The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, July 31, 1913, Image 4
A STUDY
IN SCARLET
lly Sir A. Con an l>oyle.
I'HAPTKK III.
The IiAur|ston Gardens .Mystery.
1 confess that I was considerably
startled by this fresh proof of the
practical nature of my companion's
theories. My respect for his powers
of analysis increased wondrously.
There still remained some lurking
suspicion in my mind, however, that
the whole thing was a pre-arranged
episode, intended to dazzle me,
though what earthly object he could
have In taking me in was past my
comprehension. When I looked at
him he had finished reading the note,
and his eyes had assumed the vacant,
lack-luster expression which showed
mental abstraction.
"How in the world did you deduce
that?" I asked.
"Deduce what?" said lie, petulently.
"Why, that he was a retired sergeant
of marines."
"I have no time for trifles," he replied,
brusquely; then, with a smile,
"Excuse my rudeness. You broke
the thread of my thoughts; but perhaps
it is as well. So you actually
were not able to see that that man
was a sergeant of marines?"
"No, indeed."
"It was easier to know it than to
explain why 1 know it. If you were
asked to prove that two and two
made four, you might find some difficulty,
and yet you are quite sure of
the fact. Even across the street I
could see a great blue anchor tattooed
on the back of the fellow's
hand. That smacked of the sea. He
had a military carriage, however, and
regulation aide-whiskers. There we
have the marine. He was a man with
some amount of self-importance and
a certain air of command. You must
have observed the way in which he
held his head and swung his cane. A
steady, respectable, middle-aged man,
too, on the face of him?all facts
which led me to believe that he had
been a sergeant."
"Wonderful!" I ejaculated.
"Commonplace," said Holmes,
that he was pleased at my evident
surprise and admiration. "I said just
now that there were no criminals.
It appears that I am wrong?look at
this!" lie threw me over the note
which the commissionaire had
'brought.
"Why," I cried, as I cast my eyo
over it, "this is terrible!"
"It does seem to be a little out of
the common," he remarked, calmly.
"Would you mind reading it to me
aloud?"
This is the letter which I read to
him:
*AMy Dear i.Mr. Sherlock Holmes:
"There has been a bad business
during the night at 3 Lauriston Gardents,
off the Brixton Road. Our man
ou the beat saw a light there about
two In the morning, and, as the house
was an empty one, suspected that
eoraething was amiss. He found the
r% r\r* rvnni\ n ?> /I 1 ?? f ? A
vi vy vy k KJ J / U I I | CI 11 1.1 ill (11(3 1 1 OI1L IOOIll,
which is bare of furniture, discovered
tlie body of a gentleman, well
dressed, and having cards in his pocket
bearing the name of 'Bnoch J.
Drebber, Cleveland, Ohio, IT. 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
a loss as to how ho came into the
empty house; indeed, the whole affair
is a puzzler. If you can come
road to the house any time before
twelve, you will find me there. I
have left 'in statu quo' until 1 hear
from you. If you are unable to cornel
I shall give you fuller details, and
would esteem it <i great kindness if
you would favor me with your opinion.
Yours faithfully,
"Tobias Gregson."
"Gregson is the smartest of the
Scotland Yarders," my friend remarked;
"he and Lestrade are the
pick of a bad lot. They are both
quick and energetic, but conventional
?shockingly 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 if they are both put
upon the scent."
I was amazed at the calm way in
which he rippled on.
"Surely there is not a moment to
be lost," I cried; "shall I go and
order you a cab?"
"I am not sure about whether I
shall go. I am the most incurably ;
lazy devil that ever stood in shoeleather?that
is, when the fit is on
me, for I can be spry enough at
times."
"Why, it is just such a chance as
you have heen longing for "
"My dear fellow, what does it matter
to me? Supposing 1 unravel the
whole matter you may ho sure that
Gregson, Lestrade & Co. will pocket
all the credit. That comes of being
an unofficial personage."
"Hut he begs you to help him."
"Yes. Ho knows that I am his
superior, and acknowledges it to me;
but he would cut his tongue out before
he would own it to any third
person. However, we may as well go
and have a look. 1 shall work it out
011 my own hook. I may have a
laugh at them, if I havo nothing else.
Come on!"
He hustled on his overcoat, and
f
bustled about In a way that showed <
that an energetic lit had superseded
the apathetic one. I
"(let your hat." he said. i
"You wish me to come?" 1
"Yes, if you have nothing better to
do."
