Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-02-28

On inquiry we found that tho constable
was in bed, and we were shown into q
little front parlor to await his coming.
He appeared presently, looking lit
tie irritable at being disturbed in his
slumbers II made my report at the
Office, " he said
Holmes took half sovereign from his
pocket and played with it pensively.
"We thought that we should like to
hear it all from your own lips. " he said.
"I shall he most happy to tell you
anything can, the constable answer
ed, with his eyes upon the little golden
disk.
'Just let US hear 1t all in your way,
as it occurred "
Rance sat down on the horsehaiT sofa
and knitted his brows, as though de-
termined not to omit anything in his
narrative.
'I'll tell it ye from the beginnin, I"
he said my time is from 10 at night
to in the mornin. At IL there was
a fight at the White Hart; but, bar that,
all was quiet enough on the beat. At
| O'Clock 10 began to rain, and ] met
Harry Murcher, him who has the Hol-
land grove beat, and we stood together
at the corner of Henrietta street a-talkin.
Presently, maybe about or little aft
er, ! thought would take look around
and see that all was right down the
Brixton road. It was precious dirty and
| lonely Not soul did meet all the
way down, though cab or two went
| past me. ] was a-strollin down, thinkin
between ourselves how uncommon handy
a four of hot gin would be, when sud-
denly CLINT of light caught my eye
in that same house. Now I knew that
them two houses in Lauriston gardens
was empty on account of him that owns
them, who won't have the drain seed
to, though the very last tenant that lived
in one Of them died o. typhoid fever. l
was knocked all in heap, therefore, at
seein light in the window, and sus-
| pected as somethin was wrong. When
| got to the door
"You stopped and then walked back
to the garden gate, my companion in
terrupted. "What did you do that for?''
Rance gave violent jump and stared
at Sherlock Holmes. with the utmost
amazement upon his features.
"Why, that's true, SIR" he said,
though how you come to know it heav-
en- only knowsl Ye see, when got to
the door, it was so still and SO lonesome
that I thought I'd be none the worse for
some one with me- / amt afeard Of
anythin on this side o. the grave, but
thought that maybe it was him that
died o. the typhoid inspectin the drains
what killed him. The thought gave me
kind O. turn, and / walked back to
the gate to see il could see Murcher s
lantern, but there wasn'tno sign of him
nor Of any one else. f"
'"There was no one in the street?'
''Not livin soul, sir, nor so much
as dog. Then | pulled myself together
and went back and pushed the door open.
All was quiet inside, so went into the
room where the light was a-burnin.
There was a candle fickerin on the
mantelpiece, a red wax one, and by its
light saw
'tYes, know all that you saw. You
| walked around the room several times,
and you knelt down by the body, and
then you walked through and tried the
kitchen door, and them
John Rance sprang to his feet with a
frightened face and suspicion in his
eyes. "Where was you hid to see all
| that?' he cried. 1T seems to me that
| you knows deal more than you should, =
| Holmes laughed and threw his card
across the table to the constable. DON 7
get arresting me for the murder, " he
said. II am one of the hounds and not
the wolf. Mr.. Gregson or Mr.. Lestrade
will answer for that. Go on, though.
What did you do next?''
Rance resumed his seat, without, how
ever, losing his mystified expression.
IT went back to the gate and sounded
my whistle. That brought Muroher and
two more to the spot. =
I "Was the street empty thenY
| "Well, it was, as fan as anybody that
could be of any good goes. "
"What do you mean?
| The constable's features broadened
into grin. tive seen many drunk
chap in my time," he said, "but never
any one so cryin drunk as that cove.
He was at the gate when / came out
a-leanin up agin therailin g and a-singin
i at the pitch of his lungs about Colum'
bine's new tangled banner or some such
stuff. He couldn't stand, far less help. =
i "What sort of man was he?" asked
Sherlock Holmes.
i John Rance appeared to be somewhat
j irritated at this DEPRESSION. He was
an uncommon drunk sort o. man, he
said. He'd ha' found hisself in tht
station if we hadn't been so took up. I"
i His face, ais dress. Didn't you no
tice them?" Holmes broke in impatient
| ly.
/ II should think did notice them,
seeing that I had to prop him up, mt
and Murcher between us. He was {
long chap, with a red face, the lower
| part muftled round''
| s'That will dop' cried Holmes
"What became Of him?''
4. "We'd enough to do without lookil
after him." the policeman said in al
| aggrieved voice. 'sI'll wager he fount
his way home all right. !"
"Haw was he dressed?''
Il "a brown overcoat. !"
"Had he whip in his handf''
"A whip-no
He must have left it behind, !" mrt
tered my companion. lyon didn't hap
pen to see or hear cab after that?''
"No."
4 ''There's a half sovereign for yen.
my companion said, standing up ant
taking his hat. II am afraid, Rance
that you will never rise in the force