The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-09-05
A STUDY IN SCARLET
y
CHAPTER vi.
BY A. CONAN D:,YLE.

'Brixton Mystery" as they termed 1t.
Each had long account of the af-
fair. and some had leaders upon 1t In
addition.
There was some information In them
which was new to me. still retain in
my scrap book numerous clippings and
extracts bearing upon the case.
Here is a condensation Of few Of
them:
The Daily Telegraph remarked that
In the history of crime there had sell
dom been tragedy which presented
stranger features.
The German name Of the victim,
the absence of all motive and the sin
lister inscription on the wall all point
ed to It's perpetration by political
refugees and reYolutionists.
The Socialists had many branches
in America, and the deceased had, no
doubt, infringed their unwritten laws
and been tracked down by them.
After alluding airily to the Vehm-
gericht, aqua tofano, Carbonari, the
Marchioness de Brinvilliers, the Dar-
winian theory, the principles of NAL
thus and the Ratcliff Highway mur
ders, the article concluded by admon-
ishing the government and advocating
closer watch over foreigners In Eng
land.
The Standard commented upon the
fact that lawless outrages of the sort
usually occurred under q Liberal ad-
ministration.
They arose from the unsettling of
the minds Of the masses and the con-
sequent weakening of all authority.
The deceased was an American gem
tleman who had been residing for
some weeks In the metropolis. He hda
stayed at the clearinghouse off Nine.
Charpentier in Torquay Terrace,
Camberwell.
He was accompanied in his travels
by his private secretary, Mr.. Joseph
Stangerson. The two bid adieu to their
landlady upon Tuesday, the 4th inst,
and departed to Euston station with
the avowed intention of catching the
Liverpool express. They were after
ward seen together on the platform.
Nothing more is known of them I'M
til Mr.. Drebber's body was, as re-
corded, discovered in an empty house
in the Brixton road, many miles from
Euston.
How he came there, or how he met
his fate, are questions which are still
involved In mystery.
Nothing is known of the where
abouts of Stangerson. We are glad
to learn that Mr. Lestrade and Mr.
Gregson, of Scotland Yard, are both
engaged upon the case, and 1t is con-
fldently anticipated that these we'll
known officers will speedily throw
light upon the matter.
The Daily News observed that there
was no doubt as to the crime being a
political one. The despotism and hat
red of Liberalism which animated
the Continental governments had had
the effect of driving to our shores
number of men who might have made
excellent citizens were they not soured
by the recollection of ali they had un-
dergone.
Among these men there was
stringent code OF honor any infringe
ment of which was punished by death.
Every effort should be made to
find the secretary, Stangerson, and to
ascertain some particulars of the hab-
Its or the deceased.
A great step had been gained by the
discovery of the address Of the house
at which he had boarded, a result
which was entirely due to the acute
ness and energy of Mr.. Gregson, of
Scotland Yard.
Sherlock Holmes and read these
notices over together at breakfast,
and they appeared to afford him con
siderable amusement
81 told you that, whatever happened,
Lestrade and Gregson would be sure
to score"
''That depends on how it turns out"
"Oh, bless you, it doesn matter in
the least. II the man is caught, it will
be on account of their exertions; II he
escapes, 1t will be in spite of -4eir ex-
eruons. It's heads | win, tails you
lose. Whatever they do, they will have
followers A fool always finds big
ger fool to admire him."
what on earth is this?' | cried, for
AT this moment there came the patter-
ing Of many steps In the hall and on
lMe stairs, accompanied by audible ex-
pIesions of disgust on the part of our
landlady.
"It's the Baker-street division of the
detective police force" said my COM
panion, gravely; and as he spoke
there rushed into the room half doz-
en- of the dirtiest and most ragged
stret arabs that ever clapped eyes
on.
'Tentionl" cried Holmes, in
sharp tone and the six dirty scoup-
drels stood in line like so many dis
reputable statuettes. "In future you
shall send up Virgins alone to report,
and the rest of you must wait in the
street. Have you found it, Wiggins?"
mo, sir, we hain't," said one of the
youths.
81 hardly expected that you would.
You must keep on until you do. Here
are your wages" He handed each of
them a shilling. Nov, off you go, and
come back with better report next
time"
He waved his hand, and they scan1-
pered away downstairs like so many
rats, and we heard their shrill voices
next moment in the street.
There's more work to be got out of
one of those little beggars than out of
q NOANh vi NhV A0lN0s AAOlluCS
marked. THE mere sight of an official
looking person seals mems lips. These
youngsters, however, go everywhere
and hear everything. They are as
sharp as needles, too; all they want
ic organization,
'1s 1t on this Brixton case that you
are employing them?" l asked.
"Yes; there is a point which wish
to ascertain. 1t is merely a matter OF
time. Halloo! we are going to hear
some news now with a vengeance!
Here is Gregson coming down the
road with beatitude written upon ev-
cry feature of his face. Bound for us,
know. Yes, he is stopping There he
Isl"
There was violent peal at the bell,
and in a few seconds the fair.halred
detective came up the stairs three
steps at time, and burst into our
sitting-room.
MY dear fellow" he cried. wringing
Holmes unresponsive hand, "congrat-
ulate me! | have made the whole
thing as clear as day"
A shade Of anxiety seemed to me TO