A minute later we were both in a
hansom, driving furiously for the
Hrixton Road.
It. was a foggy, cloudy morning,
and a dun-colered veil hung over the
house-tops, looking like the reflection
of the mud-colored streets beneath.
My companion was in the best ot
spirits, and prattled away about
Cremona gddles, and the difference
between a Stradivarius and an mnnH
As for myself, 1 was silent, for the
dull weather and the melancholy bus
Iness upon which we were engaged
depressed my spirits.
"You don't seem to give much
thought to the matter in hand," 1
said at last, interrupting Holmes'
musical disquisition.
"No data yet," he answered. "It
is a capital mistake to theorize before
you have all the evidence. It biases
the judgment."
"You will have your data soon," 1
were still a hundred yards or so from
the house, if I am not mistaken."
"So it is. Stop, driver, stop!" We
remarked, pointing with my finger;
"this is the Brxiton Road, and that is
It, but he insisted upon our alighting
and wo finished our journey upon
foot.
No. ?, Lauriston Hardens wore an
ill-omened and minatory look. It
was one of fo,<r which stood back
some little way from the street, two
being occupied and two empty. The
latter looked out with three tiers of
vacant, melancholy windows, which
were blank and dreary, save that
here and there a "To Let" card had
developed like a 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 narrow 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 loaning
a stalwart police constable, surrounded
by a small knot of loafers.
W'bn rmnorl fhnir iionl/o on a
v..v/i> MVVIkO (4 II VI Oil (I 1 lll'll
thoir eyes in (he vain hope of catching
some glimpse of the proceedings
within.
I had imagined that Sherlock
Holmes would at once have hurried
into the house and plunged into a
study of the mystery. Nothing appeared
to he further from his intention.
With an air of nonchalance
which, under the circumstances,
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 proceeded slowly
down the path, or, rather, down
the fringe of grass which flanked the
path, keeping his eyes riveted upon
the ground. Twice he stopped, and
once I saw him smile and heard him
utter an exclamation 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, 1 had had such
extraordinary evidence of the quickness
of his perceptive faculties that I
had no doubt that he could see a
great deal which was hidden from
me. (
At the door of the house we were
met by a tall, white-faced, flaxenhaired
man, with a note-book in his
hand, who mshort fnrw#ni o?wi
, . " l?? >? ""'I ? ?
my companion's hand with effusion.
"It is indeed kind of you to come,"
he said; "I have had everything left
untouched."
"Except that!" my friend answered,
pointing to the pathway. "If a
herd of buffaloes had passed along
there could not be a greater mess.
No doubt, however, you had drawn
your own conclusions, Gregson, before
you permitted this."
"I have had so much to do inside
the house," the detective said evasively.
"My colleague, Mr. Lestradc,
is here. I had relied upon him to
look after this."
Holmes glanced at me, and raised
his eyesbrows sardonically.
"With two such men as yourself
and I/estrade upon the ground, there
will not be much for a third party to
find out," he said.
Gregson rubbed his hands in a selfsatisfied
way.
"I think we have (lone all that can
be done," he answered; "it's a queer
case, though, and I knew your taste
for such things."
"You did not come here in a cab?"
"No, sir."
"Nor Lestrade?"
"No, sir."
"Then let us go and look at the
room."
With this inconsequent remark he
strode on into the house, followed by
Grogson, whose features expressed
his astonishment.
A short passage, hare-planked and
dusty, led to the kitchen and offices.
Two doors opened out of it to the left !
and to the right. One of these had 1
obviously been closed for many 1
weeks. The other belonged to the
dining-room, which was the apartment
in which the mysterious affair ^
had occurred. Holmes walked In, 1
and I followed him with that subdued {
feeling at my heart which the pres- 1
!*nce of death inspires.
It was a large, square room, looking
all the larged for the absence oi
nil furniture. A vulgar, flaring paper
adorned the walls, but it was
blotched in places with wildew, and
here and there great strips had become
detached and hung down, exposing
the yellow plaster beneath.
Opposite the door was a showy fireplace,
surmounted by a mantelpiece
of imitation white marble. On one
corner of this was stuck the stump of
a red wax candle. The solitary window
was so dirty that the light was
hazy and uncertain, giving a dullgray
tinge to everything, which was
intensified by the thick layer of dust
which coated the whole apartment.
All those details I observed afterward.
