Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-08-21

A STUDY IN SCARLET.

BY A. CONAN DOYLE.


locality. The narrow passage led us
into quadrangle paved with flags and
lined by sordid dwellings.
We picked our way among groups of
dirty children and through lines OF dis
colored linen until we came to No. 46,
the door OF which was decorated with
small slip of brass. on which the
name Rance was engraved.
On inquiry we found that the Con-
stable was in bed, and we were shown
into a little front parlor to await his
coming.
He appeared presently. looking a lit
Il irritable at hing disturbed in his
slumbers.
Il made my report at the ONCE"
he said.
Holmes took half sovereign from
his pocket. and played with Il PEN
sively.
I'VE thought that we should like to
hear 1t all from your own lips" he
said.
Il shall be most happy to tell you
anything can" the constable an
swered, with his eyes upon the little
golden disk.
"Jast let us hear It all In your own
way. as 1t occurred"
Rance sat down on the horsehair
sofa and knitted his brows, as though
determined not to omit anything In
his narrative"
''rn tell it We from the beginning"
he said. my time is from eight at
night to six in the morning. At eleven
there was fight at the White Hart:
but, bar that all was quiet enough on
the beat. At one o'clock 1t began to
rain. and met Harry Murcher-him
who has the Holland Grove beat--and
we stood together at the corner of
I Henrietta street a-talkin'.. Presently
maybe about two. or a little after-I
! thought would take look round and
| see that all was right down the Brix-
ton road. II was precious dirty and
/ lonely. Not a soul did / meet all
the way down though a cab or two
went past me- was a-strollin' down.
| thinkin' between ourselves how I'M
common handy four Of gin hot would
be, when suddenly a CLINT OF light
caught my eye in the window of that
same house. Now, I knew that them
ItWO uOuSCS III was
empty on account of him that owns
them. who wont have the drains seed
to, though the very last tenant that
lived in one o. them died o. typhoid
fever. I was knocked all in heap.
therefore. at seeing light in the win
dow. and I suspected as something
was wrong. When we 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 a violent jump and
stared at Sherlock Holmes with the ut
most amazement upon his features.
why, that's true, sir" he said.
though how you come to know 1t.
Heaven only knows You see, when I
got up to the door. 1t was so still and
so lonesome that thought I'd be none
the worse for some one with me.
amt afeared Of nothing on this side
O. the grave; but thought maybe 1t
was him that died o. typhoid inspect
ing the drains what killed him. The
thought gave me a kind o. turn, and
walked back to the gate to see IL
could see Murcher's lantern, but there
wasn't no sign of him nor any one
else?"
There was no one in the street,"
Not livin' soul, sir, nor as much
as a dog. Then | pulled myself to-
gether and went back and pushed the
door open. All was quiet inside, so
went into the room where the light
was a-burnin'. There was candle
fickerin' on the mantel-piece-a red
wax one-and by its light ! saw"
'Yes. know all that you saw. You
walked round the room several times.
and you knelt down by the body, and
then you walked through and tried the
kitchen door, and then"
John Rance sprang to his feet with
frightened face and suspicion in his
eyes.
Where was you hid to see all
that?" he cried. "It seems to me that
you know a deal more than you
should"
Holmes laughed and threw his card
across the table to the constable.
Don't get arresting me for the mur-
der" he said, Il am one of the hounds,
and not the wolf; Mr.. Gregson or Mr..
Lestrade will answer for that. Go on,
though. What did you do next?"
| Rance resumed his seat, without,
however, losing his mystified express
sion.
81 went back to the gate and sound
ed my whistle. That brought Muir
cher and two more to the spot"
WAS the street empty, then"
well, 1t was, so far as anybody that
could be of any good goes"
! What do you mean%
The constable's features broadened
into grin.
"Pve seen many drunk chap in my
time," he said, "but never any one so
cryin' drunk as that cove. He was at
the gate when came out, a-leanin' up
agin the railin's and a-singin' at the
pitch of his lungs about Columbine's
New-fangled Banner, or some such
stuff. He couldn't stand, far less
help"
what sort of a man was her"
asked Sherlock Holmes.
John Rance appeared to be some
what irritated at this depression.
HE was an uncommon drunk sort o.
man," he said. He's ha' found hisself
in the station If we hadn't been SO
took up"
"His face-his dress-didn't you no
tice them?" Holmes broke in, impati-
emily.
Il should think | did notice them,
seeing that had to prop him up-me
and Murcher between us. He was a
long chap with red face, the lower
part muffied round"
THAT will do," cried Holmes" What
became of him?"
WED enough to do without lookin
after him." the policeman said, in an
aggrieved voice. 'I'll wager he found
his way home all right"
How was he dressed?"
"a brown nYercnatn =