Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 308, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1912 — Page 2

The Daily Republican Etwj D*j Except Sunday HEALEY » CLARK, Publisher*. RENSSELAER. INDIANA.

REMINISCENCES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES %y ARTHUR CONAN DOYLX Illustrations by V. L. BARNES

ADVENTURE OF THE DEVIES FOOT

(Continued.) "Our next obvious step is to check, so far as we can, the movements of Mortimer Tregennis after he left the room. In this there is no difficulty, and they seem to be above suspicion. Knowing my methods as you,do, you were, of course, conscious of the somewhat clumsy water-pot expedient by which I obtained a clearer impress of his foot than might otherwise have been possible. The Wet, sandy path took It admirably. Last night was also wet, you will remember* and it was not difficult—having obtained a sample print—to pick out his track among others and to follow his movements. He appears to have walked swiftly in the direction of the vicarage. “If, then, Mortimer Tregennis disappeared from the soene, and yet some outside person affected the card players, how can we reconstruct that person, and how was such an impression of horror conveyed? Mrs. Porter may be eliminated. She is evidently harmless. Is there any evidence that some one crept up to the garden window and in some manner produced so terrific an effect that he drove those who saw it out of their senses? The only suggestion in this direction comes from Mortimer Tregennis himself, who says that his brother spoke about some movement in the garden. That is certainly remarkable, as the night was rainy, cloudy and dark. Anyone who had the design to alarm these people would be compelled to plaoe his very face against the glass before he could be seen. There is a three-foot flower border outside this window, but no Indication of a footmark. It is difficult to imagine, then, how an have made so terrible an impression upon the company, nor have we fdhnd any motive tor so strange and elaborate an attempt You perceive our difficulties, Watson?” “They are only too clear,” I answered, with conviction. “And yet, with a little more material, we may prove that they are not Insurmountable,” said Jlohnes. “I fancy that among your extensive archives, Watson, you may find Borne which were nearly as obscure. Meanwhile, we shall put the case aside until data are available, and devote the morning to the pursuit of neolithic man." I may have commented upon my friend’s power of mental detachment, but never have I wondered at it more than upon that spring morning in Cornwall when for two hours he discoursed upon celts, arrowheads and shards as lightly as if no sinister mystery was waiting for his solution. It was not until we had returned in the afternoon to our cottage that we found a visitor awaiting us, who soon brought our minds back to the matter in hand. Neither of us needed to be told who that visitor was. The huge

"You Are Very Inquisitive, Mr, Holmes."

body, the craggy and deeply seamed ffcce with the fierce eyes and hawklike nose, the grizzled hair which nearly brushed our cottage celling, the beard —golden at the fringes and white near the lips, save for the nicotine stain from his perpetual cigarall these were as well known in London as in Africa, and could only be associated with the personality of Dr. Leon 8 tern dale, the great lion hunter and explorer.

We had beard of his presence in the district, and had once or twice caught sight of his tall figure upon the moorland paths. He made no advances to us, however, ( nor would ,we .have dreamed of doing so to Him, as it was well known that it was his love of seclusion which caused him to* spend the greater part of the intervals between his journeys in a small bungalow buried in the lonely wood of Beauchamp Arrianoe. Here, amid his. books and his maps, he lived an absolutely lonely life, attending to his own simple wants, and paying little apparent heed to the affairs of his neighbors. It was a surprise to me, therefore, to hear him asking Holmes, In an eager voioe, whether he had made any advance in his reconstruction of this mysterious episode. "The oounty police are utterly at fault,” said he; "but perhaps your wider experience has suggested some conceivable explanation. My only claim to being taken into your confidence is that during my many residences here I have come to know this family of Tregennis very well —indeed, upon my Cornish mother’s side I could call them cousins—and their strange fate has naturally been a great shock to me. I may tell you that I had got as far as Plymouth upon my way to Africa, but the news reached me this morning, and I came straight back again to help in the inquiry.” * Holmes raised his eyebrows. “Did you lose your boat through it?” “I will take the next.” “Dear me! that is friendship indeed.” “I tell you they were relatives.” “Quite so—cousins of your mother. Was your baggage aboard the ship?” "Some of it, but the main part at the hotel.” “I see. But surely this event could not have found its wayfinto the Plymouth morning papers?” "No, sir; I had a telegram.” “Might I ask from whom?” A shadow passed over the gaunt face of the explorer. , “You are very Inquisitive, Mr. Holmes.” “It is my business.” With An effort Dr. Stemdale recovered his ruffled composure.' “I have no objection to telling you,”

