St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-08-31


now bring us to the place where the
creosote barrel came from" l Iobserved.
'I had thought of that. But you no.
tice that he keeps on the pavement,
whereas the barrel passed down the
roadway. No, we are on the true scent
now"
1t tended down towards the river
side, running through Belmont place
and Princes street. At the end of
Broad street it ran right down to the
waters edge, where there was a small
wooden wharf Toby led US to the
very edge of this, and there stood
whining, looking out on the dark cur
rent beyond. ..3. Aa
.sWe are out of luck" said Holmes.
'tThey have taken to boat here"
Several small punts and skiffs were
lying about in the water and on the
edge of the wharf We took Toby
round to each In turn, but, though he
shifted earnestly, he made no sign
Close to the rude landing stage was
a small brick house, with wooden
placard swung out through the second
window. aMordecai Smith" was printed
across it in large letters, and, under
ass ss hhiaa RE ths D6Ss bagrSg 5g
door informed us tnfrU r,vvrsrt.- a.------A-
was kept-a statement which was con-
firrned by q great pile Of coke upon the
lefty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly
round, and his face assumed an ominous
expression.
sThis looks bad," said he. "Those
fellows are sharper than expected.
They seem to have covered their tracks.
There has, j fear, been preconcerted
management here"
He was approaching the door Of the
house, when it opened, and little
| aurly-headed lad of six came running
p6ut, followed by a stoutish, red-faced
woman with a large sponge in her hand.
'.ssYou come back and be washed,
Jack she shouted. Come back, YOU
young imp. For if your father comes
home and finds you like that, he'll
let us hear of it,"
ssDear little chapp' said Holmes,
strategically. "What rosy-cheeked
young rascal! Now, Jack, is there any
thing you would like?" 60
The youth pondered for moment.
'I'd like shillin'," said he.
Nothing you would like better?"
SID like two shillin' BETTER" the
prodigy answered, after some thought.
.sHere you are, thenl .Catch-A fine
child, Mrs Smith,
'.Lor' bless you, sir, he is that, and
forward He gets a most too much for
me to manage, specially when my man
is away days alta time. "g
Away, is he?" said Holmes, In dis
appointed voice. 81 am sorry for that
for wanted to speak to Mr.. Smith "
Hes been away since yesterday
lnornin', sir, and, truth to tell, j am be
ginnin' to feel frightened about him,
But II it is about a boat, sir, maybe
could serve as we'll. gfss
81 wanted to hire his steam launch >
eWhy, bless you, sir, it is in thes steam
launch that he has gone, That's what
puzzles me; for know there amt more
Goals in her than would take her te
about Woolwich and back. If he'd beer
away in the barge I'd ha' thought
nothin'; for many time a job has taker
him as far as Grayesend. and then i
there was much doin' there he might ha
stayed over But what good is steam
launch without coals2"
'sHe might have bought some at
wharf down the river. /"
efHe might, sir, but it weren't hi
way. Many a time I've heard him cal
out at the prices they charge for a few
odd bags. Besides, / don't like tha
wooden-legged man, wi his ugly face
and outlandish talk, What did hi
want always knoclsin' about here for2'
"a wooden-legged man?a sait
Holmes, with bland. surprise
aYes, sir, a brown, monkey faced
chap that's called rnore'n once for m, a,
old man. It was him that reused hin
up yesternight, and, what's more, m'
man knew he was comm, for he ha'
steam up in the launch. | tell yo7
straight. sir, don't feel easy in m,
mind about it"
aBut, my dear Mrs Smith," SAT-
Holmes, Struggling his shoulders
s,you are frightening yourself abou
nothing How could you possibly tel
that 1t was the wooden-legged mai
who came in the night? don't quit
understand how you can be so sure"
ssHis voice, sir. knew his voice
which Is kind o, thick and foggy. FL
tapped at the winder-about three
would be. show leg, matey, say
be: time to turn out guard. Ny ol
man woke up Jin-that's my eldest
and away they went, without 80 mue