriSton Garden Mystery.
confess that l was considerably
startled by this fresh proof Of the
practical nature of my companion S
theories My respect for his powers
of analysis increased w0ndrously.
There still remained some lurking sus-
picion in my mind, however, that the
whole thing was a prearraaged cpl
sode, intended to dazzle me, though
what earthly object he could have in
taking me in was past my cOmprehen-
sion. When I looked at him he had
finished reading the note, and his eyes
had assumed the vacant, lack-luster ex-
preston which showed mental abstrac-
ton.
How in the world did you deduce
that?' I asked.
''Deduce whats" said he petulantly.
"Why, that he was retired sergeant
Of marines"
II have no time for trifes,' he an
swered brusquely; then, with a smile,
Excuse my rudeness. You broke the
thread of my thoughts; but perhaps it
is as well. SO you actually were not
able to see that the man was ser
geant Of marines?'
mo, indeed"
sIt was easier to know it than to eX-
plain why I know it, If you were ask
ed to prove that two and two made
four, you might find some difficulty,
and yet you are quite sure Of the fact.
Even across the street I could see a
great blue anchor tattoOed on the back
of the fellows hand. That smacked of
the sea. He had a military carriage,
however, and regulation side Whiskers.
There we have the marine. He was a
man with some amount of Self-impOr-
lance and q certain air of command.
You must have observed the way in
which he held his head and swung his
cane. A steady, respectable, middle
aged man. too, on the face of him-au
facts which led me to believe that he
had been a sergeant"
''Wonderfulv' [ CALCULATED
Commonplace" said Holmes, though
[ thought from his expression that he
was pleased at my evident surprise and
admiration. II said just now that
there were no criminals. 1t appears
that I am wrong-look at this!" He
threw me over the note which the COM
missionaire had brought.
why" I cried, as I cast my eyes
over it, "this is terrible.
1T does seem to be little out of the
common" he remarked calmly. Would
YOU mind reading it to me aloud?'
This is the letter which I read to him:
'My dear Mr.. Sherlock Holmes:
There has been a bad business during
the night 1T Lauriston Gardens off
the Brixton Road. Cur man on the
beat saw light there about two in the
morning, and as the house was an emp
ty one, suspected that something was
amiss. He found the door open, and in
the front room, which is bare OF turni
ture, discovered the body of q gentle
well dressed, and having carCss in
his pocket Bearing the name of 'EGoch
J. Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, U. ). A.
There had been no robbery, nor is there
any evidence as to how the man met
his death There are marks OF bloOts IN
the room, but there is no wound UPON
the person. We are at Il loss as TO nsaW
he came into the empty house; indeed,
the whole thing is a puzzler. 1t You
can come round to- the house any time
before twelve, you will find me there
have left everything in Statu quo uThsda
hear from you. If you are unable 20
come shall give you fuller details, ana
would esteem it q great Kindness ii yea
would favor me with your opinion
Yours faithfully,
TOBIAS ERICSSON ~
"Gregson is the smartest OF the Sect.
land Yarders," my friend remarkel,:
.'he and Lestrade are the pick of bad
lot. They are both quick and enefget2c;.
but conventional-shock 50. They
have their knives into one another, t0o..
They are as jealous sas u pair OF la-o-
fessionaI beauties There win be- soMe
fun over the case if they both put uRonl
the scent.
was amazed at tine calm way in
which he rippled on. Surely there is
not Il moment to be lost" / crled;
shall I go and order you cab?:''
Il am not sure abous whether [ shall
go. am the most incuTably lazy aeyll,
that ever stood in shoe Ieather-tl1at1 is,
when the fit is on me, for can be. sprE
enough at times"
''Why, it is just such a chance as You
have been longing for
'sMy dear fellow, what does it matter
to me? Supposing | unraveI THE whole
matter, you may be sure that Gregson,
I4estrade & Co., will pocket all the cred
it. That comes of being an unofficial
parsonage
but he begs you to help him. .
eyes. He knows that [ am his StR
perior, and acknowledges it before me
but he would cut his tongue out before
he would own it to any third person
However, we may as well go and have
a look. l may have laugh at them
if T have nothing else. Come on!''
He hustled on his overcoat, and bus
tied about in way that showed tina
an energetic fit had superseded the apa
thetic one.
Sect your hat" he said.
You wish me to Gomez
Eyes. if you have nothing better t
do" A minute later we were both il
a hanson, driving furiously for tn
BriXton Road
1t was a. foggy, cloudy morning, an'
a dun colored veil hung over the house
tops, looking like the reflections OF III
! mud-colored streets beneath. My con
panion was in the best of spirits. an
Il 4 IL