By It Sat the Dead Man.

he Bald. “It was Mr. Roundhay, the vicar, who sent ins the telegram ifliich recalled me.” “Thank you,” said Holmes. “I may say, in answer to your original question, that I have not cleared my mind entirely on the subject of this case, but I have every hope of reaching some conclusion. It would be premature to say more.” “Perhaps you would tell me if your suspicions point in any particular direction?” “No, I can hardly answer that." “Then I have wasted my time, and need not prolong my visit.” The famous doctor strode out of our cottage in considerable ill-humor, and within five minutes Holmes had followed him. I saw him no more until the evening, when he returned with a slow step and haggard face which assured me that he had made no great progress with his investigation. He glanced at a telegram which awaited him, and threw it into the g r ate. “From the Plymouth hotel, Watson,” he said. “I learned the name of it from the vicar and I wired to make oertain that Dr. Leon Sterndale’s account was true. It appears that he did indeed spend last night there, and that he has actually allowed some of his baggage to go on to Africa, while he returned to be present at this investigation. What do you make of that, Watson?" “He is deeply Interested.” “Deeply interested —yes. There Is a thread here which we have not yet grasped, and which might lead us through the tangle. Cheer up, Watson, for I am very sure that our material has not'Het all come to hand. When it does, we may soon leave our difficulties behind us.” Little did I think how soon the words of Holmes would be realised, or how strange and sinister would be that new development which opened up an entirely fresh line of Investigation. I was shaving at my window in the morning when I heard the rattle of hoofs, and, looking up, saw a dog cart coming at a gallop down the road. It pulled up at our door, and our friend the vicar sprang from it and rushed up our garden path. Holmes was already dressed, and we hastened down to meet him. Our visitor was so excited that he could hardly articulate, but at last in gasps and bursts his tragic story came out of him. "We are devil-ridden, Mr. Holmes! My poor parish is devil-ridden!” be erlsd. "Satan himself is loose In Iti

We are given over Into his hands!” He danoed about in his agitation, a ludicrous object If It were not for his ashy face and startled eyes. Finally he shot out bis terrible news. “Mr. Mortimer Tregennis has died during the night, and with exactly the same symptoms aB the rest of the family." . Holmes sprang to his feet, all energy in an instant "Can you fit us both Into your dogcart?” "Yes, I can." “Then, Watson, we will postpone

The Lamp, Which Was an Ordinary Standard, He Examined With Minute Care.

our breakfast Mr. Roundhay, we are entirely at your disposal. Hurry—hurry, before things get disarranged.” The lodger occupied two rooms at the vicarage, which were in an angle by themselves, the one above the other. Below was a large sittingroom; above, his bedroom. They looked out upon a croquet lawn which came up to the windows. We had arrived before the doctor or the polioe, so that everything was absolutely undisturbed. Let me describe exactly the scene as we 4 saw it upon that misty Marcl* morning. It has left an impression which can never be effaced from my mind. The atmosphere of the room was of a horrible and depressing stuffiness. The servant who had first entered had thrown up the window, or it would have been even mord intolerable. This might partly be due to the fact that a lamp stood flaring and smoking on the center table. Beside it sat the dead man, leaning back in his chair, his thin beard projecting, his spectacles pushed up on to his forehead, and his lean, dark face turned towards the window and twisted into the same distortion of terror which had marked the features of his dead sister. His limbs were convulsed and his fingers contorted, as though he had died in a very paroxysm of Dear. He was fully clothed, though there were signs that his dressing had been done in a hurry. We had already learned that his bed had been slept in, and that the tragic, end had come to him in the early morning. One realized the red-hot energy which underlay Holmes’ phlegmatic exterior when I saw the sudden change whjch came over him from the moment that he entered the fatal apartment. In an instant he was tense and alert, his eyes shining, his face set, his limbs quivering with an eager activity. He was out on the lawn, in through the windoV v room, and up into the bedroom, for all the world like a dashing foxhound drawing a cover. In the bedroom he made a rapid cast around, and ended by throwing open the window, which appeared to give him some fresh cause for excitement, for he leaned out of it with loud ejaculations of interest and delight. Then he rushed down the stair, out through the open window, threw himself upon his face on the lawn, sprang up and into the room once more, all with the energy of the hunter who is at the very heels of his quarry. The lamp, which was an ordinary standard, he examined with minute care, making certain measurements upon its bowl. He carefully scrutinized with his lens the talo shield which covered the top of the chimney, and scraped off some ashes which adhened to its upper surface, putting some of them into an envelope,' which he plaoed in his pocketbook. Finally, just as the doctor and the official police put in an appearance, he beckoned to the vicar and we all three went out upon the lawn. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

The Slayer of Miaco.

