The Press., 1895-03-07

sentiment Of coming horror, even before Sherlock Holmes answered.
 ''The word Racine, written in letters of blood. esh lie said
 That was it, said Lestrade in an awestrauk voice. and we were all silent for awhile
 There was something so methodical and so incomprehensible about the deeds of this unknoSn assassin that it im- parted fresh ghastliness to his crimes 1 My nerves, which were steady enough on the field of battle, tingled as thought of it.
 ''The man was seen, continued Le- strade s''A milkboy, passing on his way to the dairy, happened to walk down the 1 lane which leads from the news at the back of the hotel He noticed that a ladder, which usually lay there, was raised against one of the windows of the second hOor, which was wide open. Aft CT passing. he looked back and saw a man descend the ladder. He came down so quietly and openly that the boy i'm agined him to he some carpenter or joiner at work in the hotel He took no particular notice of him beyond think l ing in his own mind that it was early 1 for him to be at work. He has an inn pression that the man was tall,. had a reddish face and was dressed in long brownish coat. He must have staid in the room some little time after the mur- der, for~NSe found blood stained water in the basin, where he had washed his hands, and marks on the sheets where he had deliberately wiped his knife. ''
 glanced at Holmes on hearing the 1 description of the murderer, which tall lied so exactly with his own. There was, however. no trace of exultation or satis' faction upon his face.
 Did you find nothing in the room which could furnish clew to the mur- derer?'' he asked
 Nothing Stangerson had Drebber' $ purse in@ his pocket, but it seems that this was usual, as he did all the paying There was eighty odd pounds in it, but nothing had been taken. Whatever the motives of these extraordinary crimes, robbery is certainly not one of them. There were no papers or memoranda iIl the murdered man s pocket, except sin. gle telegram, dated from Cleveland about month ago and containing the words, J. H. is in Europe. There was no name appended to this message" "
 And ssthere was nothing else?' l Bolmes asked.
 Nothing of any importance The mans novel, with which he had read himself@to sleep, was lying upon the bed, and his pipe was on a chair beside him. There was glass of water on the table, and on the window sill small chip ointment box containing R couple of pills "
 Sherlock Holmes sprang from his chair with an exclamation of delight.
 ''The last link" he cried exultantly My cass is omplete. !"
 The two detectives stared at him in amazement.
 II have now ill my hands," my con- panion said confidently, "all the threads which have formed such tangle. There are, of course, details to be filled in, but l am as certain of all the main facts, from the: :time that Drebber parted from Stangersoll at the station up to the dis covery of the body of the latter, as if l had seen them with my own eyes. l l will give.you proof of my knowledge. Could you lay your hand upon those pills?"
 II have them,'' said Lestrade, pro- ducing small white box. II took them, l and the purse, and the telegram, in- tending to have them put in a place of safety at the police station. It was the l merest chance, my taking these pills, for I am bound to say that I do not attach ] any importance to them. ]"
 | Give athem here, y said Holmes. ''Now, doctor, J turning to me, are those ordinary pills?''
 They certainly were not. They were of a pearly gray color, small, round and almost tTRnsparant against the light. From their lightness and transparency I should imagine that they are soluble in water,';' remarked.
 Precisely so," answered Holmes. ''Now, wauld you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil of ter rier which has been bad so long, and which the landlady wanted you to put out of it's pain yesterday?"
 went down stairs and carried the dog mp stairs in my arms. Its labored breathing and glazing eye showed that it was not far from its end. Indeed its snow white muzzle proclaimed that it had already exceeded the usual term of canine existence. placed it upon a cushion on the rug.
 HI will now cut one of these pills in 1 two,'' said Holmes, and drawing his penknife he suited the action to the word. ':sQpe half we return into the box for the future purposes. The other half will plRee in this wineglass, in which is teaspoonful of water. You perceive that our friend, the doctor, is right, and that it readily dissolves. '
 ''This may be very interesting, said Lestrade in the injured tone of one who suspects that he is being laughed at. II cannot see, however, what it has to do with the death of MT. Joseph ] StangeTson.
 Patience, my friend, patience! You will find in time that it has everything to do with it. shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palatable, and on presenting it to the dog we find that he laps it up readily enough. D As he spoke he turned the contents of the wineglass into saucer and placed it in front of the terrier, who speedily licked it dry. Sherlock Holiness earnest demeanor had so far convinced us that we all sat in silence, watching the ami mai inteDtly and expecting some star tling effect. None such appeared. how ever. The dog continued to lie stretched upon the cushion, breathing in labored way, but apparently neither the better nor the worse for it's draft. -
 Holmes had taken out his watch, and as minute followed minute without re- suit an expression of the utmost cha grin and disappointment appeared upon his features. He gnawed his lip, drum. med his fingers upon the table and