Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-06-14

list; but, as far as / know, he has never
taken out any ~systematical medical
classes. His studies are very desultory
and eccentric; but he has amassed a
lot of out-of-t he-way knowledge which
would astonish his professors"
Did you ever ask him what he was
going in for?' I asked.
mo; he is not a man that Is easy to
draw out, though he can be communi-
cative enough when the fancy seizes
him"
II should like to meet him." I said.
"If / am to lodge with any one l should
prefer a man Of studious and quiet
habits. ! am not strong enough yet to
stand much noise or excitement. 1had
enough Of both in A~fghanistan to last
me the remainder Of my natural eN-
istence. How could / 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. If you like, We shall drive
round together after luncheon"
Certainly" / answered; and the con-
versation drifted away into other chan
nels.
AS we made our way to the hospital
after leaving the Holborn, Stamford
gave me a few more particulars about
the gentleman whom l proposed TO
take as a f~ellow-lodger.
You mustn't blame me if you don't
get on with him." he said; Il know
nothing more of him than / have learn
ed from meeting him occasionally in
the laboratory. You proposed this ar
rangement, sc you must not hold me
responsible"
IF we don't get on it will be easy
to part company" / anSw ,red. 1T
seems to me, Stamford" l added, look
ing hard at my companion, that you
have some reason for washing your
hands of the matter. Is this fellows
temper so formidable, or what is it?
Don't be mealy-mouthed about it."
1T Is not easy to express the mex
pressible," he answered, with a laugh.
Holmes Is a little to scientific for my
~tastes-it approaches to cold-blooded-
ness. l could imagine his giving a friend
a pinch of the latest vegetable alkaloid.
not out of malevolence, you understand,
but simply out of a spirit OF inquiry
in order to have an accurate idea of
the effects. To do him justice, 1 think
that he would take it hims IF with the
same readiness. he appears to have
a passion for definite and exact knowl-
edge"
Very right, too
"Yes; but 1t may be pushed to tx
cess. When 1t comes to beating the
subjects in the dissecting rooms with a
stick, it is certainly taking rather a
bizarre shape"
Beating the subjectsr'
"Yes, TO verify how far bruises may
be produced after death. 1 saw him
at 1t with my own eyes!"
And yet you say he is not a medical
student?"
"No. Heaven knows what the OBJ
jects Of his duties are. But here we
are, and you must form your own i'm
pressions about him." AS he spoke
we turned down a narrow lane and
passed through n small side door which
opened into a wing Of the great hos
pital. 1t was familiar ground to me,
and / needed no guiding as we ascend
ed the bleak, stone staircase and made
our way down the long corridor with
its vista of whitewashed walls and dim
colored doors. Near the farther end
a low, arched passage branched away
from it and led to the chemical labor
atory.
This was a lofty chamber. lined and
Uttered with countless bottles. Broad,
low tables were scattered about, which
bristled with r~etortS, test-tubes and lit
tie Bunsen lamps, with their blue,
Pickering flames. There was only n
student in the ROOM, who was bending
over a distant table absorbed in his
work. At the sound of our steps he
glanced round and sprang to his feet
with a cry Of pleasure. I've found
it, I've found It'll" he shouted to my
companion, running toward us with a
test tube In his hand. 81 have found
a reagent which is precipitated by haze
moglobin, and by nothing else" Had
he discovered a gold mine, greater de-
light could not have shown upon his
features.
'Dr. watson-Mr. Sherlock Holmes"
said Stamford, introducing us.
How are your he aid, cordially,
gripping my hand with a strength
for which I should hardly have given
him credit. you have been in Afghan
istan, / perceive"
"How on earth did you know that?"
1 asked, In astonishment.
Never mind" said he, chuckiing to
himself. '"The question now is about
NO you see the
significance Of this discovery of miner"
TT is interesting, chemically, no
doubt" / answered; but practically
why, man, Ii Is the most practical
medio-legal discovery for years. Don't
you see that it gives Is an infallible
test for blood stains? Come v here,
now" He seized me by the coat sleeve
In his eagerness, and drew ne over to
the table at which he had been work
ing, Let us have some fresh blood"
he said, digging a long bodkin into his
finger and drawing off the resulting
drop of blood in a chemical pipette.
Now, I add this small quantity Of
blood to a litre Of water. You per-
ceive that the resulting mixture has
the appearance Of pure water. The
proportion Of blood cannot be more
than n in a billion. I have no doubt,
however, that we shall be able to OBJ
tain the characteristic reaction" As
he spoke he threw into the vessel a
few white crystals, and tn IN added
some drops of a transparent fluid. In
an instant the contents assumed a dull
mahogany color, and a browlish dust
waS nracipitaf tod RI tho haitian ~ tho