One of the most peculiar cases ever brought to the attention of the court of first instance recently came to light in Pangasinan Province. Pedro Pabaira, with two others, was! accused of the murder of Bemabe Laco, and on being brought to trial the first pleaded guilty, there being an aggravating circumstance of treachery, and was sentenced to 20 years in Bilibid. Now it comes to light that the deceased was Miaco, an outlaw, who deserted from the constabulary some time ago, taking with him various arms and accoutrements and who had engaged in outlawry since that time. There was a reward of 500 pesos out for his capture, dead or alive. The, question now is. Should the prisoner serve his term for killing a fel-low-citizen, or should he be liberated and given a reward for killing an enemy to society?—Manila Weekly Times.

Good Habit to Cultivate.

The difficulty of knowing what not to say is never so great as the dUb culty of not saying it.—Pack,

FORMER CHAMPION FIGHTER NOW FARMER

Happy and contented, John L. Sullivan, former champion of the prize ring and the most popular fighter who ever lived, leads the peaceful life of a farmer on the outskirts of Abington, Mass. The old gladiator has a 70acre plot on which he has just harvested a fine crop and he is exceedingly proud of his success as a tiller of the soil. John L. is now fifty-four, but he does not look within ten years of this age. His cheeks are as ruddy, his eyes as clear and his step as springy as in the days when he was the idol of the masses. Tfye Sullivan of today is an entirely different man from the Sullivan of the old days. When he was the champion of the prize ring John L. was known as tjhe greatest spender of his time. He made big money, as he was the greatest attraction from the pugilistic standpoint that has appeared in public and he spent it as fast as it came. He is credited with having squandered a million dollars in the heyday of his fame. But all of that Is past and forgotten. John L. has ridden on the front seat of the water wagon for several years past and today can draw his check for something like SIOO,OOO. “Nothing would ever Induce me to return to city life,” said Sullivan on his farm in Abington recently. It is two years since Sullivan went to the farm, after marrying a charim ing woman whom he credits with having made a man of him. The first year he just wandered over his 70 acres and wondered if there was in him the stuff that makes good farmers. “A year ago I decided that there was,” he said not long ago. “And, the results have proved that I had the right hunch.” Sullivan has grown potatoes enough almost to keep the town of Abington

Gossip Among Sports

Publicity is the surest third league exterminator. A 1 Palzer flickered out as bright hope just as there seemed to be no need of one. Golf is uncertain, says C. Evans. There are many would-be golfers who •will agree with this. 1 Bat Nelson admits he is not a hasbeen! George Memsic, who is differently constituted, says he is. „ Dartmouth never will be dropped by Harvard so long as football remains slightly different from ping pong. Del Gainer, first baseman of the Detroit Tigers, says his lame wrist Is mended and that he will be in fine shape for the coming campaign. MArty O’Toole has returned from a visit to his Oregon prune orchard, for which he headed right after the close of the National league season. It is hard luck that America will have to stand for having Billy Papke and Frank Klaus battle in Paris. Bouts like that ought to be staged in some one’s barn. Zbyszko, through Jack Herman: "I challenge Gotch and Mahmount for the world’s title.” Gotch: “Duck hunting is fine.” Klank: “Mahmout is still fighting the Turks in Turkey.”

John L. Sullivan.

supplied for the winter. He has hens which he says are real hens, be cause they lay and turn themselves into the finest food in the land, and he has about every variety of vege table that can be raised in the New England climate. “I have the best crop 'of potatoes there Is around here and I have it because I worked hard,” said the former champion. “The only way to get anything is to work hard for it. The great trouble with the young men in the ebuntry today, especially those who have come to town from the city laden down with ideas obtained from the newspapers and magazines, is that they think all they have to do Is to put a seed into the ground and watch it grow. That is bad dope. “Some of the wise ones told me after I had got started that I could not raise watermelons. What happened? Well, I raised some that even the critics admitted were the best they ever tasted. We read and hear a lot about going to the great west and to Canada and taking up farms. Right here in New England there are abandoned farms, hundreds of them, that will yield as good a living, if properly worked, as anything there Is in the west or Canada. “Any man who will devote the energy he- does to a job in the city to one of them will get a better living and be independent. He won’t get rich, perhaps, but he will be healthy, his wife and children will be healthy and happy and they will all live longer. Back to Mother Earth is my advice to the thousands who are only existing in the cities. The quicker they follow this advice the better it will* be for themselves and the social conditions of the country. My only regret is that I did not get wise to it earlier in my life.”

