The Darlington news. (Darlington, S.C.) 1875-1909, May 03, 1894, Image 3

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to 1 CBAPTEB V—(7on;inutd '‘T don't mind if I do," the detective answered. “The tremendous exertions which I have gone through during the last day or two have worn me out. Not so much bodily exertion, you un derstand, as the strain upon the mind. You will appreciate that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, for we are both brain work- ers. “You do me too much honor,” said Holmes gravely. “Let us hear how you arrived at this most gratifying re sult.” The detective seated himself In the arm-chair and puffed complacently at his cigar Then suddenly he daughter witnarew. •now, Mr,- sue continued, ‘1 had no intention of tell ing you all this, but since my pool daughter has disclosed it I have no alternative. Having once decided to speak, I will tell you all, without omit ting any particular.’ “ ‘It is your wisest course,' said I. " 'Mr. Drebber has been with us nearly three weeks. He and his sec retary, Mr. Stangerson, had been trav eling on the continent I noticed a “Copenhagen” label upon each of their trunks, showing that that had been many tricks to throw tho polios on the wrong scent." “Well done!" raid Holmes, in an en couraging voice, “iieclly, Uregson, you are getting along. We shall make something of yon yet” “I flatter myself that 1 have man aged it rather neatly,” the detective answered proudly. “The young mau volunteered a statement in which he said that after following Drebbcr some time, the latter perceived him, and took a cab in order to get away from him. On his way home he met an old | shipmate, and tooh a long walk with : him. On being asked where this old shipmate lived, he was unable to give any satisfactory reply. 1 think the whole case fits together uncommonly welL What amuses me is to think of Lcslrade, who had started off upon the wrong scent. 1 am afraid ho won’t make much of it. Why, ty .i.,.e. litre » the very man himself!” It was indeed Lustra le, who had ascended the stairs while we were talking, and who now entered the room. The assurance and jauntincss which generally marked his demeanor and dress were, howte -, wanting. 11 is face was disturbed an 1 troubled, while his clothes were disarranged and untidy. He had evidently come that fool Ustrade, who thinks himself worRe for driuki lDdac d, after so smart has gone off upon the wrong twt> , Te 0 , clock ln tho d he could track altogether. He is after the J their last stopping place. Stangerson was a quiet, reserved man, but his cm-: ' w it U ThTiutenthm"of consulting with p oyer, I am sorry to saj-, was far other- Sherlock Holmes, for on perceiving his v V1 U1 , , ?' i “: Ue was coarse in las habits and I coll nlo he apT>earad ^ Uo embar . his thigh In a paroxysm of amusement. : brutish in his ways. The very night j nad put out. He stood in the “The fun of it la.” he cried, “that . f his arrival he became very much the | cenU;r of the room furab i in g nervous ly with his hat, and uncertain what to do. “This is a most extraordinary case," he said at last—"a most incom- prehensible affair.” “Ah, you find it so, Mr. Lestrade!" cried Gregson, triumphantly. “I thought you would come to that con clusion. Have you managed to find the secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson?"’ “The secretary, Mr. Joseph Stanger son.” said Lestrade, gravely, "was mur dered at Halliday’s private hotel about six o'clock this morning." retary, Stangerson, who had no more to do with the crime than the babe un bom. 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 clew?" “Ah, I'U tell you all about it. Cf course, Hr. Watson, this Is strictly be tween ourselves. The first difficulty which we had to contend with was the finding of this American's antecedents. Some people would have waited until their advertisements were answered, or until parties came forward and vol unteered information. That is not Tobias Gregson’s way of going to work. You remember the hat beside the dead man?” “Yes,” said Holmes; “by John Uu- | derwood & Sons, 129 Camberwell road.” Gregson looked quite crestfallen. “I had no idea that you noticed that," he said. “Have you been there?” “No." “Ha!” cried Gregson, in a relieved ▼oice; “you should never neglect a chance, however small it may seem.” “To a great mind nothing is little," remarked