Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-08-19

A STUDY IN SCARLET.
CHAPTER III-Continued.
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

Omened and m1natOry look. 1t was one
of four, which stood back some little
way from the street, two being occu
pied and two empty.
The latter looked out with three
tiers of vacant, melancholy windows
which were blank and dreary, save
that here and there ''To Let" card
had developed like cataract upon
the bleared panes.
A small garden sprinkled over with
a scattered eruption of sickly plants
separated each of these houses from
the street, and was traversed by a mar
row pathway, yellowish in color, and
consisting apparently of a mixture of
clay and gravel.
The whole place was very sloppy
from the rain which had fallen through
the night. The garden was bounded
by a three-foot brick wall with a
fringe of wood rails upon the top, and
against this wall was leaning a stall
wart police constable, surrounded by
small knot of loafers, who craned
their necks and strained their eyes in
the vain hope of catching some glimpse
of the proceedings within.
had imagined that Sherlock
Holmes would at once have hurried
into the house and plunged into a
study of the mystery.
Nothing appeared to be further from
his intention. With an air Of non
chalance, which under the circum
stances seemed to me to border upon
affectation, he lounged up and down
the pavement, and gazed vacantly at
the ground, the sky, the opposite
houses and the line of railings.
Having finished his scrutiny, he pro-
ceedly slowly down the path, Or rather
down the fringe of grass which f1anked
the path, keeping his eyes riveted upon
the ground.
Twice he stopped and once I saw
him smile and heard him utter an ex-
clamation of satisfaction. There were
many marks of footsteps upon the wet,
clayey soil. but since the police had
been coming and going over it I was
unable to see how my companion could
hope to learn anything from it.
Still, had had such extraordinary
evidence of the quickness of his per-
ceptive faculties that I had no doubt
he could see great deal which was
hidden from me.
At the door of the house we were
met by tall, white-faced, f1axen-haired
man, with a notebook in his hand, who
rushed forward and wrung my com
panion's hand with effusion.
at is indeed kind of you to come"
he said. 81 have had everything left
untouched"
Except that" my friend answered,
pointing to the pathway. eff herd
of buffaloes had passed along, there
could not be a greater mess. No doubt,
however, you had drawn your own con-
clusions, Gregson, before you permit
ted this"
81 have had so much to do inside
the house." the detective said, evas-
lively. MY colleague, Mr.. Lestrade, is
here. I had relied upon him to look
after this"
Holmes glanced at me and raised
his eyebrows sardonically.
with two such men as yourself
and Lestrade upon the. ground, there
will not be much for third party to
to find out" he said.
Gregson rubbed his hands in self
satisfied way.
81 think we have done all that can
be DONE" he answered. 'It's queer
case, though, and l knew your taste
for such things"
"You did not come here In cab?"
asked Sherlock Holmes.
mo, sir"
"Nor Lestrade?"
"No, sir"
'Then let us go and look at the
room"
With which inconsequent remark he
strobe on into the house, followed by
Gregson, whose features expressed his
Holmes walked in and I followed
him with that subdued feeling at my
heart which the presence of death in
spires.
1t was a large, square room, looking
all the larger for the absence of all !
furniture.
Opposite the door was showy fire
place. On one corner of this was stuck
the stump of red wax candle.
The solitary window was so dirty |
that the light was hazy and uncertain,
giving dull gray tinge to everything,
which was intensified by the thick
layer of dust which coated the whole
apartment.
All these details I observed after
ward. At present my attention was
,entered upon the single grim, mo-
tlOnleSS nSOre WHICH lay SIroIcned
upon the boards, with vacant, sight
ess eyes staring up at the discolored
ceiling.
It was that of a man about forty
.hree OF forty-four years of age, mid
lle-sized. broad shouldered. with crisp,
,urling black hair. and short, stubby
oeard
His hands were clenched and his
arms thrown abroad, while his lower
limbs were interlocked as though his
leath struggle had been a grievous
)ne.
On his rigid face there stood an ex-
preston of horror. and. as It seemed
o me. of hatred, such as have never
seen upon human features.
Tnis malignant and terrible contor-
ion. combined with the low forehead,
blunt nose and prognathous jaw, gave
he dead man a singularly simious and
lpe-like appearance. which was in
'reased by his writhing, unnatural pos
ure.
Lestrade, lean and ferret-like as
,ver. was standing by the doorway and
greeted my companion and myself.