The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06


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We would not dare to
conceive the things which are really mere
commonpIaces of existence. If we could
fly out of that window hand in hand, hover
over this great city, gently remove the
roofs and peep in at the queer things
which are going on. the strange coinci-
dences, the plannings, the cross purposes,
the wonderful chains of events working
through generations and leading to the
most outre results, it would make all fc-
ton, with its conventionalities and for
seen conclusions, most stale and unprohit-
able"
And yet am not convinced of IT," |
answered 1.-THE cases which come to
light in the papers are. as rule, bad
enough and vulgar enough. We have In
our police reports realism pushed TO its
extreme limits, and yet the result is, it
must be confessed, neither fascinating nor
artistic"
"A certain selection and discretion must
be used in producing realistic effect" re-
marked Holmes This is wanting in the
police report, where more stress is laid per-
haps upon the platitudes of the magistrate
than upon the details, which to an OBJ
server contain the vital essence of the
whole matter. Depend upon it there is
nothing so unnatural as the common
place"
! smiled and shook my head. az can
quite understand you thinking So" said.
"0f course, in your position of unofficial
adviser and helper to everybody who is
absolutely puzzled throughout three con-
tinents, you are brought in contact with
all the strange and bizarre. But here"-I
picked up the morning paper from the
ground-'.let us put it to a practical test.
Here is the first heading upon which /
come-'A Husbands Cruelty to His Wife
There is half q column of print, but l
know without reading it that it is all per-
fectly familiar TO me. There is of course
the other woman, the drink, the push. the
blow, the bruise, the sympathetic sister or
landlady. The crudest of writers could
invent nothing more crude"
Indeed, your example is an unfortun-
ate one for your argument" said Holmes.
taking the paper and glancing mis- eye
down it. This is the Dundas separation
case, and, as 1T happens, was engaged in
clearing up some small points in connec-
IL
there was no other woman, and the con-
duct complained of was that he drifted
into the habit of winding up every meal by
taking out his false teeth and hurting
them at his wife, which you will allow. is
not an action likely to occur TO the imag-
ination of the average story teller. Take a
pinch of snuff, doctor, and acknowledge
that | have scored over you in your ex-
ample"
He held out his snuff-box of old gold,
with great amethyst in the center of the
lid. It's splendor was in such contrast to
his homely ways and simple life that
could not help commenting upon it.
"Ah, said he, Il forgot that had not
seen you for some weeks. 1t is a little
souvenir from the king of Bohemia in re-
turn tor my assistance in the case of the
Irene Adler papers
"And the ring2" asked, glancing at a
remarkable brilliant which sparkled upon
his finger.
at was from the reigning family of Hol-
land, though the matter in which l served
them was of such delicacy that | cannot
confide it even to you. who have been good
enough TO chronicle one or two of my little
problems.
And have you any on hand just now ?''
i asked with interest.
Some ten or twelve, but none which
present any feature of interest. They are
important, you understand, without being
interesting Indeed. l have found that ii
is usually in unimportant matters that
there is a field for the observation and for
the quick analysis of cause and effect
which gives the charm TO an investigation.
The larger crimes are apt 20 be the simpler
for the bigger the crime the more obvious
as r rule, is the motive. In these cases
save for one rather intricate matter which
has been referred to me from Marseiiles
b oh
lures OF interest. Ii Is possible, however
that may have something better before
many minutes are over, for this is one OF
my clients, or am much mistaken"
He had risen from his chair and was
standing between the parted blinds, gazing
down into the dull, neutral tinted London
street. Looking over his shoulder | saw
that on the pavement opposite there stood
large woman with heavy fur boa round
her neck and large curling red feather in
broad brImmed hat which was tilted in a
coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion
over her ear. From under this great pano.
ply she peeped up in nervous hesitating
fashion at our windows, while her BODY
oscillated backward and forward and her
fingers tidgeted with her glove buttons.
Suddenly, with plunge, as OF the swim.
mer who leaves the bank, she hurried
across the road and we heard the sharp
eIang of the bell.
II have seen those symptoms before. "
said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into
the tire. Oscillation upon the pavement
always means an afdire de c1,fr. She
would like advice, but is not sure that the
matter is not too delicate for communica.
ton. And yet even here We may discrim-
mate. When n woman has been seriously
wronged by man she no longer oscillates.
and the usual symptom is a broken bell
wire. Here we may take il that there is a
love matter, but that the maiden is not so
much angry as perpleSed or grieved. But
here she comes in person TO resolve our
doubts"
As he spoke there was tap ut the door,