Holmes, sententiously. “Well I went to Underwood and asked him if he had sold a hat of that size and description. He looked over his books and came on it at once. He had sent the hat to a Mr. Drebber, re siding at Charpentier's boarding estab lishment, Torquay terrace. Thus I got at his address.” “Smart—very smart!” murmured Sherlock Holmes. “I next called npon Mme. Char- pentier,” continued the detective. "I j 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 I spoke to her. j That didn’t escape my notice. I began to smell a 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 boarder, hardly ever bo said to be sober. His manners toward the maid servants were disgustingly free and familiar. Worst of all, ho speedily assumed the same attitude toward my daughter, Alice, and spoke to her more than once in a way which, fortunately, she is too innocent to understand. On one occa sion he actually seized her In his arms and embraced her—an outrage which I caused his own secretary to reproach him for his unmanly conduct.' “ ‘But why did you stand all this?’ I asked. ‘I suppose that you can get rid of your boarders when you wish.’ "Mrs. Charpentler blushed at my pertinent question. ‘Would to God that I had given him notice on the very day he came,’ she said. ‘But it was a sore temptation. They were paying a pound a day each—fourteen pounds a week, and this is a slack sea son. I am a widow, and my boy in the navy has cost me much. I grudged to lose the money. I acted for the best. This last was too much, however, and I gave him notice to leave on account of it. That was the reason of his going.’ “ ‘Well?’ ‘“Mj-heart grew light when I saw | him drive away. My son is on leave I just now, but I did not tell him auy- I thing of this, for his temper is violent, ] and he is passionately fond of his sis ter. When I closed the door behind them a load seemed to lie lifted from my mind. Alas! in less than an hour there was a ring at the bell, and I learned that Mr. Drebber had re turned. He was much excited, and evidently the worse for drink. He forced his way Into the room where I was sitting with my daughter, and made some incoherent remark about having missed the train. He then turned to Alice and, before my very face, proposed to her that she should fly with him. “You are of age,” he said, “and there is no law to stop you. I have money enough and to spare. Never mind the old girl here, but come along with me now straight away. You shall live like a princess.” Poor Alice was so frightened that she shrunk away from him, but he Mr. Enoch J, Drebber, of Cleveland?’ caught her by the wrist and endeavored I asked. “The mother nodded. She didn’t seem able to get out a word. The daughter burst into tears. I 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?’ I naked. “ ‘At eight o’clock,’ she said, gulping In her throat to keep down her agita tion. ‘His secretary, Mr. Stangerson, aaid that there were two trains—one at 9:15 and one at 11. 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 I asked the question. Per features turned perfectly livid. It was some seconds before she could get out the single word ‘Yes,’ and when It did come out it was in a husky, unnat- ural tone. “There was silence for a moment, and then the daughter spoke iu a calm, clear voice: “ ‘No good can ever come of false hood, mother,’ she said. ‘Let us be frank with this gentleman. We did sec Mr. Drebber again.’ to draw her toward the door. I screamed, and at that moment my son Arthur came into the room. What happened then I do not know. I heard oaths and the confused sounds of a scuffle. I was too terrified to raise my head. When I did look up I saw Arthur standing in the doorway laughing, with a stick in his hand. "I don’t think that fine fellow will trouble us again,” he said. “I will just go after him and see what he does with himself.” With those words ha took his hat and started off down the street. The next morning we heard oi Mr. Drebber’s mysterious death.’ “This statement came from Mrs. Charpentier's lips with many gasps and pauses At times she spoke so low that I could hardly catch the words I made shorthand notes of all that she said, however, so that there should bo no possibility of a mistake." “It’s quite exciting,” said Sherlock Holmes, with a yawn. “What happened next?” “When Mrs Charpentier paused,” the detective continued, “I saw that the whole case hung upon one point. Fixing her with toy eye in a way which I always found effective with women. CHAPTER VIL MG XT IN THE DARKNESS The intelligence with which Lestrade greeted us was so momentous and so unexpected, that we were all three fairly dumfounded. Gregson sprang out of his chair and upset the remainder of his whisky and water. I stared in silence at Sherlock Holmes, whose lips were compressed and his brows drawn down over his eyes. “Stangerson, tool” ho muttered. “The plot thickens.” “It was quite thick enough before," grumbled Lestrade, taking a chair. “I seem to have dropped into a sort of council of war.” “Are you—are you sure of this piece of intelligence?" stammered Gregson. “I have just come from his room,” said Lestrade. “I was the first to dis cover what had occurred.” “We have been hearing Gregson’s view of the matter,” Holmes observed. “Would you mind letting us know what you have seen and done?” “I have no objection,” Lestrade an swered, seating himself. “I freely confess that 1 was of the opinion that Stangerson waaconcerned in the death of Drebber. This fresh development has shown me that I was completely “ ‘God forgive you!' cried Mme. Char- j asked her at wb at hour her son ro- pentier, throwing up her hands and sinking back in her chair. ‘You have iiourdered your brother.’ “ ‘Arthur would rather that we spoke the truth,’ the girl answered firmly. “ ‘You had best tell me all about it now,’ I said. ’Half-confidences 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 mei •I will tell you aU, sir. Do not imagine “PERHAPS, ALICE, 10V HAD BETTER LEAVE US TOO ETHER.” that my agitation on behalf of my son arises from any fear lest he should have had a hand in this terrible affair. He is utterly innocent of it. My dread is, however, that in your eyes and in the eyss of others he may appear to be compromised. That, however, is sure ly impossible, tils high character, his profession, hi* antecedents would all forbid it.* " ‘Your best way is to make a clean breast of the facts,’ 1 answered. ’De pend upon it, if your son is innocent he will be none the worse.’ ” ‘Perhaps, Alice, you had better leave us together,’ she said, and her turned. “ T do not know,’ she answered. " ’Not know?’ “‘No; he has a latch-key, and let himself in.’ H ‘After you went to bed?* «‘Yes.’ “ ‘When did you go to bed?* “ ‘About eleven.’ *’ ‘So your son was gone at least two hours?’ “ 'Yes.' “ ‘Possibly four or five?’ “ 'yes,’ “ ‘What was he doing during that time?' “ ‘I do not know,' she answered, turn ing white to her very lips “Of course after that there was nothing more to be done. I f rand out where Lieut. Charpentier was, took two officers with me, and arrested him. When 1 touched him on the shoulder and warned him to come quietly with ] ns, he answered us as liold as brass: T suppose you are arresting me for being concerned in the death of that scoun drel, Drebber,’ be said. We had said nothing to him about it, so that his alluding to it had a most suspicious aspect." "Very," said Holmes. “He still carried the heavy stick which the mother described him as having with him when he followed Drebber. It was a stout oak cudgel.” “What is your theory, then?” “Well, my theory is that he followed Drebber as far as the Brixton road. When there, a fresh altercation arose between them, in the course of which Drebber received a blow from the stick, in the pit BESIDE THE WINDOW LAY THE BODY OP A MAN. mistaken. Full of the one idea, I set myself to find oat what had become of the secretary. They had been seen together at Euston station about half past eight on the evening of the third. At two in the morning Drebber had been found in the Brixton road. The question which confronted me was to find out how Stangerson had been em ployed between half-past eight and the time of the crime, and what had be come of him afterward. I telegraphed to Liverpool giving a description of the man, and warning them to keep a watch upon the American boats. I then set to work calling upon all the hotel and lodging houses in the vicin ity of Euston. Yon see, I argued that If Drebber and his companion had be come separated, the natural course for the latter would be to put up some where in the vicinity for the night and then to hang about the station again next morning.” "They would be likely to agree on some meeting place beforehand," re marked Holmes. •So it proved. I spent the whole of yesterday evening in making inquiries entirely without avail. This morning | began very early, and aVeight o’clock I reached Halliday's private hotel, iq Little George street. On my inquiry as to whether a Mr. Stangerson was living there, they at once answered me in the affirmative. '' 'No doubt you are the gentleman he was expecting,’ they said. ‘He has been waiting for a gentleman for two day a' " ‘Where is he now?’ I asked. “ ‘He is upstairs in bed. He wished to he called at nine.’ “It seemed to me that my sudden appearance might shake his nerves and lead him to say something unguarded. The Boots volunteered to show me the room; it was on the second floor, and there was a small corridor leading up to It. The Boots pointed out the door to me, and was about to go downstairs again, when 1 saw something that jnade me feel sickish, in > pile of my twenty years' experience. From under the door there curled a little red rib bon of blood, which had meandered across the passage and formed a little pool along the skirting at the other side. I gave a cry, which brought the Boots back. He nearly fainted when he saw it. The door was locked on the inside, but we put our shoulders to it. and knocked it in. The window of the room was open, and bet side the window, all huddled up, lay the body of a man in his nightdress, lie was quite dead, and had been for tow comes the strangest pan oi mu affair What do you suppose wa ; s’-ore the i urcew .1 man?” 1 felt a creeping of flesh, and a pre sentiment of coining horror, even be fore Sherlock Holmes answered: “ l .iu Ivor ra. Y-.'i . u. . in ..Ucm of bioe 1,” !i . said. • 'I hni wu it,” seii! f.e- trade, in an awe-..truck vo'.i:i>; cn-l wo wore all si lent (or awhile. There was something so methodical and so ine impruhcusible about the dcsls of this unknown a : ussin, that it imparted a fresh ghastliness to hlf crimes. My nerves, which wore steady enough on the field of battle, tingh 1 as I thought of it. “The man was seen," continued Los. trade. “A milk-boy, passing on hia way to the dairy, Uap|>cucd to walk down the lane which leads from the mews at the back of the hotel. He noticed that a ladder, which usu ally lay there, was raided against one of tho windows of the second floor, which was wide open. After passing, he looked back a.id saw a man de scend the ladder. He came down so quietly and openly that the boy im agined him to bo some carpenter or joiner at work In the hotel. He took no particular notice of him, beyond thinking in his mind that it was early for him to be at work, lie has an impression that the man was tall, had a reddish face, and was dressed in a long, brownish coat. He must hare stayed in the room some little time after the murder, for we found blood-stained water in the basin, where he bad washed Ills hands, and marks on the sheet where he had de liberately wiped his knife.” I glanced at Holmes on hearing the description of the murderer, which tal lied so exactly with his own. There was, however, no trace of exultation oi satisfaction upon his face. “Did you find nothing in the room which could furnish a clew to the murderer?" ho asked. “Nothing. Stangerson had Dreb- ber's purse in his pocket, but it seem* that this was usual, as he did all the paying. There was eighty-odd pound! in it, but nothing had been taken. Whatever the motives of these extraor dinary crimes, robbery is certainly not one of them. There were no papers or memoranda in the murdered man'e pocket, except a single telegram, dated from Cleveland about a month ago, and containing the words: ‘J. 11. is in Europe.’ There was no name appended to this message.” “And there was nothing else?" Holmes asked. “Nothing of any importance. The man's novel, with which he had read himself to sleep, was lying npon the bed, and his pipe was on a chair beside him. There was a glass of water on the table, and on the window-sill a small chip oiutment-box containing a couple of pills.” Sherlock Holmes sprang from his chair with an exclamation of delight. “The last link,” he cried, exultantly. “My case is complete.” The two detectives stared at him in amazcmetit. “I have now in my hands,” my com panion said, confidently, “all the threads which have formed such a tangle. There are, of course, details to be filled in, but 1 am as certain of all the main facts, from the time that Drebber parted from Stangerson at the