Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-22


but has not returned yet
Have you sent to Cleveland ?"
"We telegra phcd this morning"
''How did you word your inquiries?"
eve simply detailed the circum-.
stances and said that we should be glad
of any information which could help
u.s. j,
did you not ask for particulars on
any point which appeared to you to bc
crucialY'
x asked about Strangerson."
Nothing else? Is there no circunl-
stance on which this whole case ap-
pears to hinge? Will you not telegraph
again?"
II have said all I have to say" said
Gregson, in an offended voice.
Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself,
and appeared to be about to make
some remark, when Lestrade, who had
been in the front room while we were
holding this conversation in the hall,
reappeared upon the scene, rubbing
his hands in pompous and self-satis-
fed manner.
Mr.. Gregson," he said, IT have just
made a discovery Of the highest i'm
portance, and one which would have
been overlooked had j not made care
full examination of the walls"
The little mans eyes sparkled as he
spoke and he was evidently in a state
OF suppressed exultatiOn lat having
scored a point against his colleague.
'Come here" he said bustling back
into the room, the atmosphere of which
felt clearer since the removal of it's
CHASTITY inmate "Now, stand there!"
He struck match on his boot and
held it up against the wall
Look at thatv' he said, triumphant
~.
I have remarked that the paper had
fallen away in parts. In this particu-
lar corner Of the room large piece
had peeled off, leaving yellow square
of coarse plastering. Across this bare
space there was scrawled in blood-red
letters a single word-"Rache."
what do you think of that" cried.
the detective with the air Of a show
man exhibiting his show. ''ThiS was
overlooked because it was in the dark
est corner Of the room, and no one
thought of looking there. The murder
er has written it with his or her own
blood. See this smear where it has
trinkled dow nthe wall That disposes
of the idea Of suicide anyhow. Why
was that corner chosen to write it on?
I will tell you. See that candle on the
mantel-piece? It was lit at the time,
and if was lit this corner would be
the brightest instead of the darkest pOr-
ton of the wall"
''And what does it mean, now that
you have found it," asked Gregson, in
a depreciatory voice.
''Mean? Why, it means that the writ
er was going to put the female name
Rachel 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 a woman
named Rachel has something to do
with it. It's all very well for you to
laugh, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes. You may
hound is the best, when all is said and
DONE"
II really beg your pardon!' said my
companion, who had rufT1ed the little
mans temper by bursting into an ex-
plosion 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 writ
ten by the other participant in last
nights mystery. / have not had time
to examine this room yet, but with
your permission I shall do SO now
AS he spoke he whipped a tape meas
ure and a large round magnifying glass
from his pocket With these two i'm
PIGMENTS he trotted noiselessly about
the room, sometimes stopping, occa-
sionally 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
chatted away to himself under his
breath tie whole time, keeping up a
running fire of ordinations, groanS,
whistles and little cries suggestive of
encouragement and of hope. AS |
watched him / was irreSistibly remind
ed of a pure blooded, well-trained fox
hound as it daShes backward and for
ward through the covert, whining in it's
eaGerneSS. until it comes across the lost
scent. For twenty minutes or more he
continued his researches, measuring
with the most exact care the diStaN2e
between marks, which were entirely
invisible to me, and occasionally apply
ing his tape to the walls in an equally
incomprehensible manner In one place
he gathered up very carefully a little
pile of gray dust from the floor and
packed it away in an envelope. Final
ly he examined with his glass the word
upon the wall, going over every letter
of 1t with the most minute eXactness.
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 a very bad def
milton, but it does apply to detective
work"
Gregson and Lestrade had watched
the manoeuvres 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 Holiness
smallest actions were all directed to-
ward some definite and practical end.
What do you think Of it SIR" they
both asked.
"Tt would be robbing you of the cred
it Of the case if I was to presume to
han Won ,, remarked my friend '.YOu