Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-09-11
\H%N%N%N/A~N%

Jus Sou'o anu SpldShSS VI OAOou "hiSh
lay all around.
Positive" cried both detectives.
Then of course this blood belongs
to a second indiyidual-presuma
the murderer, II murder has been COM
mitted. Ii reminds me of the circum-
stances attending on the death of Van
Jansen, in Utrecht in the year 81. Do
you remember the case, Gregson?"
mo. sir"
Read it up-you really should.
There is nothing new under the sun.
IL has all been done before"
AS he spoke his nimble fingers were
flying here. there and everywhere,
feeling, pressing, unbuttoning, exam
ining, while his eyes wore the same
far away expression which | have al
ready remarked upon.
So swiftly was the examination made
that one would hardly have guessed
the minuteness with which it was con-
Quoted. Finally, he shifted the dead
mans lips and then glanced at the
soles of his patent leather boots.
He has not been moved at all?" he
asked.
No more than was necessary for
the purpose of our examination"
You can take him to the mortuary
now" he said. There is nothing more
to be learned"
Gregson had a stretcher and four
men at hand. At his call they entered
the room, and the stranger was lifted
and carried out.
AS they raised him a ring tingled
down and rolled across the floor. Le-
strade grabbed it up and stared at it
with mystified eyes.
There's been a woman here" he
cried. IT'S a womans wedding ring"
He held it out as he spoke, upon the
palm of his hand. We all gathered
round him and gazed at it. There
could be no doubt that that circle of
plain gold had once adorned the finger
of a bride.
This complicates matters" said
! Gregson. Heaven knows, they were
complicated enough before!"
you're sure it doesn't simplify
them?" observed Holmes. There's
nothing to be learned by staring at it.
What did you find in his pockets?"
I'VE have it all here" said Greg
son, pointing to a litter of objects upon
one of the bottom steps of the stairs.
"a gold watch, No 81 ,163, by Barraud,
of London. Gold Albert chain, very
/ heavy and solid. Gold ring, with Ma
sonic device. Gold pin-bulldog S
head with rubies as eyes. Russian
| leather card case, with cards of Enoch
]. Drebber, of Cleveland, correspond
ing with the E. ]. d. upon the linen.
| No purse, but loose money to the eX-
tent of seven pounds thirteen. Pock-
ct edition of Boccaccio's 'Decameron.
with name of Joseph Stangerson upon
the fly leaf. Two letters-one address
ed to Z. ]. Drebber and one to Joseph
Stangerson."
"At what address,"
American Exchange, Strand-to be
left till called for. They are both from
the Guion Steamship Company, and
refer to the sailing of their boats from
Liverpool. 1t is clear that this unfor.
tunate man was about to return to New
York"
Have you made any inquiries as to
this man Stangerson?"
81 did it at once" said Gregson. 81
have had advertisements sent to all the
newspapers, and one of my men has
gone to the American Exchange, but
he has not returned yet"
Have you sent to Cleveland?"
1--WE telegraphed this morning."
"How did you word your inquiries?' p
I'VE simply detailed the circum
stances. and said that we should be
glad of any information which could
help us"
you did not ask for particulars or
any point which appeared to you to be
crucial?"
81 asked about Stangerson."
Nothing else? Is there no circum
stance on which this whole case ap
pears to hinge? Will you not tele
graph again?"
~ have said all have to say" sale
Gregson, in an offended voice.
Sherlock Holmes chuckled to him
self, and appeared to be about to make
some remark, when Lestrade, who hat
been in the front room while we were
holding this conversation in the hall
reappeared upon the scene, rubbing his
hands in a pompous and well-satisfieG
manner.
"Mr. Gregson," he said, 81 have just
made a discovery of the highest i'm
portance, and one which would have
been overlooked had not made a care
full examination of the walls"
The little mans eyes sparkled as he
spoke, and he was evidently in a state
of suppressed exultatIon at having
scored a point against his colleague
Come here" he said, bustling bach
into the room, the atmosphere of which
felt cleaner since the removal of Its
ghastly inmate.
Now, stand there"
He struck a match on his boot anG
held it up against the wall.
Look at that" he said triumphant
lv.
have remarked that the paper hat
fai.en away in parts. In this particu
lar corner of the room a large piece
had peeled off, leaving yellow square
of coarse plastering.
Across this bare space there was
scrawled in blood-red letters a single
word:
RACHE.
What do you think of that?" cried
the detective, with the air of a show
man exhibiting his show. This was
overlooked because it was in the dark
est corner Of the room, and no one