The Press., 1895-02-21

pocket and played with it pensiYely. I tWe thought that we should like to hear it all from your own lips. ' hesaid.
 shall be most happy to tell you anything l can, the constable answer ed, with his eyes upon the little golden disk
 Just let us hear it all in your way, as it occurred '
 Rance sat down on the horsehair sofa and knitted his brows, as though de- termined not to omit anything in his narrative
 '.I'll tell it ye from the beginnin, he said. My time is from 10 at night to in the mornin. At II there was a fight atthe White Hart; but, bar that, all was quiet enough on the beat. At 1 o'clock it began to rain, and met Harry Murcher, him who has the Hol- land grove beat, and we stood together at the corner of Henrietta street a-talkin. Presently, maybe about 3 or little aft CT, thought would take look around and see that all was right down the Brixton road. It was precious dirty and lonely. Not soul did meet all the
 
 past me. was a-strollin down, ttinkin between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of hot gin would be, when sud- denly glint of light caught my eye in that same house. Now knew that them two houses in Lauriston gardens was empty on account of him that owns them, who won't have the drain seed to, though the very last tenant that lived in one of them died O typhoid fever. l was knocked all in heap, therefore, at seein light in the window, and l .sus- pected as somethin was wrong. When I got to the door''-
 "YOu stopped and then walked back to the garden gate, :" my companion in- corrupted. What did you do that for?'' Rance gave violent jump aud stared at Sherlock Holmes. with the utmost amazement upon his features.
 "Why, that's true, sir he said, though how you come to know it heav- en only knows! Ye see, when got to the door, it was so still and so lonesome that I thought I'd be none tho worse for some one with me. l ain't afeard of anythin on this side O the grave, but I thought that maybe it was him that died O the typhoid inspectin the drains what killed him. The thought gave me kind O turn, and 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 ill the street?''
 "NOt Twin soul, sir, nor so much as dog. Then I pulled myself together and went back and pushed the door open. All was quiet inside, so went into the room where the light was a-burnin. There was a candle flickerin on the mantelpiece, a red wax one, and by its light I saw''-
 "Yes, know all that you saw. You walked around 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 a frightened face and suspicion in his eyes. Where was you hid to see all that?' he cried. Ut seems to me that you knows deal more than you should. y
 Holmes laughed and threw his card across the table to the constable. Don t get arresting me for the murder, he said, 1T am one of the hounds and not the wolf. Mr. Gregson or Mr. L4strade will answer for that. Go on, though. What did you do next?'
 Rance resumed his seat, without how ever, losing his mystified expression. .I went back to the gate and sQnnded my,whistle. That brought Mnrclsel, and two more to the spot. T
 Was the 1ptv then We'll if TT that could D1 of cod fSDe
 What tld
 The constables fedt1 d intosa a grin. I've seen l1 llI chap in my time, he said. evel any one 50 cryin drunk a cove. He was at the gate whtII iiN out a-leanin up agin the railin and asaingin at the pitch of his lungs about golnm- bine's new fangled banner or solae such stuff. He couldn't stand, far leea help. ''
 "What sort of a man was he?s asked Sherlock Holmes.
 John Rance appeared to be somewhat irritated at this digression. He was 1 an uncommon drunk sort Q man, he said. He'd ha' found hissef in the station if we hadn't been so took up. "-
 His face, his dress. Didn,ts you mo- tice them?" Holmes broke in impatient ly.
 ''I should think I did notice them, seeing that I had to prop him up, me and Murcher between us. He was a long chap, with red face, the. lower part muffled round''-
 ''That will dor' cried Holmes. "What became of him?"
 We'd enough to do without lookin after him,'' the policeman said in an aggrieved voice. "I'll wager he found his way home all right. ''