Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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sm, : ^(-FOU R, aficAo#. gBiw-of* CHAPTER VL HOLMES GIVES A DEMO A £ TRA- TIOX. ‘•Noiv, Watson,” said Holmes, nib bing his hands, “we have half an hour to ourselvys. Let us make good use of it. My case is, as I have told you, almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confldence. Simple as the case seems now, there may be something deeper underlying it” “Simple!” I ejaculated. "Surely,” said he, with something of the air of a clinical professor expound ing to his class. “Just sit in the cor ner there, that your footprints may not complicate matters. Now to work. In the first place, how did these folks come, and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. How of the window?” Ho carried the lamp ceross to it, muttering his obser vations aloud the while, but address ing them to himself rather than to me. “Window is snibbed on the inner side. Framework is solid. No hinges at the aide. Let us open it. No water pipe near. Roofquiteoutofreach. Yetaman has mounted by the window. It rained a little last night. Here is the print of a mold upon the sill. And here is a circular muddy mark, and here again upon the floor, and here again-by the table. See here, Watson! This is re ally a very pretty demonstration.” I looked at the round, well-defined muddy discs. “That is not a foot mark,” said I. “It is something much more valuable to us. It is the impress! >n of a wooden stump. Yon see here ou the sill is the boot mark, a heavy boot with a broad metal heel, and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe.” “It is the wooden-legged man.” “Quite so. But there has been some one else—a very able and efficient ally. Could you scale that wall, doctor?” I looked out of the open window. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house. We were a good sixty feet from the ground, and, look where I would, I could see no foothold, nor as much as a crevice in the brick work. “It is absolutely impossible,” I an swered. “Without aid it is so. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good, stout rope which I see in the corner, securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. Then, I think, if yon were an active man, you might swarm np, wooden leg and all. You would depart, of course, in the same fashion, and your ally would draw up the rope, untie it from the hook, shut the window, snib it on the inside, and get away in the way that he originally came. As a minor point, it may be noted,” he continued, fingering the rope, “that our wooden-legged friend, though a fair climber, was not a professional sailor. His hands were far from horny. My lens discloses more than one blood mark, especially toward the end of the rope, from which I gather that he slipped down with such velocity that he took the skin off his hands.” “This is all very well,” said I, "but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?” "Yes, the ally!” repeated Holmes, pensively. “There are features of in terest about this ally. He lifts the case from the regions of the common place. I fancy that this ally breaks fresh ground in the annals of crime in this country—though parallel cases suggest themselves from India, and, if my memory serves me, from Senegam- bia." “How came he, then?” I reiterated. “The door is locked, the window is in accessible. Was it through the chim ney?” "The grate is much too small,” he answered. “I had already considered that possibility.” "How then?” 1 persisted “You will not apply my precept,” he Said,shaking his head. “How often have I said to you that when you have elimi nated the Impossible, whatever re mains, however improbable, must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door, the window, or the chimney. We also know that he could not hav • been concealed in the room, as there is no concealment pos sible. W'hence, then, did he come?' “He came through the hole in the roof," I cried. “Of course he did. He must have done so. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me, wo shall now extend our researches to the room above—the secret room in which the treasure was found.” He mounted the steps, and. seizing rafter with either hand, he swung him self up into the garret. Then, lying on his face, he reached down for the lamp and held it while I followed him. The chamber in which we found our selves was about ten feet one way by six the other. The floor was formed by the rafters, with thin lath-and-plaster between, so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. The roof ran up to an apex, and was evidently the inner shell of the true roof of the house. There was no furniture of any sort, and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. “Here you are, you see,” said Sher lock Holmes, putting his hand against the