AVIATOR GETS FRENCH PRIZE

Henry Deutsch Purse Given to Andre Beaumont for Aviation Exploits—Many Candidates. The French Academy of Sports, a body which seeks to be in the athletic world what the Academie Francaise is to literature, had the task of awarding the Henry Deutsch annual prize of f 2,000 offered for the feat which aided most in‘the progress of humanity. The academy had a diversifled list of seats from which to choose. Aviation provided ten candidates. Other fields of sport were represented by Bouin, the foot rajeer, winner of the international cross-country race in England; the boxer Carpentier, who beat Young Josephs in England and Harry Lewis in Paris; the swimmer Burgess, who got acrosß the channel; Louis Percy, the world’s champion shot with a regulation army rifle, and Rallier de Baty, for his trip round the world In a small sailing Boat. The last named was a strong favorite, as his 18,000-mile trip in a 45ton ketch, with his brother and four sailors for company, was an extraordinary feat. Eventually, however, the academy awarded the prize to Andre Beaumont, otherwise Naval Lieutenant Conneau, for his aviation exploits.

Babe Borton, the first sacksr of the Sox, according to figures from the Western league, that he was the leading batsman of that organization. Zwilling, another youngster, who was given a trial with the Sox a few years ago, has been doing great work. He hit for an average of J4l.

Hard Hitters.

ZBYSZKO MAKES ANNUAL BID

Manager Herman Ready to Post) $5,000 to Bind Match With Qotch > —Two Clubs Offer Purses. V Jack Herman has again butted into) sporting circles. Incidentally Jack) has $5,000 in billet of large dendminai tion which he is mad to get rid of-j All he wants to do with that doughi is to post It as a forfeit —a sort oft bait to coax Frank Gotch back in tot the wrestling game. It Beems that Gotch is telling thot folks on hiß lowa farm that he intend® to retire with the championship, packed away in the barn. That’s whati Is worrying Herman. The latter iw guiding Zybszko through the maze® of the grappling sport and wants to get Gotch to give the Pole another! chance at the title. Manager Herman claims the management of the Salt Lake Amusementj company stands ready and*willing toi hang up a purse of $30,000 for ai match between the two Stars of the hammerlock division. In behalf of Zbyszko, Herman is agreeable to the offer and is perfectly willing to allow Gotch to dictate the terms. It can be winner take all, split any other way, or Iwill sign articles giving Gotch the lion’s share of the purse whether he wins or loses,” declares Herman. “You’ll have to admit that* Zbyszko stands second only to Gotch in the list, and it is only fair he be given & chance at the title. Naturally, if Gotch persists in his statement that he is through with the game I will claim the crown on behalf of my grap-

Zybszko, Polish Wrestler.

pier. That is not much more than an! empty honor, which, is not pleasing tot Zbyszko. “In addition to the Salt Lake offers the Pittsburgh A. C. is willing to hang; up a liberal purse for the match. Asi I said Gotch can do all the dictating ' regarding the division of the* purse. All Zbyszko wants is a chancei at the title.”

STAR IS BARRED FROM GAME

Terre Haute Physician Orders Mordecal Brown, Never to Take Part In Athletic Contest. Mordecai Brown, former leading pitcher of the Chicago Cubs and rated one of the great hurlers of all time, may never don a baseball uniform again except in the role of manager. “Brownie,” who went to Terr© Haute recently, consulted a physician, regarding his injured knee. “If you value the use of your limbs you will never take part in an athletic contest again,” said the physician. “The injury is of a serious nature and requires rest from all forms of strenuous exertion.” The passing of Brown takes from the national games a popular figure and robs the Cub fans of a pitching star who brought world’s laurels to Chicago. Brown was known to fame

Mordecai Brown.

as the “Three-Fingered Wonder.” He was a great fielding pitcher. One of his great fielding plays at Detroit helped to save the world’s flag for the Cubs.

Return to American System.

The English boxing system of refereeing boxing matches, with the official sitting outside the ropes, is a thing of the past at New York boxing clubs. The system has been gi,ven a four weeks’ trial at the Forty-fourth Street Sporting club and has met the disapproval not only of the clnb officials but also of the state athletic commission.