At present my attention was
centered upon the single grim, motionless
figure which lay stretched
upon the boards, with vacant, sightless
eyes staring up at the discolored
ceiling. It was that of a man about
forty-three or forty-four years of
age, middle-sized, broad-shouldered,
with crisp, curling black hair, and a
short, stubby heard. He was dressed
in a heavy broadcloth frock-coat and
waistcoat, with light-colored trousers
and immaculate collar and cuffs. A
top-hat, well brushed and trim, was
placed upon the floor beside him. His
hands were clinched and his arms
thrown abroad, while his lower limbs
were interlocked, as though his
death-struggle had been a grievous
one. On his rigid face there stood an
expression of horror, and, as it seemed
to me, of hatred, such as I have
never seen upon human features.
This malignant and terrible contortion.
combined with the low forehead,
blunt nose, and prognathous jaw,
gave the dead man a singularly simious
and ape-like appearance, which
was increased by his writhing, unnatural
posture. 1 have seen death in
many forms, hut never has it appeared
to me in a more fearsome aspect
than in that dark, grimy apartment,
which looked out upon one of the
main arteries of suburban London.
Lestrade, lean and ferret-like as
ever, was standing by the doorway,
and greeted my companion and myself.
"This case will make a stir, sir,"
he remarked. "It beats anything I
have seeji, and 1 am no chicken."
"There is no clew," said Clregson.
"None at all," chimed in Lestrade.
Sherlock Holmes approached the
body, and, kneeling down, examined
it intently.
"You are sure that there is no
wound?" he asked, pointing to numerous
gouts and splashes of blood
which lay all around.
"Positive!" cried .both detectives.
htLAM ^r ~ ~ Ai.f- * * *
i ucii, v?i ^uui?e, in 1 js uioou Delongs
to a second individual?presumably
the murderer, if murder has
been committed. It reminds me of
the circumstances attendant on the
death of Van Jansen in Utrecht, in
the year '3 4. Do you remember the
case, Gregson?"
"No, sir."
"Read it up?you really should.
There is nothing new under the sun.
It has all been done before."
As he spoke bis nimble fingers
were flying here, there, aid everywhere,
feeling, pressing, unbuttoning,
examining, while his eyes wore
the same far-away expression which
1 have already remarked upon. So
swiftly was the examination made
that one would hardly have guessed
the minuteness with which it was
conducted. Finally he sniffed the
dead man's 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
his a ring tinkled down and rolled
across the floor. Lestrade grabbed
it up and stared at it with mystified
eyes.
"There's been a woman here," he
cried. "It's a woman's wedding
ring."
He held it out as he spoke upon
the palm of his hand. We all gathered
round him and erazAri nt it Tho-a
could be no doubt that that circle of
plain gold had once adorned the finger
of a bride.
"This complicates matters," said
Oregson. "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?"
"We have it all here," said Gregson,
pointing to a litter of objects
upon one of the bottom steps of the
stairs. "A gold watch, No. 97,163,
by Barraud, of London; gold Albert
chain, very heavy and solid; gold
ring, with Masonic device; gold pin,
bulldog's head, with rubies as eyes;
Russian-leather card-case, with cards
of Enoch J. Drebber, of Cleveland,
corresponding with the E. J. I), upon
the linen; no purse, hut loose money
to the extent of seven pounds thirteen;
pocket edition of Boccaccio's
'Decameron', with name of Joseph
Stangerson upon the fly-leaf; two letters,
one addressed to E. J. Drebber
and one to Joseph Stangerson."
"At what address?" i
"American Exchange, Strand; to ;
i)o left till called for. They are both 1
from the Gulon Steamship Company, i
and refer to the sailing of their boats t
'rom Liverpool. It is clear that this i
JSIl
Your I
and loved ones should be pi
aches and pains by always 1
NOAH'S LINIMENT?the
NOAH'S LINIMENT is i
external application. Absoli
made in a modern laboratory
as a physician's prescription.
, NOAH'S LINIMENT do.
/ a mmnnii ? ^*1.- 1?
iMi.ivuiu, mvuilUI, lldj' liici, UC
Noah's
la an excellent remedy for rhr
backache, neuralgia, strains. spr
and aide, aore feet, etc. Peuet
rubbing.
NOAH'S LINIMENT is on<
throat, coughs, colda, colic and
sugar will usually relieve thet
toothache there ia nothing bettei
applied externally.
Look for Noah's Ark?trad*
ago; beware of substitutes.
NOAH'S LINIMENT is sold
the cities and out in the country
$1.00 a bottle. Send for booklf
Noah Remedy Co., Inc., R1
unfortunate man was about to return
to New York."
