The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-01

QClClIifO ONA4AC ~ AN et
steps at a time, and burst into our SIT
ting-room.
My dear fellow" he cried, w~ringing
Holiness u~nresponsive hand, con
graduate me! I nav made the whole
thing as clear as day"
A shade of anxiety seemed to me to
cross my companions expressive face.
DO you mean that you are on the
right track?" he asked.
1.-The right track Why, sir, we have
the man under lock ard key"
"And his nam Isl"
Arthur C~harpentier, sub-lieutenant
in her ma1esty's navy cried Gregsons
pompously, rubbing his fat hands and
initiating his chest.
Sherlock Holmes gave a sigh of re-
lief and relaxed into a smile.
Take a seat and try one of these
he said. I'VE are anxious to
know how you managed it. Will you
have some whiskey n water?"
81 don't mind If / do" the detective
answered. THE tremendous exertions
which I nave gone through during h
last day or two ave worn me out.
Not so much bodily exertion, you I'M
derstand, as the strain upo the mind
You will appreciate that, Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes, for we are both brain-work-
ers."
you dc me too much honor said
Holmes. gravely. Let us hear how
you arrived at this most gratifying re-
suit"
The detective seated himself in the
armchair and puffed complacently at
his thigh in a paroxysm of muse
ment.
The fun of 1t is" he cried. that that
fool Lestrade, who thinks himself SO
smart, has gone off upon the wrong
track altogether. He is after the Sec
rotary, Stangerson, who had no more
to do with the crime thar the babe
unborn. I have no doubt that he has
caught him by this time"
The idea tickled Gregson so much
that he laughed until he choked.
And how did you get your clue?"
All, 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 n
finding of this Americans antecedents.
Some people would have waited until
their advertisements were answered, or
until parties came forward and volun-
teered information. That is not Tobias
Gregson's way of going to work. You
remember the hat beside the dead
mann"
Yes" said Holmes; "by John I'm
derwood & Sons, 129 Camberwell road"
Gregson looked quite crestfallen.
II had no idea that you noticed that"
he said. Have you been there?"
NO"
"Ha!" cried Gregson, in a relieved
voice; you should never neglect a
chance, however small 1t may SEEM"
ITO a great mind nothing is little"
remarked Holmes, sententiously.
well, I went to Underwood. and
saked him If he had sold a hat Of that
size and description. He looked over
his books, and came on 1t at once. He
had sent the hat to a Mr.. Drebber, re-
siding at C~harpentier's boarding estab-
lishment, Torquay terrace. Thus I got
at his address,"
Sherlock Holmes.
IT next called upon Madame Char
pentier,' continued the detective. II
found her very pale n 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 1 spoke to her.
That didn't escape my notice. I began
to smell q rat. You know the feeling,
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, when you come
upon the right scent-a kind of thrill
in your nerves. Have you heard of the
mysterious death of your late boarder,
Mr.. Enoch j. Drebber, of Cleveland? !
asked.
1.-THE mother nodded. She didn't
seem able to get out o word. The
daughter burst into tears. l felt more
than ever that these people knew some
thing of the matter.
".At what o'clock did Mr.. Drebber
leave your house for the train?' l
asked.
AT s O'clock she said. gulping in
her throat to keep down her agitation.
His secretary, Mr.. Stangerson, said
that there were two trains-one at 9:1o
and one at II. He was to catch h
first
"'And was that the last which you
saw of him?'
"A terrible change came over h
wonan's face as 7 asked the question.
Her features turned perfectly livid. 1t
wa some seconds before she could get
out the single word Yes, n when 1t
did come it was in a husky, unnatural
tone.
There was silence for a moment, and
then the daughter spoke In a calm,
clear voice.
""No good can ever come Of false
hood mother she said. Let us be
frank with this gentleman. We did
see Mr.. Drehber again
""God forgive your cried Madame
Charpentier, 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.
"FYou had best tell me all about II
now I said. Half condolences are
worse than none, Besides, you do not
know how much we know of IT.
"tOn your head be it. Alice. cried
her mother; and then, turning to me,
I will tell you all, sir. Dc not imagine
that my agitation on behalf of my o
arises from any fear lest he should
have had a hand in this terrible AFFAIR.
He is utterly innocent of 1t. My dread
is, however. thai in your eyes and IN
the eyes of others he may appear 70
be compromised. That, however, IS
surely impossible. His high character.
his profession, his antecedents wouid
all forbid it.
"'Your best way is to make a clean
A--L g. 49, axxrnrA IIa.