The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-15
CHAPTER L.
MIR. sherlock Holmes.

i Mt. SncrtOCk HOlmCNs
IN the year 1878 took my degree of
Doctor of Medicine in the University of
London and proceeded to Netley to go
through the course prescribed for sur
:.con@ in the ARMY Having completed
my studies there. WAS duly attached
10 ,ilr Fifth northumberland l'usjlicrs
;,S assistant surgeon. The regiment
WAS stationed in India nj the time. and
before | could join it the second
Afghan war broke out. On landing at
Bombay learned that my corps had
advanced through the passes and WAS
alrcnhy deep in the cl"my'S country.
! followed. however. with many other
officers who We're in the same situation
as myself. and succeeded in reaching
tan,alar in safety. where found my
regiment. and ut once entered upon my
now duties.
promotion To many. but for me it had
nothing but misfortune and disaster.
WAS removed from my brigade and
attached 10 the berkshire. with whom
served ut the fatal battle of Mai
wand. There was struck on the
shoulder by :. JcZail bullet. which
shattered the bone and gr;lZei the sub
ci:;vian artery. | should have fallen
iato tho bands of tho murdcrous
i t';'xis had it, not been for the levu-
lien and courage shown by Murray.
NV orderly. who threw mo across Il
r..e:i-horsr AMI succeeded in bringing
: Ill" safely TO tho British lines.
Worn With pain and weak from the
prolonged har,ls!lips which | had I'LL
d,l.oNe. was removed. with Il great
, iraii of wounded sufferers. To the base
, hospital al Prshawur. Here rallied,
and had already improved SO far as TO
i hc able to walk about the wards. and
even To lMSk Il little upon the vcran(a.
| when was struck down by cnteric
frva:', that curse of our Indian possess
s,"ns. For months my life was de-
SPARED of. and when ut last l came to
q. my&rlf and became cOnvalcScent. l was
! so weak and clnaciatel that Il medical
board determined that not Il day should
lc lost in sending me back to England.
WAS dispatched. accordingly, in the
.roap ship OrontrS. and landed Il month
, later on Portsmouth ictty. with my
A., l,nI,h iryetricvably ruined. but with
permission from patcrnal govern
!urni TO spend the next nine months in
attempting to improve it.
+ had neither kitl nor kin in Eng
/! land. AMI WAS therefore as free as air
--or as free as an income of eleven
s:lillingS and siXDellce II day will per-
nit Il man to be. Under such circum-
&;lncps naturally gravita,cd to Lon
' ton. that great ccSSpool into which all
the lo,Ingprs and oilers of the empire
| :,r,. iarrSistibly drained. There ! re-
nGained FOR some time ut IL private
hotel in the Strand. leading IL COM
fortress. meaningless existence. and
spending such money as l had con-
:idr"#lly more freely than ! ought.
81 charming did the state of my
/ finances become that | soon realized
y that ! mus; either leave tho metropolis
, and raSiicltr >omewliare in the co,ln-
; ,,.y. CT that | must make Il complete
| alteration in my style nf living. ChooS-
| III" The latter alternative. l began by
making IN my mind to leave the hotel.
and to take Zip my quarters in some
less rrctrptious AMI less expensive
| donicilr
ON the very day that had come to
this conclusion ! WAS standing ut the
criirrian liar when some one tapped
! mc on the shoulder. and. turning
(, round | recognized young Stamford.
who had been Il dresser under me at
H:!rt's. The sight of II friendly face
in the great wilderness of London is
q pleasant thing indeed to a lonely
man. In old days Stamford had never
been Il particular crony of mine. hut
and lie. in his turn. appeared to be de-
L I:..t,t ,,l To 1,, N~,,I,
of my Joy l asked him to lunch with
me at the Holborn. and we started off
together In II hanson.
'Whatcycr have YOU been doing with
! yourself. WatSon:" lie asked in undis-
.iisrd wonder as we ratified through
she crowded London streets.
| "iou are as thin as Il lath and as
| BROWN ais IL nut.
! gave him Il short sketch of my adj
vrntarcs. and had hardly concluded it
| lr the time that we reached or desti-
nation.
Poor tlcvl!' he said. cnlnmiserating
ly. after he had listened to my mis-
fortunes What are you up to now:'
Lacking for io1ginss.' l answered.
frying 10 solve The problem as to
whether it is possible to get comfort.
able rooms at IL reasonable price"
| That's Il strange thing" remarked
my companion: you are the second
man to-day that has used that expires.
sion To ine.'
And who was lii. tirst?" ] asked.
"A fellow that Is working ut tho
chemical laboratory up at the hospital
Tie WAS bcmoaning himself this morn
ing because lie could not get some ono
| 10 go halves with him in some nice
rooms which i.a had found, and which
were too much for his purse"
by Joye!' | cried; III he really
wants some one 90 share tlbi rooms
ard the expense ! am the very maj,
Tor him. should prefer having a part:
nov 10 hring alone
Young Stamford looked strangely al
ne over his wine glass. You dom
know Sherlock Holmes yet" he said
perhaps sou would not care for hin
us Il constant companion"
Why. what Is there against himF'
"Oh. didn't say there was anything
against him. He is little queer il
his idCas-an enthusiast In somf
branches of science. As far as know
hc l.; IL decent fellow enough.
| L
said J.
No: have no idea what he intends
to 20 in for. believe he is well I'M il
anatomy. and he is first-class chem
list: but, as far us l know, he has never
taken out any systcmaticai medical
classes. His studies are very desultOrJ
and eccentric: hut he has amused ;
lot Of out-of-thc-way knowledge which
would astonisl his professors"
Did you ever ask him what he WI:
going in for:' | asked
NO: lie is not Il man that is easy t,
draw out. though he can he communi
cltiye enough when the fancy seize
him."
Il should like to meet him." said
"If am to lodge with any one shoui,
prefer IL man of studious and quir
habits. am not strong enough yet Il
stand much noise or excitement TIA,
enough OF both in Afglanistan to las
me the remainder of my natural OK
istcnce. How could | meet this frien,
of yours"
"He is sure 10 be at the laboratory
He either avoids the place for weeks
or else lie works there from mOrnin;
to night. If you like. we shall driv
round together after luncheon"
Certainly" answered; and the con
vcrsatioA drifted away into other chan
ncls.
AS we made our way to the h0spita
after leaving the Holborn. StamfOrt
gave me few more particulars abou
the gentleman whom proposed t,
take as fellow-lodger.
You mustn't blame me il you don
| rnt x,, 1vtfI, hin, In SofI. at 1.,D,,