"Have you made any inquiries as
to this man Stangerson?"
"I did it at once, sir," said Clregson.
"I have had advertisements
sent to all the newspapers, and one of
my men lias gone to the American
Exchange, but he has not returned
yet."
"Have you sent to Cleveland?"
"We telegraphed this morning."
"How did you word your inquiries?"
"We simply detailed the circumstances,
and said that we should be
glad of any information which could
help us."
"You did not ask for particulars on
any point which appeared to you to
be crucial?"
"I asked about Stangerson."
"Nothing else? Is there no circumstance
on which this whole case
appears to hinge? Will you not telegraph
again?"
"I have said Ifll I hnve to c?v !
said Gregson, in an offended voice.
Sherlock Holmes chuckled to himself,
and appeared to ho about to
make some remark, when Lestrade,
who had 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
self-satisfied manner.
"iMr, Gregson," he said, "I have
just made a discovery of the highest
importance, and one which would
have been overlooked lisd I not made
a careful examination ct the walls."
The little man's eyes sparkled as
he spoke, and he was evidently in a
state of suppresses exultation at having
scored a point against his colleague.
'Come here," he said, bustling
back 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 and
held it up against the wall.
"Look at that!" he said thiumphantly.
I have remarked that the paper
had fallen away in parts. In this
particular corner of the room a large
piece had peeled off, leaving a 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 showman
exhibiting his show. "This was
overiooKea .because it was in the
darkest corner of the room and no
one thought of looking there. The
murder has written it with his or her
one blood. See this smear where it
has trickled down the wall! That disposes
of the idea of suicide, anyhow.
Why was that cornor chosen to write
it on? I tell you. See that candle on
the mantlepiece? It was lightened at
the time, and if it was lighted this
corner would be the brightest instead
of the darkest portion of the
wall."
"And does it mean, now that you
havo found it?" asked Gregson.
"Mean? Why, it means that the
writer was going to put the female
name Rachel, but was disturbeed before
he or she had time to finish.
You mark my words, when this case
comes to be cleard up you will find
that a womam named Rachel has
some thing to do with it It's all very
well for you to laugh, Mr. Sherlock
Homes. You may be very smart
and clever, but the old hound is the
best, when all is said and done."
To be continued)
Hobble Skirt Causes Fall.
A tight skirt is said to be responsible
for fatal injuries to Helen Lindner,
of Cincinnati. Miss Lindner
tripped as she stepped from a car,
ind fell head foremost into the gutter,
striking on the curbstone apd
picturing her skull.
Home
otected from the every-daj i
laving on hand a bottle of
Best Pain Remedy,
fur internal uses as well as for
Jtely pure and clean to use,
and compounded as carefully
es not contain any chloroform,
nzinL or poisonous dru^s.
Liniment
lumatlsm, lameness, stiff Joints,
ains, cuts, bruises, pains in chest
rates and requires very little
9 of the best remedies for sore
cramps. A few drops on a Little
le troubles immediately. For
'?a little on cotton in cavity and
>-mark?on every genuine packby
all dealers In medicines in
7, in three sizos, at 25c, 50c and
its and testimonials,
chino nd, Va.
Has since 1894 given "Thorough
influences at the lowest posslbl
RESULT: It is to-day with its
Its student body of 413, and its plf
THE LEADING TRAINING I
$150 payB all charges for the yeai
heat, laundry, medical attention, j;
except music and elocution. For
REV*THOS. ROSSER
BLAGS
I WOFFORD COLLEGE
HENRY X. SX
A REAL COLLEGE WITH II
SHIP AND CHARACTER. L
SECTION OF UPPER SOUTH
SOUTH OF ASH EVILLE, TH
THE BLUE RIDGE, HEALTH
FULL COURSES, AMPLE FA
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RIES. EXPENSES MODERA
TEMBER 17. WRITE FOR C
WOFFORD FITTING SCI
SITUATED ON WOFFORD CO
EQUIPMENT. TWO MODER
ROOM BUILDING. FIVE TE
TII7 DORMITORIES, TNSURI
AND HEARTY CO-OPERATI
n. o*;iiuv;u Willi II lli 11 kSTA
I MOSPHERE. TWO HUNDRE
| PENSES FOR TIIE YEAR, $1
$ A. W. HOR'
t 8PAIIT1
I What A St
THE BEST SCHOOL ADVANT
Orangebur
ORANGEBURG COIiLEGE H
OP NEARLY TWENTY EXP
COURSES IN BUSINESS, LIT
BRANCHES. EXPENSES I/O
OF ITS CLASS IN THE STAT
W. W. RT
Orange
I I !
