The Red Cloud chief., 1893-12-01

tinatiOn.
"Poor dcvill' he said, commiserating-
ly, after he had listened to my misfor-
tunes. "What are you up TO now?"
"Looking for lodgings" answered.
"Tryiug to solve the problem as to
whether II Is possible To get comforta-
BILE rooms at a reasonable price"
That's a strange thing" remarked
10y companions; "you are the second
man to-day that has used that express
sion to me-"
"And who vas the frst?" ] q asked.
"A fellow who Is working at the
chemical laboratory up at the hospital.
He vas b%emoaning himself this morn
ing because he could not get some n
10 go halves with him in some nice
rooms which he had found, and which
were too much for his purse"
"By Jove!"I cried; "if he really wants
some one to share the rooms and the
expense, l am the very man for him.
should prefer having a partner to be-
ing alone"
Young Stanford looked rather
strangely at me over his w~ineglass.
"You don't know Sherlock Holmes
yet" he said; perhaps you would not
care for him as q constant companion"
"Why, what Is there against him|"
"Oh, I didn't say there was any
thing against him. lie is a little queer
In his idcas-an enthusiast in some
branches Of science. As far as ! know,
he Is a decent fellow enough"
"a medical student, ! suppose?" said
I.
mol have no idea what he intends
TO go in for. ! believe he is well up in
anatomy, and he Is n first-class
chemist; but, as far as l know, he has
never taken out any systematic medi-
cal classes, His studies are very
desultory and eccentric, but he has
anassed a lot Of out-of-the-way
knowledge which would astonish his
professors"
ibid You never ask him what he was
going in for?' ! asked.
mo; he is not q man that il is easy
TO draw out, though he can be con-
m%unicative enough when tho fancy
scizes him."
~ should like to meet him."I said.
IF I am 10 lodge with anyone, ]
should prefer a man with studlous and
quiet habits. l am not strong enough
yet To stand much noise or excitement.
l had enough OF both in Afghanistan
to last me for the remainder of my
natural existence. How could l meet
this friend Of yours?"
"He Is sure to be at the laboratory.
He either avoids the place for weeks,
or else he works there from morning
to night. II you like, we shall drive
round together after luncheon"
Certainly" l answered, and the
: conversation drifted away into other
channels.
As we made our way to the hospital
! after leaving the IIolborn, Stamford
| gave me n few more particulars about
the gentleman whom l proposed to
take as Q fellow ledger.
"You mustn't blame me IL you don't
get on with him. he said; II know
nothing more OF him than l have
learned from meeting him occasional
ly in the laboratory. You proposed
this arrangement, SO youmust not hold
, me responsible"
!. III we don't get on II will be easy to
; part company" ] answered. at seems
. TO me, Stamford" l added, looking
: hard at my companion, that you have
/, some reason for washing your hands
: OF the matter. Is this fellows tempe I
!. SO formidable, or what is 1t? Don't be
mealy-mouthed about it,"
, ut is not easy To express the mex
: pressible," he answered, with a laugh.
Holmes is a little too scientific for my
tastcs-it approaches to cold-bloodcd
ness. l could imagine his giving q
friend a little pinch of the latest vcgc
;. table alkaloid not out Of m~alcvolcncc
you understand, but simply out of a
spirit OF inquiry In order to have al
accurate idea of the effects. To dc
him justice, l think that he would talk,
. II himself with the same readiness. II,
a appears to have Il passion for deflnit,
and exact knowledge"
= "Very right, too"
"Ycs; but it may be pushed to ex
cess. When it ONE to beating TIT
subjects in the dissecting-rooms will
a stick IL is certainly taking rather
bizarre shape"
Cheating the subjects!"
n "Yes, to verify how far bruises ma.
be produced after death. saw him a
IN IL with my own eyes
10 "And yet you say he is not a medica
student?"
mo. Heaven knows what the oh
IN jccts u his studies arel But here W
,e are, and you must form your own i'm
ID pr~essions about him" As hc spoke W
10 turned down a narrow lane and passe,
a through "A small side door whic'
= opened into a wing Of the great hos
NJ pital. 1T was familiar ground To III
&c aud ! needed nc guiding a. we as
q cended the bleak stone staircase an,
u made our way down the long corrido
~ with its vista Of whitcwashed wall an
d~un-colored doors. Near the farthc
g end IA low, arched passage branche
20 away from il and led TO the chemica
! laboratory.
ne This was u lofty chamber, lined an
IA Uttered with countless bottles. Broad
low tables were scattered about, while
~ bristlcd with retorts. tcst-tuhcs an
IN little Bunscn lamps, with their blu