Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-06-04

1
mystery The most commonplace crime
il often the most mysterious because II
presents no new or special features from
which deductions may be drawn. This
murder would have been infinitely more
difficult to unravel had the body Of the
victim been simply found lying in the
roadway without any Of those outre and
sensational accompaniments which have
rendered il remarkable. These strange
details, far from making the case more
difficult. have really had the eject OF
making it less so. !"
Mr.. Gregson, who had listened to this
address with considerable impatience,
could contain himself no longer Look
here, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, he said.
Eve are all ready to acknowledge that
you are smart man, and that you have
your own methods Of working. We
want something more than mere theory
and preaching now, though. 1t is a case
Of taking the man. / have made my
case out, and IL seems l was wrong.
Young Charpentier could not have been
engaged ia this second affair Lestrade
went after his man, Stangerson, and 1t
appears that he was wrong too. Iou
have thrown out hints here and hints
there and seem TO know more than We
do, but the time has come when We feel
that we have right to ask you straight
how much you do know Of the business.
Can you name the man who did it?'
Il cannot help feeling that Gregson
is right, sir, :" remarked Les,rade. "We
have both tried. and We have both failed.
You have remarked more than once since
have been in the room that you had
all the evidence which You require.
Surely you will not withhold it any Ion
ger.
Amy delay in arresting the assassin. "
observed, might give him time to
perpetrate some fresh atrocity."
Thus pressed by US all, Holmes showed
signs Of irresolution. He continued to
walk up and down the room with his
head sunk on his chest and his brows
drawn down, as was his habit when lost
| in thought.
There will be no more murders, he
said at last, stopping abruptly and facing
Us. "You can put that consideration out
of the question You have asked me II
know the name Of the assassin. / do.
The mere knowing Of his name Is
small thing, however, compared with
the power Of laying our hands upon
him. This / expect very shortly 10 do.
l have good hopes Of managing it
through my own arrangements, but 1t Is
a thing which needs delicate handling,
for we have shrewd and desperate man
to deal with, who is supported, as have
had occasion 10 prove, by another, who
il as clever as himself. As long as this
man has no idea that any one can have
a clew there IS some chance Of securing
him. but if be- had the slightest suspicion
he would change his name and vanish
in an instant among the 1000. 600 in
habitants of this great city. Without
meaning TO hurt either Of your feelings
am bound to say that consider these
men to be- more than match for the
official force, and that il why have not
asked your assistance II fail, shall Cf
course incur all the blame due TO this
omission, but that / am prepared for.
At present am ready 10 promise that
the instant that can communicate with
you without endangering my own COM
binations shall do so. "
Gregson and Lestrade seemed TO be
far from satisfied by this assurance or
by the deprociating allusion to the de-
tective police. The former had flushed
up to the roots Of his fiaxen hair, while
the Others beady eyes glistened with GU
riosity and resentment Neither of them
had time TO speak, however, before there
was q tap at the door and the spokesman
Of the street arabs, young Virgins, in
troduced his insignificant and unsavory
person.
PLEASE, SIR" he said, touching his
forelock, II have the cab down stairs.
Good boy" said Holmes blandly.
"Why don't you introduce this pattern
| at Scotland Yard?" he continued, taking
q pair of steel handouts from drawer.
"See how beautifully the springs works.
They fasten in All instant.
1.-The old pattern is good enough, re-
marked Lestrade, If We can find the
man to put them Oh. "
Very good, very good, said Holmes.
smiling 1.-The cabman may rs well
help me with my boxes. just ask him
to step up, Virgins. "
Twas surprised to find my companion
speaking as though he Were about TO set
out OH journey, since he had not said
ANYTHING to me about it, There was
small pormanteau in the room, and this
he pulled out and began to strap. He was
busily engaged Mt it when the cabman
entered the room.
Just give me help with this buckle,
cabman," ho said kneeling over his
task and never turning his head.
The fellow came forward with a some
what sullen, defiant air and put down
his hands to assist At that instant there
was sharp click, the jangling Of metal,
and Sherlock Holmes sprang to his feet
again.
Gentlemen. he cried, with flashing
eyes, "let me introduce you to Mr.. JEFF
ferson Hope, the murderer of Enoch
Drebber and Of Joseph Stangerson.
The whole thing occurred in mo-
ment, SO quickly that had no time to
realize it. have vivid recollection Of
that instant, of Holmes triumphant ex-
preston and the ring of his voice, of tho
cabman's dazed, savage face as he
glared at the glittering handouts,
which had appeared as if by magic up
on his wrists. For a second or two we
might have been group Of statues
Then, with an inarticulate roar OF fury,
the prisoner wranched himself free from
Holmes grasp and hurled himself
through the window. Woodwork and
glass gave way before him, but before
he got quite through Gregson, Lestrade
and Holmes sprang upon him like so
many staghounds. He was dragged back
into the room, and then commenced q
terrific conflict. So powerful and so
fierce was he that the four Of us were
shaken of again and again. He appeared
to have the convulsive strength Of o
man in an epileptic fit.
His face and hands were terribly man.
gled by the passage through the glass,
but loss of blood had no effect i'll dimin-
ishing his resistance. 1t was not until
Lestrade succeeded in getting his hand
inside his neck cloth and half stran-
| cl;ro hin, that we made him realize that