Blows Off His Head.
While a half dozen workmen loo
ed on, John Aho, a farm hand
Grand Rapids, placed a stick of dyn
mite on his head and lighted a fiu
His head was blown in fragment
He loft a note imploring his friem
to express no regret at his act.
Florence Magistrate Fined.
H. E. Brown, notary public of I?
flngham, near Florence, was fln<
$25 for marrying a young woman u
der fourteen years of age.
/ "
r*r lUniMitlMi u4 Hcurmlck,
?"I have l>?cn using Noah's Liniment
for mors than a year, and
find It the heat 1 have evor tried
for rheumatism, neuralgia and sill
aches and pains of any kind."?
Mrs. A. M. Doyle, Richmond, Va.
For Cold* aud lluamrnrsa?
"Noah's Liniment quickly relieves
colds and hoarseness, and I have
carried a bottle with me for years
I - * U ?? VI/ T RnslnM \JL 4 1
ill uaveiiiiK. ???? . ?
son, N C. &
For Itavkache and Ntluf ?
"1 have used Noah's Liniment for
backache and BtifT Joints and pains,
and find It to be the best liniment
X ever used."?-Mrs. Sal lie Young,
lOdgar, Va.
For I'a In Following Clilll*.?"My
little girl was suffering With chills,
and for the pain following I us<<J
Noah's LI n Line nt, and it gave Instant
relief."?^ ii. Greenwood,
itichrnond, V?.
For Sore Fffi.?"Suffering for
a month with rheumatism In my
ankle, Instep and toes, 1 commenced
to use Noah's Liniment,
and my foot has Improved wonderfully,
vjid nan now walk with
. i > little Inconvenience"?C, A.
James, Portsmouth, Va.
For Pain in the Hark.? **I suffered
dreadfully fpr ten years with
Calng In back. Less than half a
ottle of Noah's Idnlnwnt mads k
perfect cure."?Mrs, J. U, tUIMngw
ley, Point Has tarn, Va.
^ JBBft* |
iii^aU^LjJLyiJJJJLiCI
instruction under positively Christian
In rrwt.M
faculty of 33, ft boarding patronage of 303,
int worth J160,(XX)
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN VIRGINIA
*, including tabic tx>ard, room; lights, steam
)hysical culture, and tuition in all subject*
catalogue and application blank address,
. REEVES, B. A., Principal.0
LSTONE. V/ .
SPARTANBURG, S. C. ^
YI)KU, President.
IGII STANDARDS OF SCHOLAR- ;
OCATED IN THE HIGH PIEDMONT | ]
CAROLINA, SIXTY-NINE MILES '
IRTY MILES FROM THE CREST OF } ..!
CONDITIONS UNSURPASSED, j i
CILITIES, LIBRARY, SCIENCE
TIC GROUNDS, NEW* DORMITOTE.
NEXT SESSION OPENS SEP- ;
ATA LOG UE. h
H00LSPARTANBURG S. C I
I-.LEGE CAMPUS. SPLENDID I
N DORMITORIES AND CLASS J
ACIIERS AND MATRON LIVE IN |.:j
NG A HOME-LIKE INFLUENCE |
ON OF STUDIES AND FACULTY.
NDARDS AND CLEAN MORAL AT- I
I) STUDENTS LAST YEAR. EX- i
8 2. FO RCATALOGUE ADDRESS M
TON, Head Master. j
ANBURO, S. C. I
udent Wants 1
AGES FOR THE LEAST MONEY.
g College Has I
AS GOOD EQUIPMENT, FACULTY u
EHTS, HEALTHFUL LOCATION,
ERARY, MUSIC AND NORMAL 1
WER THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL jg
E. SEND FOR CATALOGUE. |
^ERS, Pres., I
burg, S. C. I
Nail Victim in Packing Pox.
k- After robbing David Friedman, of
of Cleveland, of $171, two masked roba
bers marched him into the basement
ie. and nailed him in a packing box.
ts. They explained they didn't want him
ds to spread the alarm to soon.
#_???
Killed by Cave-In.
At Bonnettsvillo, a negro lost his
;f- life Monday, when a gravel pit caved
3d in. He was digging under a cliff
n- which had been loosened by dynamite.