station up to the discovery of the body of the latter, as if I had seen them with my own eyes. I will give you a proof of iny knowledge. Could you lay your hand upon those pills?” “I have them,” said Lestrade, pro ducing a small white box. “I took them and the purse and the telegram, intending to have them put in a place of safety at the police station. It was the merest chance, my taking these pills, for I am bound to say that I do not attach any importance to them.” “Give them here,” said Holmes. “Now, doctor,” turning to me, "arc those ordinary pills?” They certainly were not. They were of a pearly gray color, small, round and almost transparent against the light. “From their lightness and transparency I should imagine that they are soluble in water,” I remarked. “Precisely so,” answered Holmes. “Now, would you mind going down and fetching that poor little devil of ■ terrier which has been bad so long, and which the landlady wanted you to put out of its pain yesterday?" I went downstairs and carried the dog upstairs in my arras. Its labored I a blow iroin me 4sc ,^1 - - suck in mu i»« of the stomach, per- *ome time, for his limbs were rigid haps,’which killed him without leaving and cold. When we turned him over anv mark Tho night was so wet that the Boots recognized him at once as no 7 one was aliout, so CharpeiAier being the same genvlcman who had en- dragged the body of his victim Into gaged the room under the name of Jos- themnptv! m-.o/ As to the candle, eph Stangerson. The cause of death and the'blood, and the writing on the| wa8 , a . deep 8Ub . in w the heart. W And well, and the ring, they may aU be so 1 “*nst have penetrated the heart. And HE PLACED IT IN FRONT OF THE TERRIER. breathing and glazing eye showed that it was not far from its end. Indeed, its snow-white muzzle proclaimed that it had already exceeded the usual terra of canine existence. I placed it upon a cushion on the rng. “I will now ent one of these pills in two,” said Holmes, and drawing his penknife he suited the action to the word. “One-half we return into the box for future purpmes. The other half I will place in this wine glass, in which is a teuspoonful of wqtep, You perceive that our friend, the doc tor, la right, and that It readily dis solves.” “This may be very interesting,” said Leftrade, in the Injured tone of one who suspects that he is being laughed at. “I cannot see, however, what it has to do with the death of Mr. Joseph Stangerson.” “Patience, my friend, patience! Yon will find in time that it has everything to do with it. I shall now add a little milk to make the mixture palatable, and on presenting it to the dog yy? find he laps It np readily enoqglj."' As he spoke \e turned the contents of tl.e yvine g'ps* into a saucer and placed It in front of the terrier, who peeiliiy I’.ckcrt it dry. Sherlock Holmes’ earnest demeanor had so far convinced u.~. that we all sat in silence, wa lolling the animal intently, and ex pecting some startling effect. None i.acli i.ppt-arod, however. The dog con tinued to lie itretchcd npon the cushion, breathing in a labored way, but apparently neither thu better nor woric Ux its i'mu--ht. UoUn-'x had taken out Ins waten, nnu as minute followed minute wi’.’-.'iiit re- su't, an expression of the u: most oh.. grin and disappointment a- peared upon his features, liognawel his lip, drummed his fingers upon the table, and showed every other symptom of acute impatience. So great was his emotion that 1 felt sincerely sorry for him, while the two detectives smiled derisively, by no means displeased at this chock which he had met. “It can’t be a coincidence," he cried, at last, springing from his chair and pacing wildly np and down the room; “it is impossible that it should be a mere coincidence. The very pills which I suspected in the ease of Drebber are actually found after the death of Stan gerson. And yet they are inert. What can it mean? Surely my whole chain of reasoning cannot have been false. It is impossible! And yet this wretched dog is none the worse. Ah, I have it! I have it!" With a perfect shriek of delight he rushed to the box, cut the other pill in two, dissolved it, added milk and presented it to the terrier. The unfortunate creature's tongue seemed hardly to have been moistened in it before it gave a convulsive shiver in every limb, and lay as rigid and life less as if it had been struck by