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


Come here" be said. bustling back
into the room, the atmosphere Of which
felt cleaner since the removal of its
ghastly inmate. Now stand there"
He struck a match on his boot and
held it up against the wall.
Look at that. ;" he said triumphantly.
/ have remarked that the paper had
fallen away in parts. In this particu-
lar corner Of the room large piece had
peeled OF, leaving yellow square Of
coarse plastoring. Across this bare
space there was scrawled in blood red
letters single word, "Rache. +"
"What do you think Of that?' cried
the detective with the air of Snowman
exhibiting his show. This was over
looked because it was in the darkest
corner of the room, and no one thought
of looking there. The murderer has
written it with his or her own blood
See this smear where it has trickled
down the wallI That disposes Of the
idea of suicide anyhow. Why was that
corner chosen to write it oni i will tell
you. See that candle on the mantel.
piece. 1t was lit at the time, and if it
was lit this corner would be the bright
est instead OF the darkest portion Of the
wall"
''And what does IL mean. now that
you have found it?" asked Gregson in a
deprecatory voice.
Mean? Why, it means that the writer
was going to put the female name Ra-
chel, but was disturbed before he or she
had time to finish. You mark my words.
when this case comes to be cleared up
you will find that woman named Ra-
chel has something to do with it It's
all very we'll for you to laugh, Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes. You may be very smart
and clever, but the old hound is the best
when all is said and done"
II really beg your PARDON" said my
companion, who had ruf6ed the little
mans temper by bursting into an explo-
sion of laughter "You certainly have
the credit Of being the first of Us to find
this out, and. as you say, it bears every
mark of having been written by the
other participant in last nights mys-
terry. have not had time to examine
this room yet, but with your permission
shall do so now"
AS he spoke he whipped tape meas
ure and large, round magnifying glass
from his pocket. With these imple-
ments he trotted noiselessly about the
room, sometimes stopping, OCCASION
ally kneeling and once lying fiat upon
his face. So engrossed was he with his
occupation that he appeared to have
forgotten our presence, for he chartered
away to himself under his breath the
whole time, keeping up a running fire
of exclamations, groans, whistles and
little cries suggestive of encouragement
and Of hope. AS / watched him was
irresistibly reminded Of pure blooded.
well trained foxhonnd as it dashes back
ward and forward through the covert.
whining in its eagerness, urtil it comes
across the lost scent. For 30 minutes or
more he continued his researches, meas
uring with the most exact care the dis
tance between marks which were en-
| tirely invisible to me and occasionally
applying his tape to the walls i'll an
equally incomprehensible nanner. In
| one place he gathered very carefully a
little pile of gray dust from the floor
and packed it away i'll an envelope
Finally he examined with his glass the
word upon the wall, going over every
letter of 1t with the most minute ex-
actness. This done, he appeared to be
satisfied, for he replaced his tape and
his glass in his pocket
"They say that genius is an infinite
capacity for taking palms." he remark
ed, with smile. Its very bad def
milton, but it does apply to detective
work. :"
| Gregson and Lestrade had watched
the maneuvers of their amateur COM
panion with considerable curiosity and
some contempt. They evidently failed
to appreciate the fact which had be-
gun to realize, that Sherlock Holmes
smallest actions were all directed to-
ward some definite and practical end.
"What do you think Of it, sir?" they
both asked.
"Itwould be robbing you Of the credit
Of the case if was to presume to help
you, " remarked my friend. 'You are
doing so well now that it would be q
pity for any one to interfere. There
| was a world of sarcasm in his voice as
he spoke. "If you will let me know
how your Investigations CO." he con-
tinued, IT shall be happy to give you
any help / can. In the meantime
should like to speak to the constable
who found the body. Can You give me
his name and address?'
Lestrade glanced at his notebook.
"John Rance" he said "He is of
duty now. You will find him at 4d
Audley court, Remington Park Gate.
Holmes took note of the address.
"Come along, doctor, he said eve
shall go and look him up. I'll tell you
ono thing which may help you in the
case" he continued, turning to the two
detectives. "There has been murder
done, and the murderer was man. He
was more than feet high, was in the
prime of life, had small feet for his
height. wore coarse square toed boots
and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar. He
came here with his victim in foui
wheeled cab, which was drawn by .
horse with three old shoes and one new
cue on his off fore leg. In all probabil.
ity the murderer had a florid face, and
the finger nails of his right hand were
remarkably long These are only few
indications, but they may assist you. /"
| Lestrade and Gregson glanced at eacf
other with an inoredulous smile.
/ ''If this man was murdered, how was
it done?' asked the former.
4 Poison, said Sherlock Holmes curt
~ and strobe of. tone other thing
| Tastrade ~ he added. turninu around al