The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-08-22
A STUDY IN SCARLET.

BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

+ ma me mere WuSu you CUIHS DdCh
Audley Court was not an attractive
locality 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 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 lit.
Il irritable at bing disturbed in his
slumbers.
"I made my report at the office"
he said.
Holmes took half sovereign from
his pocket, and played with it pen
sively.
we thought that we should like to
hear it 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.
.'Just let us Hear II 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"
''l'll tell it We from the beginning" :"
he said my time is from eight at
night to six in the morning. At eleven
there was a fight at the White Hart;
but, bar that, all was quiet enough on
the beat. At one o'clock it began to
rain, and I met Harry Murcher-him
who has the Holland Grove beat--and
we stood together at the corner Of
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 It was precious dirty and
lonely. Not soul did / meet all
the way down though cab or two
went past me. I was a-strollin' down,
thfnkin' between ourselves how un-
common handy four of gin hot would
be, when suddenly CLINT of light
caught my eye in the window Of that
same house. Now, I knew that them
two houses in Lauriston Gardens 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. was knocked all in a 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 It.
Heaven only knows! You see,' when I
got up to the door, it was so still and
so lonesome thai. 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 It
was him that died o. typhoid inspect
ing the drains what killed him. The
thought gave me kind o. turn, and
walked back to the gate to see II
could see Murcher's lantern, but there
wasn't no sign Of him nor any one
else?"
There was no one in the street,"
mot livin' SOUL sir, nor as much
as dog. Then | pulled myself to-
gether and went back and pushed the
door open. All was quiet inside, so I
went into the room where the light
was a-burnin' There was a candle
flickerin' on the mantel-piece--a red
wax one-and by its light I saw"
Eyes, 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
a frightened face and suspicion In his
eyes.
where was you hid to see all
that?" he cried. "It seems to me that
you know deal more than you
should"
Holmes laughed and threw his card
across the table to the constable.
Don't getsarresting me for the MUIR
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 mystifed express
sion.
'T 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 a grin.
1--WE seen many a 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 Columblne's
New-fangled Banner, or some such
stuff. He couldn't stand, far less
help" E
What sort OF 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 IL we hadn't been so
took up"
His face-his dress-didn't you no
tiee them?" Holmes broke in, impati-
emily.
.'1 should think I iid notice them.
seeing that had to prop him up-me
and MHrcher between us. He was
long chap with red face, the lower
/ part muffled round"
THAT will do" crfed Holmes" What
became Of him?"
WED enough to do without lookin'
after him." the policeman said, in an
aggrieved voice. '1'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 1t behind" NUT
tered my companion. "You didn't
happen to see or hear a cab after