The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-15

whipped out his lens and a tape meas
ure. and hurried about the on his
knees, measuring, comparing. examin-
ing, with his long thin nose only a few
inches from the planks, and his beady
eyes cleaning and deep-set like those
of a bird. So swift, silent and furtive
were his movements, like those Of a
trained Bloodhound picking out a
scent, that I could not but think what
a terrible criminal he would have
made had he turned his energy and
sagacity against the law. instead Of ex-
erting them in it's defense. AS he
hunted about, he kept muttering TO
himself, and finally he broke out into
load crow of delight.
I'VE are certainly in luck" said he.
I'VE ought to have very little trouble
now. Number One has had the misfor-
tune to tread in the creosote. You a
see the outline Of the edge of his small
foot here at the side of this evil-smell-
ing mess The carboy has been cracked,
you see, and the stuff has leaked out"
What then?" / asked.
''Why, we have got him, that's ALL"
said he. II know a dog that would
follow that scent to the worlds end.
If q pack can track a trailed herring
across a shire. how far can a spa cially-
trained hound follow so pungent a
smell as this? It sounds like q sum in
the rule Of three. The answer should
give US the But halloo. here are the
accredited representatives of the law"
Heavy steps and the clamor OF loud
voices were audible from below, and
the hall door shut with a LOUD crash.
Before they come" said Holmes,
lust put your hand here on this poor
fellows arm, and here on his leg. What
do you feel?'
The muscles are as hard as a board"
/ answered.
Quite Sc. They are in a state of ex-
IRENE contraction, far exceeding the
usual rieor morris. Coupled with this
distortion of the face, this Hippocratic
smile, or 'risus sardonicus. as the old
writer's called it, what conclusion would
it suggest to Your mind"
Death from some powerful vegeta-
BILE alkaloid," I answered-"some
strychnine-like substance which would
produce tetanus.'
That was the idea which occurred
to me the instant l saw the drawn
muscles Of the face. On getting into
the room I at once looked for the
means by which the poison had entered
the system. AS you saw, discovered
a thorn which had been driven or shot
with no great force into the scalp.
You observe that the part struck a
that which would be turned towards
the hole in the ceiling if the man We're
erect in his chair. Now examine this
thorn"
l took It up singerlv and held it in
the light Of the lantern. 1t was loag.
sharp and black, with a glazed look
near the point as though some gummy.
substance had dried upon it. The
blunt end had been trimmed and
rounded off with a knife.
us this an English thorn" he asked
NO, it certainly is not"
With all these data you should be
able to draw some just inference. But
here are the regulars; so the auxiliary
forces may beat a retreat"
AS he spoke, the steps which had
been coming nearer sounded loudly on
the passage, and a very stout. portly
man in a graz sui. strobe heavily into
the room. He was red-faced, burly and
plethoric, with a pair Of very small
twinkling eyes which looked keenly
out from behind swollen and puffy