light ning. Sherlock Holmes drew a long breath and wiped tho perspiration from his forehead. "1 should have more faith," he said. "I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions it Invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other Interpretation. Of the two pills in that box, one was the most deadly poison and the other was entirely harmless. I ought to have known that before ever I saw the box at all." This last statement appeared to lie to be so startling that I could Irani4- believe that he was in his sober senses. There was the dead dog, how ever, to prove that his conjecture had been correct, it seemed to me that the mists in my own mind were gr;: 1- ually clearing away, and I began to have a dim, vague perception of the truth. “All this seems strange to you," con tinued Holmes, "because you failed at the beginning of the inquiry to grasp the importance of the single real clew which was presented to you. I had the good fortune to seize upon that, and everything which has oc curred since then has served to confirm my original supposi tion. and, indeed, was the logical se quence of it. Hence things which have perplexed you and made the case more obscure have served to enlighten me and to strengthen my conclusions. It is a mi..take to confound strange ness with mystery. The most common place crime is often the most myste rious because it presents no new or special features from which deductions can be drawn. This murder would have been infinitely more difficult to unravel had the body of the victim been simply found lying in the road way without any of those outre and sensational accompaniments which have rendered it remarkable. These strange details, far from making the ease more difficult, have really had the effect of making it less so.” Mr. Gregson, who had listened to this address with considerable impatience, could contain himself no longer. "Look here, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” he said, “we are all ready to acknowledge that yon are a smart man, and that you have your own methods of working. We want something more than mere theory and preaching now, though. It is a case of taking the man. I have made mv case out, and it seems I was wrong. YoungCharpentiercould not have been engaged in this second affair. Lestrade went after his man, Stangerson, and it appears that be was wrong, too. You have thrown out hints here, and hints there, and seem to know more than we do, but the time has come when we feel that we have a right to ask y(*u straight how much you do know of the business. Can you name the man who did it?” "I cannot help feeling that Gregson is right, sir,” remarked Lestrade. “We have both tried, and we have both failed. You hqfe remarked more than once since I have been in the room that you had all the evidence which you require. Surely you will not with hold it any longer.” “And delay in arresting the assas sin," I observed, “might give him time to perpetrate some fresh atrocity." Thus pressed by us all, Holmes showed signs of irresolution. He con tinued to walk up and down the room with his head sunk on his chest and his brows drawn down, as was his habit when lost in thought. “There will be no more murders,” he said at last, stopping abruptly and facing us. “You can put that consid eration out of the question. You have asked me if I know tho name of the assassin. I do. The mere knowing of his name is a small thing, however, compared with the power of laying our hands upon him. This I expect very shortly to do. I have good hopes of managing it through my own arrange ments; but it is a thing which needs delicate handling, for we have a shrewd and desperate man to deal with, who is supported, as I have had occasion to prove, by an other who is as clever as himself. As long as this man has no idea that any one can have a clew there is some chance of securing him; but if he had the slightest suspicion he would change his name and vanish in an in stant among the four million inhabit ants of this great city- Without mean ing to hurt any of your feelings, I am bound to say that I consider these tnen to be more than a match for the official force, and that is why I have not asked your assistance. If I fail I shall of course incur all the blame due to tbit omission; hut that 1 am prepared for. At present I am ready to promise that the instant I can communicate with you