sloping wall. “This is a trap-door which leads out onto the roof. I can press it back, and here is the roof it self, sloping at a gentle angle. This, then, is the way by which Number One entered. Let ns ’ec if we can find Some other traces of his Individuality." Ue held down the lamp to the floor, knd as he did so I saw for the second time that night a startled, surprised look come over his face. For myself, aa I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot—clear, well defined, per fectly formed, bnt scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. “Holmes," I said, in a whisper, “a child has done this horrid thing.” He had recovered his self-possession in an instant. “I was staggered for the moment,” he said, “but the thing i* quite natural Mr memory failed we, or I should have heen ame 10 rore- tell it. There is nothing more to be learned here. Let us go down.” “What is your theory, then, as to those footmarks?” I asked, eagerly, when we had regained the lower room .once more. "My dear Watson, try a little analy sis yourself,” said he, with a touch of Impatience. “You know my methods. Apply them, and it will be instructive to compare results." “I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts,” I answered. “It will be clear enough to you soon,” he said, in an off-hand way. “I think that there is nothing else of impor tance here, but I will look.” He he held down the lamp to the floor. whipped out his lens and a tape meas ure, and hurried about the room on his knees, measuring, comparing, examin ing, with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks, and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. So swift, silent and furtive were his movements, like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent, that I could not but think what terrible criminal he would have made had he tui*ned his energy and sagacity against the law, instead of ex erting them in its defense. As he hunted about, he kept muttering to himself, and finally he broke out Into load crow of delight. "We are certainly in luck,” said he. “We ought to have very little trouble now. Number One has had the misfor tune to tread in the creosote. You can s. tt the outline of the edge of his smad foot here at the side of this evil-smell ing mess. The carboy has been cracked, you see, and the stuff has leaked out.” What then?” I asked. Why, we have got him, that’s all,” said he. “I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world’s end. If a pack cat^ track a trailed herring across a shire, how far can a spicially- trained hound follow so pungent, a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. The answer should give us the— But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law." Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below, and the hall door shut with a loud crash. Before they come,” raid Holmes, “just put your hand here on this poor fellow’s arm, and here on his leg. What do you feel?” “The muscles are as hard as a board,” answered. “Quite so. They are in a state of ex treme contraction, far exceeding the usual rigor mortis. Coupled with this distortion of the face, this Hippocratic smile, or ‘risus sardonicus.’ as the old writers called it, whatconclusion would it suggest to your mind?” “Death from some powerful vegeta ble alkaloid,” I answered—"some strychuine-like substance which would produce tetanus." "That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face. On getting into the room I at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system. As you saw, I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the s«$lp. You observe that the part struck was that which would be turned towards the hole in the ceiling if the man were erect in his chair. Now examine this thorn." I took it up gingerly end held it in the light of the lantern. It was long, sharp and black, with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. "Is this an English thorn?” he asked. “No, it certainly is not.” "With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. But here are the regulars; so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat.” As he spoke, the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage, and a very stout, portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room. He was red-faced, burly and plethoric, with a pair of very small twinkling eyes which looked keenly out from behind swollen and puffy pouches. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform, and by the still palpitating Thaddens Sholto. “Here’s a business!” he cried, in a muffled husky voice. “Here’s a pretty business! But who are all these? Why, the house seems to be as full as a rab bit-warren.’’ “I think you very much recollect me, Mr. Athelney Jones,” said Holmes, quietly. ' “Why, of course I do!” he wheezed "It’s Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the theo rist. Remember you! I’ll never forget bow you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishop- gate Jewel case. It’s true you set us on the right track; but you’ll own now that it wa: more by good luck than good guidance.” “It was a piece of very simple rear soning." “Oh, come, now, come! Never be ashamed to own up. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here—no room for theories. How lucky that I happened to be out at Norwood over another case! I was at ! the station when the measure arrived. VV hat d’you think the man (Uen OTT “Oh, this is hardly a case for me to theorize over," said Holmes, dryly. “No, no. Still, we can’t deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. Dear me! Door locked. I understand. Jewels worth half a million missing. How was the window?" "Fastened; but there are steps on the siU.” “Well, well, if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. That’s common sense. Man might have died in a fit; but then the jewels are missing. Ha! I have a theory. These flashes come upon me at times. Just step outside, sergeant, and you, Mr. Sholto. Your friend can remain. What do you think of this, Holmes? Sholto was, on his own con fession, with his brother last night. The brother died in a fit, on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. How’s that?” “On which the dead man very con siderately got up and locked the door on the inside." “Hum! There’s a flaw there. Let us apply common sense to the matter. This Thaddeus Sholto was with his brother; there was a quarrel; so much we know. The brother is dead and .lie jewels are gone. Si much also we know. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddens left him. His bed had not been slept in. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. His appearance is—well, not at tractive. You see that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus. The net be gins to close upon him." "You are not quite in possession of the facts yet,” said Holmes “This splinter of wood, which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned, was in the man’s scalp where you still see the mark; this card, inscribed as you see it, was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. How does all that fit into your theory?” “Confirms it in every respect,” said the fat detective, pompously. “House is full of Indian curiosities. Thaddeus brought this up, and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. The card is some ho“us-pocus— a blind, as like as not. The only ques tion is, how did he depart? Ah, of course, here is a hole in the roof.” With great activity, considering his bulk, he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret, and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door. "He can find something,” remarked Holmes, shrugging his shoulders. “He has occasional glimmerings of reason. IT n’y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de I'esprit!” “You see!" said Athelney Joues, re appearing down the steps again. "Facts are better than mere theories, after all. My view of the case is con firmed. There is a trap-door commu nicating with the roof, aod it is partly open.” "It was I who opened it.” "Oh, indeed! You did notice it, then?” He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery. “Well, whoever no- “Your presence will be ol great serv ice to me,” he answered. “We shall work the case out independently and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare’s-nest which he may choose to construct. When you have dropped Miss Morstan I wish you to go on to No. 3 Pinchin lane, down near the wa ter's edge at Lambeth. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird staffer’s; Sherman is the name. Y'ou wiU see a weasel holding a young rab bit in the window. Knock old Sher man up and tell him, with my compli ments, that I want Toby at once. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you." “A dog, I suppose.” “Yes—a queer mongrel with a most amazing power of scent. I would rather have Toby’s help than that of the whole detective force of London.” “I shall bring him, then,"said I. “It Is one now. I ought to bo lick before three, if I can get a fresh horse.” "And I,” said Holmes, “shall see whnt 1 can learn from Mrs. Bcrnstone, and from the Indian servant, who, Mr. Thaddeus tells me, sleeps in the next garret. Then I shall study the great Jones’s methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. ‘Wir Bind ge- wohut dass die Menschen verhohuen was sie nicht verstehen.’ Ooethe is al ways pithy.” [TO BE CONTINUED.J AYER’S Cherry Pectoral SAVED HiS LIFE So says Mr. T. M. Reed, a highly respected Merchant of Mid dletown, III., of a Young Man who was supposed to be in Consumption. “One of my customers, some years ago. had a son who had all the symptoms of consumi on. The usual medicines alTordeu him no relief, and lie steadily failed until he was tillable to leave his IksL His mother applied to me for some remedy and 1 recom- o; mended Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral. The young man took it according to directions, and soon began to improve until be became veil and strong.”—T. M. Heed, Mid dletown, ill. “Some time ago, I caught a severe cold, mv throat and lungs were badly inflamed, and I liau a terrible cough. It was supposed that I was a victim of consump tion, and my friends had little hope of recovery, 1 hit I bought a bottle of Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral, took it, and was entirely cured. No doubt, it saved my'life.’’— L Jones, Emerts Cove, Tenn. Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral Received Highest Awards AT THE WORLD’S FAIR pooooooooooooooooooooooo So Simple. ft “CONFIRMS IT El EVERT RESPECT. ticed it, it shows how our gentleman got away. Inspector! ’ “Yes, sir,” from the p-issage. “Ask Mr. Sholto to step this way.— Mr. Sholto, It is my duty to Inform you that anything which you may say will be used against j ou. I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother.” “There, now! Didn't I tell yon?” cried the poor little man, throwing ont his hands and looking from one to the other of ns. “Don’t trouble yourself about It, Mr. Sholto,” said Holmes. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge.” “Don't promise too much, Mr. Theo rist—don’t promise too much!” snapped the detective. “You may find it a hard er matter than you think.” "Not only will I clear him, Mr. Jones, but I will make you a free pres ent of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night. His name, I have every reason to believe, Is Jonathan Small. He Is a poorly-educated man, small, active, with his right leg off and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side. His left boot has a coarse, square-toed sole, with an iron band round the heel. He Is a middle-aged man. much sunburned, and has been a convict. These few in dications may be of some assistance to yon, coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand. The other man—” "Ah! the other man?” asked Athel- ncy Jones, In a sneering voice, bnt im pressed none the less, as I could easily see, by the precision of the other’s manner. "Ls a rather curious person," said Sherlock Holmes, turning upon his heel. "I hope before long to be able to intro- duce you to the pair of them. A word with you, Watson.” He led me out to the head of the stair. “This unexpected occurrence," he said, “has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey.” “I have just been thinking so,” I an swered. “It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house." “No. Yon must escort her home. Bhe lives with Mrs Cecil Forrester In Lower Camberwell; so it Is not very far. I will wait for you here if you will drive ont again. Or perhaps you are too tired?” “By no means. I don’t think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. 1 have seen something of the rough side of life, but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. I should like, however, to ace the matter through with vou. now that I have got so far.” Nine times out of ten whenwe are out of sorti our trou bles can be removed by that re liable old medicine, PRICES THAT WILL PAPdALYZE ALL COMPETITION! STATIONERY. 24 Sheets not- 1 j. ipor, .01 12Goodenvel i s. .01 1 Bottle best ml;, .03 12 Good lead pencils, .03 12 ” ” ” .10 24 Sheets Gib note paper, .04 24 Commercial envelopes, .04 24 9-inch, legal envelopes, .05 1 Receipt book, 60 receipts, .08 1 lOxlO-inch scrap book, .10 13G Pageblankbooks,indexed.18 100 ” ” ” ” .14 500 ” Ledgers, Counter books, journals, blotters &c., 10 cents and up. Cannot mention half; come and see. A big job in novels and other books by best authors. Webster’s Dictionaries and family Bibles to go cheap. TOILET GOODS. 5 Cakes fine toilet soap, (1 cent each.) Dr. Ningua’s magnetic complexion soap, only 1 Cake cuticle soap, 3 Cakes buttermilk soap, 3 ” Turkish bath soap, 1 Fine tooth brush. No end to brushes, combs, h a i f curlers, powders, hair ointments and such goods at half price. 