Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-05-14

crisp, curling black hair and short
stubbly beard. He was dressed In o
heavy broadcloth frock coat and waist
coat, with light colored trousers and
immaculate collar and cuffs. A top hat,
we'll brushed and trim, was placed upon
the floor beside him. His hands were
clinched and his arms thrown abroad,
while his lower limbs were interlocked
as though his death struggle had been o
grievous one On his rigid face there
stood an expression Of horror and, as 1t
seemed to me, of hatred such rs have
never seen upon human features This
malignant and terrible contortion, com.
bined with the low forehead, blunt nose
and prognathous jaw. gave the dead
man singularly simious and apeliko
appearance, which was increased by his
writhing. unnatural posture have
seen death in many forms, but never
has it appeared 10 me In a more fear
some aspect than i'm that dark. grimy
apartment, which looked out upon one
Of the main arteries Of suburban Loo
don
Lestrade. lean and ferrctlike A. ever.
was standing by the doorway and greet
cd my companion and myself
This case will make q stir. sir. b.
remarked "lt bcats anything have
seen. and I am mo- chicken
There l. no clcwf' said 0rrgSon.
None AZ all. " chimcd In L,-s,rsde
sherlock Holmes appruached the holy
and kneeiing down examined 10 intcut-
" You arr sure that there l. no
woundy he asked. pointing % numeEuu-
gou,s and splashos % blood which lay
oil around
"Positivei" cried both dstectives
Then a course this blood hslonss o.
Second individual. presumably tho
murl.rer. IL murdor has bsen commit
tel II reminds ne q the circumstances
attendant on the death q Van Jansen
Ia Utrecht In the year 34 Do yua -
momlssr the oasr. OTcssonF
mo. sir.
Read 4; up. you really should There
l. nothing new under tho sun ], has
all been done before
A he spoke his Himhle finger wero
flying here. there and everywhere, feel
ing. pressing. unhuttoning. examining
while his eyes wore the same iaraway
expression which have already remark
ed upon 81 swiftly was the rxamiTs
ton made that one would hardly have
guessed the minuieness with which it
was conducted Finally he shifted the
dead mans lips and thon glanced 1t tho
soles Of his 1tcnt leather boots
"He has not been moved AT all:' he
asked.
"No more than was necessary Tor the
purpose Of our examination.
"You can take him 10 the mortuary
now, " no said There is nothing more
to be learned. 4"
Gregson had a strotcher and four men
at hand. At his call they entered the
room, and the stranger was lifted and
carried ont AS they raised him. ring
tinkled down and rolled across the floor
Lestrade grabbed it and stared at 1t
with mystifed eyes.
There's been woman hereP he
cried. 'It's woman's wedding ring !"
He held il out as he spoke upon the
palm Of his hand. We all gathered
around hin. and gazed at il. There
could be- no doubt that that circle Of
plain gold had once adorned the finger
Of bride.
This complicates matters, said
Gregson. "Heaven knows they Were
complicated enough beforeF'
"You'r re sure il doesn't simplify
themg" observed Holmes. There )
nothing to be learned by staring at it.
What did you find in his pocketst'
1--WE have it all here. said Gregson,
pointing to litter Of objects upon one
of the bottom steps Of the stairs "A
gold watch, No 81, 1853, by Barraud OF
London; gold Albert chain, very heavy
and solid; gold ring, with Masonic de-
vice; gold pin, bulldogs head, with
rubies as eyes; Russian leather cardcase,
with cards of Enooh j. Drebber of
Cleveland, corresponding with the Z. j.
d. upon the linen; no purse, but loose
money to the extent of 81 l3s.; pocket
edition of Boccaccio's 'Decameron, '
with name of Joseph Stangerson upon
the fly leaf; two letters, one addressed to
z. J. Drebber and one to Joseph Stan
gerson.
"At what address?"
American Exchange, Strand, to be
left till called for They are both from
the Guion Steamship company and re
fer to the sailing Of their boats from
Liverpool. Ii is clear that this unfortu-
nate man was about to return to New
York.
Have you made any inquiries as to
this man Stangerson?"
~ did il at once, sir, ." said Gregson
II have had advertisements sent to a.
the newspapers, and one Of my men has
gone to the American Exchange, but he
has not returned yet. "
Have you sent to Clevelandf''
I'VE telegraphed this morning
Chow did you word your inquiriesT
1--WE simply detailed the circum
stances and said that We should be glad
Of any information which could help Us.
"You did not ask for particulars on
any point which appeared to you to be
crucial?"
II asked about Stangerson.
Nothing else? Is there no circum'
stance on which this whole case ap-
pears to hinge? Will you not telegraph
again."
'T have said all ! have to say. " said
Gregson in an offended voice.
Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself
and appeared to be about to make some
remark, when Lestrade, who had been
| In the front room while we were hold
| ing this conversation in the hall, reap
peared upon the scene, rubbing his
hands in pompous and self satisfied
manner.
"Mr. Gregson. he said, "Ihave just
made discovery Of the highest impor-
tance and one which would have been
| overlooked had | not made careful
examination Of the walls
The little mans eyes sparkled as he
spoke, and he was evidently in state
Of suppressed exultation at having scored
! point against his colleague
Come here" he said, bustling back
Into the room, the atmosphere Of which
felt cleaner since the removal OF Its
CHASTITY inmate. Now stand there.
He struck match on his boot and
held it up against the wall.
Look at that, he said triumphantly.
have remarked that the paper had