without endangering my own com binations I shall do so.” Gregson snd Lestrade seemed to b< far from satisfied by this assurance or by the depreciating allusion to the detective po|ioc. The former had flushed up to the roots of his flaxen hair, while th* other's beady eyes glistened with curiosity and resent ment. Neither of them hud time to speak, however, before there was a tap at the door and the spokesman of the street Arabs, young Wiggins, intro duced his insignificant anti unsavory person. “Please, sir," he said, touching his forelock, “J have the cab downstairs." “Good boy,” said Holmes, blandly, “Why don’t you introduce this pattern at Scotland Yard?” he continued, tak ing a pair of steel handcuffs from a • drawer. “See how beautifully the spring wortss. luoy fasten in an in stant.” "Tlu old pattern is good enough," remarked Lestrade. “if wc can find the man to put them on.” "Vcrygood, very good,” said Holmes, smiling. “The cabman may as well help me with my boxes. Just ask him to step up, Wiggins.” I was surprised to find my companion speaking as though he were about to set out on a journey, since he had not pilAKLUSToV cUMTUt A.ND ^ SOUTHERN RAILROAD CHABLER E. KIMBALL I never NORTH. SOUTH. 1 2 A.M. P.M. Lv 7.80 Charleston 8.45 Ar“ 8.40 Pregnali’s 7.2J 10.47 Sumter 5.27 12.05 Darlington 4.12 12 5« Benneftsvtlle 8.21 1.20 Gibson 2.5? 1.47 Hamlet 2 30 Ar 0 00 Raleigh 10.15 Lv P.M P.M. No. 1 cotiniiccts with Seaboard Air Line at Hamlet tor Kaleigli Wilmington, Charlotte, Shel by, Koutherfordton ; and at Charlotte with R A D. Vestibule Limited lor Washington and New York. Passen gers can take sleepers at Charlotte at 4 : tU p. m. No. 2 p issengers by this train have through iSleeper* New York to Char lotte, connects witli 8. A. L. at Ham- let from Charlotte, Kaleigli and N’.ir'n, and from Wilmington, con- •lecti- with S. (’. Ky. at P-egnalU for hai-lestnn, Columbia, Augusta and the \Vest Dinner at llaiuiet C. MILLAKD, Ruperiutendent. ‘ JUST GIVE ME A HCLP WITH THIS BUCKLE, CABMAN." said anything to me about it. There was a small portmanteau in the room, and this lie pulled out and began to strap, lie was busily engaged at it when the cabman entered the room. “Justgive mea help with this buckle, cabman,” he said, kneeling over hia task, and never turning his head. The fellow came forward with a somewhat sullen, defiant air. and put down his hands to assist. At that in stant there was a sharp click, the jang ling of metal, aim Sherlock Holmes sprang to his feet again. “Gentlemen,” he cried, with flushing eyes, “let me introduce you to Mr. Jefferson Hope, the murderer of Enoch Drebber apd Joseph Stangerson." The whole thing occurred in a mo ment—so quickly that I had no time to realize it. I have a vivid recollection of that instant, of Holmes’ triumphant expression and the ring of his voice, of the cabman’s dazed, savage face, as he glared at the glittering handcuffs, winch had appeared as if by magic upon his wrists. For a second or two we might have been a group of statues. Then with an inarticulate roar of fury, the prisoner wrenched himself free from Holmes’ grasp, and hurled him self through the window. Woodwork and glass gave way before him; but before lie got quite through, Gregson, Lestrade and Holmes sprang upon him tike so many stag-hounds. He was dragged back into the room, and then commenced s ter rific conflict. So powerful and so fierce was lie, that the four of ns were shaken off again and again. He ap peared to have the convulsive strength of a man in an epileptic fit. His face and hands were terribly mangled by the passage through the glass, but loss of blood had no effect in diminishing his resistance. It was not until Lc- strade succeeded In getting his hand inside his neck-cloth and half strang ling him that we made him realize that his struggles were of no avail; and even then we felt no security until ws had pinioned his feet as well as his hands. That done, we rose to our feet breathless and panting. “We have his cab,” said Sherlock Holmes. “It will serve to take him to Scotland Yard. And now, gentlemen,” he continued, with a pleasant smile, “we have reached the end of our little mystery. You are very welcome to put any questions that you like tome now, and there is no danger that I will re fuse to answer them.” [TO BE CONTINUED.] ■ Bucklen s Arnica Salve. The Best Salve in the world for Cuts, Bruises, Sores. Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruptions, and positively cures Piles, or no pay required. It is guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction, or money refunded. Price 25 cents r box. For sale at Willcox & lo’s drugstore. ES Why Is It? ' That i'az most successful busi ness rcca are the strongest ! believers in I.ife Insurance ? I That they rr?,is attested by the I follow ing letter from a well ' known business man who held a Tontine Policy in the Equitable Life 1 POWELL & SLIDER. STArt:: and Fancy Grcx kries, GRAIN AND FLOUR. Amikvillk. N. C. Jan. 18,18M. Mr. W J Loudly Rock Hill, 8. C. Dka u Si r : I have accepted the cash value of my Tontlno Policy In the ' Equitable.'' which matured Jan 3d. t* 4. I desire to aay that I am very ** H pleased with the results, as an evidence of which 1 have applied for more assurance on same plan. Reapectfuily, W. F Snider If you are interested send your j age and let us give you figures | on a Tontine Policy. Address W. J. RODDEY. Manager, Department of Carolines, Rock Hill, 5. C. 0. Si D. and 0. A 8. KA1LRO U>8. In effect Dec 3, Through Parsenger Train. Leave Wadesboro 4.30 a m Bennett’s 4.51 a u' Morven’s . 5.04 a m McFarland . 5 17 a ni Cberaw 6.00 a ui Cash's 6.12 a tu Society Hill C.'zO a m Dove’s Floyd’s 6.41) a n> Darlington 7.00 u iu Palmetto . 7.11 a m Arrive Florence Leave Florence 7.15 p m Palmetto Darlington 7.3" p m Floyd’s 7.50 p m Dove’s 7 55 p in Society Hill 8 13 p m Cash’s Cheraw 8.50 p in McFarland 9.13 p m Morveu’s 9.89 p m Bennett’s 9.54 p in Arrive Wadesboro 10.15 p m Freight Train. Leave Florence 7.80 a in Darlington 8.40 a m Arrive Chet aw 11.20 a m Leave Cheraw 1.00 p m Darlington 4.00 p id Arrive Florence 5.00 p tu A. F. RAVENEL, President. l^TORTHEASTERN RAILROAD. LN! In effect Jan. 11, 1894. SOUTH BOUND. No. 61 Leave Florence 7 45 a tu Kingstree 8.58 a m Lanes Arrive Charleston No. 85. Leave Florence Lanes 4.52 a m Arrive Charleston 6.5) a m No. 23. Leave Florence 7.25 p m Kingstree 8.37 p in Lanes 9.00 p in Arrive Charleston .11.00 p rn No. 53. Leave Lanes 7.05 p m Arrive Charleston 8.45 p m Train on C. & D. R. R. connects at Florence with No. 61 Train. NORTH BOUND. No. 78. Leave Charleston . 3.86 a in Lanes 5.30 a m Kingstree 5 52 a m Arrive Florence 7.10 a m No. 60 Leave Charleston . 5.00 p m Lanes . 7.05 p m Kingstree Arrive Florence . 8.50 p m No. 14. Leave Charleston 8.80 p m Lanes 5.29 p m Kingstree 5.45 p m Arrive Florence 6.45 p m No. 52. Leave Charleston 7.00 a m Arrive Lanes . 8.35 a in No. 52 runs through to Columbia via Central R. R. of S. C. No. 78 runs solid to Wilming ton, N. C., making close connection witn W. it W. U. R. for all points North. Train No. 14 runs via Wilson and Fayetteville—Short Line—and makes close connection for all points North. J. F. DIVINE. Gen. Supt. IV ILMINGTON, COLUMBIA I AUGUSTA RALROAD. In effect Dec. 3, 1893. SOUTH BOUND. XTARTSVILLE RAILROAD. In effect Dec 8,1898. DAILY MiraD TRAIN Leave Hartsville fl.00 a m Jovann 6.90 a m Floyd’s 6.85 a Arrive Darlington 7.20 a in Leave Darlington - 6.30 p Floyd's 8.( 0 p m Jovann — 8.2 ' p m Arrrive Hartsville 8.40 p m J. F. DIVINE, Geo. 8up4. Leave Wilmington No. 55. Marion Arrive Florence No. 50. Leave Florence Sumter Arrive Columbia No. 58. Leave Florence 7.45 a in Arrive Snmter No. 52. I-cave Sumter Arrive Columbia igh ton via Central Railroad; leaving Lanes 8.40 a m, Manning 9 18 a in. NORTH BOUND. No. 51. Leave Columbia 4.30 a m Sumter 6.57 a in Arrive Florenee...»^.^.....„. 7.15 a m No. 56 Leave Florence 7.40 a in Marlon 8.23 a m Arrive Wilmington 11.10 s in No. 58. Leave Columbia 4.20 p m Arrive Sumter 5.35 p in No. 69. Leave Colombia . Sumter ...... 1^45 p in Arrive Florence.... 0.65 p in i thiouKu uo vnarleston via central Railroad, arriving Man ning 6.15 p m Lanes 7.00 p ir, oluudeeton8.45 pm. Trains on Manchester and Augusta B. R , leave Sumter daily except Sun day. 10.50 a. m., arrive Rimini 11:59 a. m. Returning leave Rimini l.COp. m.. arrive Sumter 2:10 p. m. Trains on Wilmington, Chadboura and Conway Railroad leave Ohad- hourn at 10.10 a in, arrive at Con wav 12 30 p m, returning leave Conway at 2:00 p. m., arrive Chadbonm 4:50p m. Leave Cbadboora 7.00 a m cud 5 15 pm, arrive at Hub 7 45a ui si <1 6.00 p m. Returning leave Hub 8 i m and 6.80 p m, an fee at Chad!, it 9.00 a m and 7.15 p m. Dally "-jaw * u * « Urr* OTTOS, feirt