Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-09-27

chain, the nature OF WnlC1 IL Known
whenever we are shown single link
Of it. Like all other arts. the science
Of deduction and analysis Is one which
can only be acquired by long and pa
tient study, nor Is life long enough to
allow any mortal to attain the highest
possible perfection in 1t. Before turn
ing to those moral and mental aspects
Of the matter which present the great
est difficulties, let the inquirer begin
by mastering more elementary pref
lens. Let him, on meeting fe}ldGa
mortal, learn ut a glance to distine uish'
the history of the man, and the grade
or profession to which he belongs. Pu-
Grille as such an exercise may seem, 1t
sharpens the faculties of observation,
and teaches OH where to look and what
tt look for. BY II mans finger nails.
l.y his catsleeve, by his boot, by Lis
trouscr knees, by the callosities Of his
fSrctinger and thumb, by his express
sion. by his shirt cuffs-by each Of
these things mans calling Is plainly
revealed. That Ill united should fail
to cnlighten tile competent inquirer in
my case is almost inconceivable."
what incffable twaiclle" cried,
slapping the magazine down on the
table II never read such rubbish in
my life!"
'sWhat is it," asked Sherlock Holmes.
"Why. this article" said, pointing
at it with my egg-spoon as 1 sat down
to my breakfast II see that you have
read it, since you have marked it. 1
don't deny that it is smartly written.
1t initiates nc, though. 1t is evidently
tn. theory of some armchair lounger,
who evolves all these neat little para
doxes in the seclusion of his own study.
1t is not practical. l should like to see
him clapped down in a third-clas car
rage on the Underground, and asked
to give the trades of all his fellow
travellers. I would lay thousand to
one against him.
You would lose your money" sber-
lock Holmes remarked calmly. las for
the article, wrote it myself"
Your
Yes; 1 have a turn both for observa-
ton and deduction. The theories which
1 have. expressed there, and which ap-
pear to you to be so chimerica are
really extremely practical-so practical
that 1 depend upon them for my bread
and cheese"
And how?" 1 asked, involuntarily.
"Well, have Il trade Of my own. 1
suppose am the only one in the world.
I'm consulting detective, # you can
understand what that is. Here in
London we have lots Of government de-
tectives and lots Of private ones. When
these fellows are at fault they come to
me, and / manage to put them on the
right scent They lay all the evidence
before me, anil l am generally able,
by the help of my knowledge IF the
history of crime, to set them stfligbt.
There is strong family resemblance
about misdecds. and if you have. all
tile details of q thousand at your finger
ends, it is odd if you can't unravel the
thousand and first. Lestrade is well
known detective. He got hims Elf into
a fog recently over a forgery case,
and that was what brought him here"
"And these other people?"
''They are mostly sent out by pri-
vate inquiry agencies. They are all
people who are in trouble about some
thing and want a little enlightep;Dg.
1 listen to their story, they listen to
my comments, and then 1 pocket my
fee"
"But do you mean to say" I said,
that without leaving your room you
can unravel some knot which other men
can make nothing of, although they
have seen every detail for themselves"
"Quite so. have kind of intuition
that way. Now and again case turns
up which is a little more complex. Then
have to hustle about and see things
with my own eyes. You see I have
a lot of special knowledge (Which
apply to the problem, and which ia
cllitatt:s matters wonderfully. Those
rules Of deduction laid down in that ar
ticle which aroused your scorn are in
valuable to me in practical work. OBJ
serVatlon VIA me IS second nature.
You appeared to be surprised when I
told you, on cur first meeting that
you had come from Afghanistan.
You We're told, no doubt"