Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-09-04

heat saw a light there about the
morning, and as the house was az
empty one.s suspected something was
amiss. He found the door open and in
the front room. which is bare of fur
ture, discovered the body of a gentle
man, well dressed and having cards in
his pocket bearing the name of 'Enoch
j. Drebber. Cleveland Ohio, L. S. A
There had been no robbery, nor is
there any evidence as to how the man
met his death. There are marks of
blood in the room, but there is no
wound upon his person. We are at
loss as to how he came into the empty
house; indeed. the whole affair is a
puzzler. II you can come round to the
house any time before IL you will find
ME there. | have left everything in
statu quo until | hear from you. II
you are unable to come | shall give
you fuller details, and would esteem it
great kindness If you would favor
me with your opinion. Yours faithful
ly. TOBIAS GREGSON."
"Gregson is the smartest of the
Scotland Yarders," my friend re-
marked. He and Lestrade are the pick
of bad lot. They are both quick and
energetic. but conventional-shocki
ly so. They have their knives into
each other too. They are as jealous
as a pair of professional beauties.
There will be some fun over this case
ii they are both put upon the scent"
was amazed at the calm way in
which he rippled on.
Surely there is not a moment to be
lost" I cried; shall go and order
you a cab?"
81 am not sure about whether shall
go. l am the most incurably lazy dew
il that ever stood in shoe leather
that is. when the fit is on me, for l can
be spry enough at times"
"Why. it is just such chance as
you have been longing for"
MY dear fellow, what does it mat
ter to me? Suppose | unravel the
whole matter, you may be sure that
Gregson, Lestrade & Co. will pocket
all the credit. That comes of being
an unofficial parsonage"
But he begs you to help him"
Eyes. He knows that am his SUI
perior, and acknowledges 1t to me;
but he would cut his tongue out before
he would own 1t to any third person.
However we may as we'll go and have
a look. | shall work it out on my own
hook. | may have laugh at them,
If | have nothing else. Come on"
He hustled on his overcoat, and bus
tied about in a way that showed that
an energetic fit had superseded the
apathetic one.
Get your hat" he said.
you wish me to Gomez"
"Yes, if you have nothing better to
do"
A minute later we were both in a
hanson, driving furiously for the
Brixton road.
It was a foggy, cloudy morning, and
la dun-colored veil hung over the house
tops, looking like the reflection of the
mud colored streets beneath.
MY companion was in the best of
spirits, and prattled away about Gre
mona fiddles. and the difference be-
tween a Stradivarius and an Amati.
AS for myself, | was silent, for the
dull weather and the melancholy bust
ness upon which we were engaged de-
pressed my spirits.
"You don't seem to give much
thought to the matter in hand" | said
at last interrupting Holmes musical
disquisiton.
mo data yet" he answered. 'It is
capital mistake to theorize before
you have all the evidence. 1t biases
the Judgment"
"You will have your data soon,'
remarked, pointing with my finger
"this is the Brixton road, and that is
the house, if am not very much mis-
taken"
80 it is. Stop, driver, stop"
: We were still hundred yards or sc
J from it, but he insisted upon oul
alighting. and we finished our journey
upon foot.