Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-09-02
CHAPTER Y.

TOO much FOR my weak health, ana L
was tired out in the afternoon.
After Holmes departure for the con-
cert, lay down upon the sofa and en-
deavored to get a couple of hours
sleep. 1t was a useless attempt.
My mind had been so much excited
by all that had occurred and the
strangest fancies and surmises crowd
ed into it.
Every time that closed my eyes I
saw before me the distorted, baboon-
like countenance of the murdered man.
So sinister was the impression which
that face produced upon me that l
found it difficult to feel anything but
gratitude for him who had removed it's
owner from the world.
If ever human features bespoke vice
of the most malignant type they were
certainly those of Enoch J. Drebber, of
Cleveland.
Still. recognized that justice must
be done, and that the depravity of the
victim was no condonement in the eyes
of the law.
The more I thought of it the more
extraordinary did my companions hy-
pothesis, that the man had been poi
soned appear
remembered how he had shifted his
lips and had no doubt that he had de-
tected something which had given rise
to the idea.
Then, again, If not poison, what had
caused the mans death, since there
was neither wound nor marks of
strangulation?
But on the other hand. whose blood
was that which lay so thickly upon the
floor? There were no signs of a strug-
gle, nor had the victim any weapon
with which he might have wounded
an antagonist.
AS long as all these questions were
unsolved felt that sleep would be no
easy matter, either for Holmes or my
self.
His quiet, self-conident manner con-
vinced me that he had already formed
theory which explained all the facts.
though what it was could not for an
instant conjecture.
He was very late in returning-so
late that knew that the concert could
not have detained him all the time.
Dinner was On the table before he ap-
peared.
'It was magnificent" he said. as he
took his seat. do you remember what
Darwin says about music? He claims
that the power of producing and appre-
SidIlHso IL SAISISu IHS
race long before the power of speech
was arrived at. Perhaps that is why
we are so subtly Influenced by it.
There are vague memories in our
souls of those misty centuries when
the world was in it's childhood"
That's rather a broad idea," I re-
marked.
"One's ideas must be as braod as
Nature if they are to interpret Nature
he answered. whats the matter?
You're not looking quite yourself. This
Brixton road affair has upset you"
ITO tell the truth it has" l said. 81
ought to be more case-hardened after
my Afghan experiences. I saw my own
comrades hacked to pieces at Maiwand
without losing my nerve"
81 can understand. There is a mvs-
terry about this which stimulates the
imagination; where there is no imagi-
nation there is no horror. Have you
seen the evening paper?"
mo"
at gives a fairly good account of the
affair. 1t does not mention the fact
that when the man was raised up 4
woman's wedding ring fell upon the
floor. 1t is just as we'll it does not"
"Why?"
Look at this advertisement" he
answered. Il had one sent to every
paper this morning Immediately after
the affair"
He threw the paper across to me-
and l glanced at the place Indicated
1t was the first advertisement in the
Found" column.
I'm Brixton road" it ran. "a plain
gold wedding ring. found in the road
way between the White Hart Tavern
and Holland Grove. Apply DR.. Wat
son. 221B Baker street, between and
8 this evening"
Excuse my using your name" he
said. "If used my own some of these
dunderheads would recognize it, and
want to meddle in the affair"
That is all right" I answered. But
supposing any one applies, have no
ring"
"Oh. yes. you have" said he. hand
ing me one. This will do very well.
1t is almost fac-simile"
And who do you expect will answer
this advertisement?
why the man in the brown coat
our fiorid friend with the squafe toes
If he does not come himself he will
send an accomplice."
Would he not consider it as too
dangerous
Not at all. If my view of the case
is correct, and l have every reason to
believe that it is. this man would rath-
er risk anything than lose the ring
According to my notion he dropped it
while STOPPING over Drebbers body.
and did not miss it at the time After
leaving the house he discovered his
loss and hurried back. but found the
police already in possession. owing to
his own folly in leaving the candle
burning. He had to pretend to be
drunk in order to allay the suspicious
which might have been aroused by his
appearance at the gate. Now put your
self in that mans place. On thinking
the matter over. 1t must have occurred
to him that it was possible that he
had lost the ring in the road after
leaving the house. What would be do
then? He would eagerly look out for
the evening papers, in the hope Of see
ing it among the articles found. His
eve Of course. would light upon this.
He would be overjoyed. Why should
he fear a trap? There would be no
reason, in his eyes. WAY the finding
of the ring should be connected with
the murder. He would. come. He will
come You shall see him within an
kour."
And them" asked.
SOh. you can leave me to deal with