Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-07-25
D.. ITiETII71TTTI. IT1TTITTTTTTlflH7 1TIITTIh
;1lTnTTI><1YITII. ;;tiIHIlIIIIIllil"" '"IIf
.!!t.,s==s< llH Ai'I!IIiI'If
NOW STAND CLEAR"

which thrust its wicked head and red
eyes between the bars of its cage.
Don't mind that, sir; it's only slow
worm. 1t hain't got no fangs, SO l
gives it the run O. the room, for it
keeps the beetles down. You must not
mind my bein' just little short wi
you at first. for I'm guyed at by the
children, and there's many a one just
comes down this lane to knock me up.
What was it that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
wanted, sir?'
He wanted a dog of yours"
''Ah. that would be Toby"
Yes, Toby was the name"
Toby lives at No. on the left
here" He moved slowly forward with
his candle among the queer animal
family which he had gathered round
him. In the uncertain, shadowy light
could see dimly that there were
glancing, glimmering eyes peeping
down at us from every Granny and
corner. Even the rafters above our
heads were lined by solemn fowls, who
.azily shifted their weight from one
leg to the other as our voices dis
iurbed their slumbers.
Toby proved to be an ugly, long
haired, lop-eared creature, half SPAN
iel and half lrrcher. brown-and-whitcin
color, with a very clumsy waddling
gait. 1t accepted. after some hesita-
ton, a limp of sugar which the old
naturalist handed to me, and, having
thus sealed an alliance, it followed me
to the cab, and made no difficulties
about accompanying me. 1t had just
struck three on the palace clock when
/ found myself back once more at Pom
dicherry lodge. The eX-prize-fghter
McMurdo had, / found, been arrested
as an accessory, and both he and Mr..
Sholto had been marched off to the
station. Two constables guarded the
narrow gate, but they allowed me to
pass with the dog on my mentioning
the detectives name.
Holmes was standing on the door
sep, with his hands in his pockets,
smoking his pipe.
sAh, YOU have him the-e!" said he.
''Good dog, then! Athelney Jones has
gone. We have had an immense dis
play of energy since you left. He has
arrested not only friend Thaddcus, but
the gatekeeper, the housekceper, and
the Indian servant. We have the place
leave the dog here, and come up
We tied Toby to the hall table, and
-eascended the stairs. The room was
as we had left it, save that a sheet had
been draped over the central figure. A
weary-looking police sergeant reclincd
in the corner.
Lend me your bull's-eye, sergeant"
said my companion. Now tie this bit
of card round my neck, so as to hang it
in front of me. Thank you. Now
must kick off my boots and stockings!
Just you carry them down with you,
Watson. 1 am going to do little
climbing. And dip my handkerchief
into the creosote. That will do. Now
come up into the garnet with me for a
moment"
We clambercd mp through the hole.
Holmes turned his light once more
upon the footsteps in the dust.
Il wish you particularly 20 notice
these footnarl1s," he said. do you OBJ
serve anything noteworthy about
them?'
They belong said, Ito child or
small woman"
Apart from their size, though. Is
there anything else?"
They appear to be moch as other
sootmari<s-"
Not at all Look here! This is the
print of q right foot in the dust. Now
/ ,-lal1e one with my naked foot beside
&c. What is the chief difference?'
Your toes are all cramped together.
The other print has each toe distinctly
divided"
..Ouite so. That is the point. Bear
that in mind. Now, would you kindly
step over to the flap-wfndow and smell
the edge of the woodwork? l shall
STAY ever here, as have this handker-
chief in nv hand"
l did as he directed. anc was in.
stantly conscious OF strong tarr3
smell. -