Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-04

Audley court m there, he said. point ing to narrow slit in the line of dead colored brick "You'll find me here when you come back"
 Audley court was not an attractive To. cality. The narrow passage led us into a quadrangle paved with flags and lined by sordid dwellings. We picked our way among groups of dirty children and through lines of discolored linen until we came to 46, the door of which was decorated with a small slipOf brass, on which the name Rance was engraved On inquiry we found that the constable was in bed, and we were shown into little front parlor to await his coming.
 He appeared presently, looking lit tie irritable at being disturbed in his slumbers. ''I 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 likc to hear it all from your own lips. " he said
 II shall be most happy to tell you anything I can, the constable answer ed, with his eyes upon the little golden disk.
 Just let Us hear it all in your way, as it occurred "
 Rance sat down on the horsehair sofa and knitted his brows, as though de- termined not to omit anything in his narrative
 ''I'll tell it ye from the beginnin, " he said. My time is from 10 at night to 6 i'll the mornin. At II there was q fight at the White Hart; but, bar that, all was quiet enough on the beat At 1 o'clock 1t 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 CT, thought would take look around and see that all was right down the Brixton road. It was precious dirty and lonely. Not a soul did meet all the way down, though cab or two went past me. l was a,strollin down. thinkin between ourselves how uncommon handy four of hot gin would be. when sud- denly glint of light caught my eye in that same house. Now knew that them two houses in Lanriston 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 I was knocked all in n heap. therefore. at seein light in the window. and l 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 aviulent 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 knows! Ye sec, when got to the door. it was 50 still and 50 lonesome that thought I'd be none the worse for some one with me. I ain't afeard of anythin on this side o the grave, but l thought that maybe it was him that died O the typhoid inSpectin the drains what killed him. The thought gave me | n kind a turn. and l walked back to the gate tu >ca if could src Murcher' x 1 lantern. but there wasn't no sign of him nor uf any enc else "
 "Thtre Was Ilo one in tin, >trrrt:" Not a lNlH soul. sir, nur >u much as a deg, Th,m pulled myself together and went back and pushed the dnur upcn, 1 All Was quiet in~l,lp, >o I wVnt into the 1 room where the light Was d, hurnin. ! There Was a candle tiickerin um the mantelpiecc, a rcd wax one, and hv its light l saw -
 "Yc>, kuow all that >ru saw, You walked around the room several times. aud you k"~!t dawn by the body. and then you walked though and u:el the l kitchen dour, and then | John Rance sprang tu his feet with A | frightened face and suspicion ill his eyes. w here was you hid to see all | that he cried, 1t seems tu me that | you knows a deal more than you should "
 Holmes laughed and threw his card across the table to the constable Don t get arrcsting me for the murder, he said, II am one of the hounds ana not the wolf MT GreGson or Mir. Lcstrade l will answer for that. Go on, though What did you do next" | Rance resumed his seat. without, how ever. losing his mystified expression, II went back to the gate and sounded my whistle. That brought Murcher and two more to the spot
 ! W sRS AAaN S0ANSb CAbttN AA'SA'
 Well, il was, as far as anybody that could be of any good goes,
 What do you nean?''
 The conStable's features hroadened into grin. I've seen many drunk chap in my time, ' he said. but never any one 50 erwin drunk as that cove. He was at the gate when l camc out a-leamlm up agin the railin s and a->ingin at the pitch of his lungs about Column pines new fangled banner or some such stuff. Ho couldn't stand far less help, ." What sort of man was he:" asked Sherlock Holmes,
 John 2ance appeared to be somewhat irritated at this Aggression He was an unonmmon drunk sort Q man, he sa,d He'd ha' found hissef in the station If we hadn beansso took up. "
 His face, his dress Didn't you no. tice them Holmes broke in impatient ly.
 "I should think did notice them, seeing that had to prop him up. me and Murcher between us Ho was q long chap, with red face. the lower part untitled round''-
 That will dor' cried Holmes. "What became of him."
 Wed enough to do without lookin after hir, =" the policeman said in an aggrieved voice. "I'll wager he found his way home all right.
 "How was he dresSed?"
 "A brown overcoat.
 Had he A whip in his hand:"
 "A whip-no
 He must have left it behind. nut tered my companion "You didn't hap pen to see or hear cah after that?"
 No '
 There's half sovereign for you, " my companion said standing up and taking his hat ''I am afraid, Rance