Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-22
Chanter -11I-(Continuedl
BY CONAN DOYLE.

Two doors opened out OF 1t to the lett
and to the right. One Of these had OBJ
viously been closed for many weeks.
The other belonged to the dining-room,
which was the apartment in which the
mysterious affair had occurred. Holmes
walked in, and I followed him with that
subdued feeling at nay heart which the
presence of death inspires. &
Tt was a large square room, looking
all the larger from the absence OF all
furniture. A vulgar, faling paper
adorned the walls, but it was blOtched
in places with mildew, and here and
there great strips had become detached
and hung down, exposing the yellow
plaster beneath. Opposite the door was
a snowy fireplace, SurmOunted by
mantel-piece of imitation white marble.
On one corner of this was stuck the
stump of a red wax candle. The soil
tary window was SO dirty that the light
was hazy and uncertain, giving dull
gray tinge to everything, which was
intensified by the thick layer OF dust
which coated the whole apartment.
All these details / observed after
ward At present my attention was
centered upon the single, grim, notion
less figure which lay stretched upon the
boards, with vacant sightless eyes star
ing up at the discolored ceiling 1t was
that of man about forty-three OF forty
four years of age, middle-sized, broad
shouldered with crisp, curling black
hair, and a short stubby beard. He was
dressed in q heavy broadcloth frock
coat and waistcoat, with light-colored
trousers, and immaculate collar and
cuffs. A top hat, well brushed and
n
him. His hands were clinched and his
arms thrown abroad, while his lower
limbs were interlocked as though his
death struggle had been a grievous one.
On his rigid face there stood an express
sion Of horror and, as it seemd to me,
of hatred. such as 1 have never seen
upon human features. This malignant
and terrible contortion combined with
the low forehead, blunt nose, and prog
nathous jaw, gave the dead man sing
ularly simiols and ape-like appear
ance which was increased by his with
ing unnatural posture. l have seen
death in many forms, but never has it
appeared to me in more fearsome as
pect than in that dark, grinly apart
ment, which looked out upon one Of the
main arteries of suburban London.
was standing by the doorway and
greeted my companion and myself. s
This case will make stir, SIR" he
remarked. 'It beats anything I have
seen. and / am no chicken"
''There is no cleWw said Gregson.
''None at all, !" chimed in Lestrade.
Sherlock Holmes approached the
body, and, lneeling down, examined it
intently. you are sure that there is
DO wound?" he asked pointing to num-
erouS gOuts and splaSheS of blood which
lay all around.
''Positivew cried both detectives.
"Then of course, this blood belongs
to a second individual presumably the
murderer. if murder has been com
mitted. It reminds me of the circum-
stances attendant on the death of Van
Jansen, in Utrecht, in the year "a. Do
you remember the case Gregsonw
mo, Sir"
Read it up-you really should. There
is nothing new under the sun. 1t has
all been done before"
AS he spoke, his nimble fingers were
flying here there and everywhere, feel
ing, pressing unbuttoning, examining,
while his eyes wore the same far-aWay
expression which l have already re-
marked upon. 50 swiftly was the ex-
animation made that one would hardly
have guessed the minuteneSS with
which it was conducted. Finally, he
shifted the dead mans lips, and then
glanced ut the SoleS of his patent-leath-
er boots
''He has not been moved at all?" he
asked.
"Not more than was necessary for
the purpose of our examination"
You can take him to the mortuary
now" he said. "There is nothing more
to be learned"
Gregson had q stretcher and four
men at hand. AT his call they entered
the room, and the stranger was lifted
and carried out. AS they raised him. 4
ring tinkled down and rolled across the
floor. Lestrade grabbed it up and star
ed at it with mystified eyes.
There's been a woman here" he
cried. Its a woman's wedding ring"
He held it out as he spoke, upon the
palm of his hand. We all gathered
round him and gazed at it. There could
be no doubt that that circlet OF plain
gold had once adorned the finger Of
bride.
''This complexities Matters said
Gregson Heaven knows, they were
complicated before"
You're sure it doesn't simplify
them?" observed Holmes. There's
nothing to be learned by staring at it,
What did you find in his pocketsT'
eve have it all here" said Gregson,
pointing to litter of objects upon one
of the bottom steps of the stairs. "a
gold watch, No 97,163, by Barraud, of
London. Gold Albert chain, very heavy
and solid. Gold ring with Masonic de-
vice. Gold pin-bull-dog head, with ru-
bies as eyes. Russian leather card-case
with cards Enoch ]. Drebber, of Cleve-
land, corresponding with the e. ]. D.,
upon the linen. No purse, but loose
money to the extent of seven pounds
thirteen. Pocket edition Of Boccaccio's
FDecameron,' with the name OF Joseph
Strangerson upon the ty-Ieaf Two let
ters-one addressed to E. J. Drebber
and one to Joseph Strangerson.''
"At what address?'
american Exchange, .Strand-to be
\ 81 - L. M .