1 Paper sewing needles, 1 ” pins, .01, .02 and 1 Leather belt, 2 Dozen dress buttons, 1 ” safety pins, .03 and .05 A never-ending variety of small not ons that can not be mentioned. CORSET DEPARTMENT Just think of a fine summer corset for only 44 cents! Corset Brown’s Iron Bitters, which for more than 20 years has been curing many people ofDyspepsia, Biliousness, Ma laria, impure Blood, Neural gia, Headache, Liver and Kid ney troubles. It’s the peculiar combination of iron, the great strength-giver, with selected vegetable remedies of true value that makes Brown’s Iron Bitters so good for strengthen ing and purifying the system. It is specially good for women and children—it makes them strong and rosy. Frown’* Iron Bluer* I* pleasant to Uke, and It will not Main the teeth nor cause constipation. See the crossed red lines on the wrapper. Our book, "How to Lira a Hundred Yean," tells ail about It; tree lor *c. atamp. to Blown Chemical Co.. Baltimo**. Met .05 fronts,, only 5 cents. Corsets! We have them from 24 and up. HOSIERY. We have first-class hose for 5 cents per pair. Men’s seam less socks, 5 cents. All grades up to silk stockings. LADIES’ READY-MADE GARMENT DEPARTMENT. These goods are first class, well made, and good fits. Think of a handsome wrapper for G5 cents; a dandy, full sleeves, collars and trimmed, only 98 cents; a “smasher,” ribbon trimmed, only $2.35; a “hum- tier”,—it dazzles,—5 rows rib- nn, round collar, only $2.55. Dongola button, 85 cents; grain button, solid or no go, 75 cents. Slippers, oxfords, black and tan, for ladies, misses and children, all prices; come and see. MEN'S AND 20Y3’ HATS. In this line we have straw and felt. Think of a $2.50 fine crush hat for $1.28. They were com pared last week; that settled it; they are going like hot cakes. Straw hats from G ceius up. Fine parasols, silk and ging ham, 35 cents and up. Fans, all prices. Umbrellas, silk and ; gingham. 55 cents and up. Think of a heavy duck shirt for only 25 cents’ A big lot of shirts selling way below value. All kindsof underwear at prices Pants cloth, 7 cents and up that makes it go the way it should and is going. MILLINERY DEPARTMENT All we can say of this superb stock is that it is in the hands of Miss Hall, an expert trimmer, and the stock is selected from the best bouses. Our prices have no competition. A hand some hat sells as low us 50 cents; others, 50, 75 and up; all ready to wear. Handsome striped duck for men’s shirts, boys’ jackets, &c., only 71 cents. 40 inch Persian lawns, 71 cents. Best table oil cloth. 15 and 18 cents. LACE DEPARTMENT. 12,000 yards of woven Torchon i 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 19 cents .01 .04 .05 yard. Bolt, half price. All laces, .05 l white and cream, at half price. Embroideries, all widths; come and see it. SHOE DEPARTMENT. 140 cases. Think 01 a high cut, solid plow shoe for only 88 cents! A $3 calf for on’.’’ $1.78. Next and most important is our giant stock of summer dross fabrics in Organdies, Foulards, Pogees and Sateens in all the latest patterns. Also draperies, piiuts, &c., at prices not easily matched. If we should receive advice from our Broadway headquarters to sell goods at manufacturers’ prices and t.ke out our profit, we would do it. per j This places us absolutely beyond competition. See the effect: j fruit of the loom muslins, only ] G cents. We make our profit standard. Calico, 41 cents per j yard, in lots of not less than 10 ! yards of one piece; as much more as you want. We handle only standard prints; come and see and be convinced. Yes, the RACKET MAN has returned with $15,000 Worth of the latest styles of of all kinds bought at prices that defy competition: with us it is BIZ BUST! We are not going to he “lost in the shuffle or soaked in the soup;” not if we know it. We are here to stay and compete with all comers, stock against stock and dollar against dollar. We are after the H aving purchased the Plant of the Atlantic Phos phate Company, together with the entire stock, brands and (rood-will, we take this method of thanking the friends and patrons of the Chicora Fertilizer Company for their cordial support and patronage in the past, and now solicit the patronage of the Atlantic Phosphate Company, as well as the Chicora brands, guaranteeing that, under the management of the Chicora, the reputation earned by the Atlantic brands will be fully sus tained. CHICORA FERTILIZER CO., Charleston, S. C. Geo. A. Wagener, General Manager Final Notice. N otice is hereby given that, on April 28th next ensuing, I ppiy iing- wilf file my final account and a { _ _ to the Judge of Probate for Darling ton County for letter, lismissory as Administrator de bonis non of the es tate of John G. Fraser, deceased. GKO. H. EDWARDS, Administrator di uouis uon- M2«—4t. and we expect to get them by giving value for them; we dont want them on any other terms. Come and see us and you will find us death on high prices: yes, “DEJiTH VJV THE MCKEM.” We take no man’s dust on the trade track without value returned. We won’t be bluffed out of the business game. We are now ready to show you the largest and best assorted stock of SUMMER GOODS AND MILLINERY you ever saw here. They are all marked at a low price. Come and size them up, and you will see WE ARE FIXED TO STAY IH THE GAME! No fakements or shenanigan with us. “A fair deal .0 all’ CREDIT, NO DISCOUNT. We please, or it’s “no go.” is our motto. NO BAITS, NO RESPECTFULLY, J. J. SHEPHRD, The acknowledged leader of low prices. No over quotations below.