Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-09-18

Mise ana conjecture. We nave GOOD
working basis. however, on which 20
start. We must hurry up. for l want
to go to Halle's concert to hear Nor
man Neruda this afternoon"
This conversation had occurred
while our cab had been threading rs
way through a long succession of
dingy streets and dreary by-wavs.
In the dingiest ard dreariest of them
our driver suddenly came to stand.
That's Audley Court in there" he
said pointing to narrow slit in the
line Of dead-colored brick. you'll
find me here when you come back"
Audley Court was not an attractive
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 4f
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 little front parlor to await his
coming.
He appeared presently. looking a lit
II irritable at bing disturbed in his
slumbers.
81 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
az shall be most happy to tell you
anything I can" the constable an
swered, with his eyes upon the little
golden disk.
''Just let us hear it all in your own
wav. as it occurred"
/ Rance sat down on the horsehair
sofa and knitted his brows, as though
( determined not to omit anything in
his narrative"
'I'll tell II 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:
hut. bar that. all was nuiet enough on
the beat. At one o'clock 1t 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 little after-T
thOupht ! would take look round and
see that all was right down the Briy-
ton road. 1t was precious dirty and
| lonely. Not a soul did I 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 liIht
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
70. though the very last tenant that
lived in one O. them died o. tynhoid
fever. was knocked all in a heap,
therefore. at seeing light in the win
dow. and I susnected 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
foro"
Rance gave a violent Jump and
stared at Sherlock Holmes with the ut
most amazement upon his features.
"Whv. that's true. sir" he said.
Though how you come to know it,
Heaven only knows, You see, when
got ND to the door. 1t was so still and
so lonesome that I thought I'd be none
the worse for some one with me.
amt afeared of nothing on this side
o the grave; but 7 thought maybe it
was him that died o. tvphoid inspect
ing the drains what killed him The
thought gave me a kind O turn. and
walked hack to the gate to see if
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 a livin' soul, sir, nor as much
as a dog. Then l 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 cp~1le
flickerin' on the mantel-piece-a red
wax one-and by it's 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. 1T 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, 81 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, them"
well it was, so far as anybody that
could be of any good goes"
What do you mean?"
The constables features broadened
into a grin.
I've seen many a drunk chap in nv
L. L