The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-09-05

cigars, ne Sdiu. we are anxious 10
know how you managed it. Will you
Eave some whisky and water?"
Il don't nina If do" the detective
answered. THE tremendous exertions
which | have gone through during the
last day or two have woEn me out.
Not so much bodily exertion, you un-
derstand, as the strain upon the mind.
You will appreciate that, Mr.. Sher-
lock Holmes, for we are both brain
workers."
"You do me too much honor" said
Holmes, grayely. LET us hear how
you arrived at this most gratifying
result"
The detective seated himself in the
armchair and puffed complacently at
bis cigar. Then suddenly he slapped
lis thigh in a paroxysm Of amuse-
ment.
"The fun of Il is," he cried, that
that fool Lestrade, who thinks him
self so smart, has gone off upon the
wrong track altogether. He Is after
the secretary, Stangerson, who had no
more to do with the crime than the
babe unborn. | have no doubt that
he has caught him by this time"
The idea tickled Gregson so much
that he laughted until he choked.
"And how did you get your clue 2"
"Ah, I'll tell you all about 1t. OF
course, DR.. Watson. this is strictly be-
tween ourselves. The first difficulty
which we had to contend with was the
finding of this Americans anteced-
ents. Some people would have waited
until their advertisements were an
swered or until parties came forward
and volunteered information. That is
not Tobias Gregson's way of gong
10 work. You remember the hat be-
side the dead MANI"
YES" said Holmes, 'by John I'm
derwood & Sons, 129 Camberwell
road"
Gregsen looked quite crestfallen.
II had no idea that you noticed
that" he said. Have you been there?"
mo"
"Ha" cried Gregson, in a relieved
voice, "you should never neglect a
chance, however small 1t may seem" "
"To a great mind nothing is little"
remarked Holmes, sententiously.
We'll, / went to Underwood and
asked him IL he had sold hat of that
size and description. He looked over
his books and came on 1t at once. He
had sent the hat to Mr.. Drebber, re-
siding at Charpentier's boarding es-
tablishment, Torquay Terrace. Thus
got at, his address"
Smart - very smart" murmured
Sherlock Holmes.
II next called upon Madame Char
pentier," continued the detective. 'T
found her very pale and distressed.
Her daughter was in the room, too
an uncommonly fine girl she is too;
she was looking red about the eyes,
and her lips trembled as l spoke to
her. That didn't escape my notice.
began to smell a rat. You know the
feeling, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, when
you once come upon the right scent
a kind of thrill in your nerves. Have
you heard of the mysterious death of
your late brother, Mr.. Enoch ]. Dreb-
Der, of Cleveland" | asked
The mother nodded. She didn't
seem to get out word. The daughter
burst into tears. felt more than ever
that these people knew something of
the matter.
"'At what o'clock did Mr.. Drebber
leave your house for the train?' /
asked.
cat 8 o'clock, she said, gulping
in her throat to keep down her agita.
tion. His secretary, Mr.. Stangerson,
said that there were two trains-one
at 9:15 and one at II. He was to
catch the first
"'And was that the last which you
saw of him?'
"a terrible change came over the
woman's face as l asked the question.
Her features turned perfectly livid. It
was some seconds before she could
get out the single word Yes and
when it did come 1t was in a husky,
tone.
There was silence for moment,
and then the daughter spoke In a
calm, clear voice.
No good can ever come Of false
hood, mother she said.f Let us be
frank with the gentleman. We did see
Mr.. Drebber again.
"'God forgive you!' cried Madame
throwing up her hands
and sinking back in her chair. You
have murdered your brother!'
Arthur would rather that we
spoke the truth, the girl answered,
firmly.
"'You had best tell me all about 1t
now,' l said. Half condolences are
worse than none. Besides, you do not
know how much we know of it.
"'On your head be it, Alice!' cried
her mother; and then, turning to me,
7 will tell you all, sir. Do not imagine
that my agitation on behalf of my son
arises from any fear lest he should
have had hand in this terrible affair.
He is utterly innocent of it. My dread
is. however, that in your eyes and in
the eyes of others he may appear to
be compromised. That, however, is
surely impossible. His high character,
his profession, his antecedents would
all forbid it"
"'Your best way is to make clean
breast Of the facts" | answered. De
pend upon it, if your son is innocent
be will be none the worse
Perhaps, Alice you had better
leave us together she said, and her
daughter withdrew. Now, sir, she
/ had no intention of tell
ing you all this, but since my poor
daughter has disclosed it / have no
alternative. Having once decided to
speak, will tell you all without omit
ting any particular
Tt is your wisest course, said l.
"'Mr. Drebber has been with us
nearly three weeks. He and his sec
Ietary, Mr.. Stangerson, had been trav-
cling on the Continent. noticed a
Copenhagen" label upon each OF their
trunks. showing that that had been
their last stopping place. Stangerson
was a quiet, reserved man, but his om.
ployer. am sorry to say, was far
otherwise. He was coarse in his hab-
its and british in his ways. The very
night of his arrival he became very
much the worse for drink, and, in.
deed, after IL o'clock in the day he
could hardly ever be said to be sober.
His manners toward the maid servants
were disgustingly free and familiar.
" orst of all, he speedily assumed the
same manner toward my daughter,
Alice, and spoke TO her more than
Once In n waV which fortunatelv she