The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-06-07
CHAPTER L.
Mr. ShnRlnRIx Hahn a 3,


through the course prescribed for sur
geOns in the army. Having completed
my studies there, 1 was duly attached
10 the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers
as assistant surgeon. The regiment
was stationed in India at the time, and
before l could join ii the second
Afghan war broke out. On landing at
Bombay l learned that my corps had
advanced through the passes and was
already deep in the enemy'S country.
l followed, however with many other
officers who We're in the same situation
as myself, and succeeded in reaching
Candahar in safety, where found my
regiment, and at once entered upon my
new duties.
The campaign brought hOnors and
promotion to many, but for me it had
nothing but misfortune and disaster.
l was removed from my brigade and
attached to the Berkshire, with whom
l served at the fatal battle of Mai
wand. There l was struck on the
shoulder by Jezail bullet, which
shattered the bone and graZed the sub
clavian artery. l should have fallen
into the hands of the murderOus
GEaZis had it not been for the devO-
ton and courage shown by Murray,
my orderly, who threw me across
pack-hOrse and succeeded in bringing
me safely to the British lines.
Worn with pain and weak from the
prolonged hardShips which l had I'M
dergOne. l was removed, with great
train of wounded sufferers, to the base
hospital at PeShaWur. Here l rallied,
and had already improved so far as to
be able to walk about the wards, and
even to baSk little upon the veranda,
when | was struck down by Cnteric
fever, that curse Of our Indian posses
SlOnS. For mCnthS my life was de-
SPARED Of. and when at last [ came to
myself and became cOnvaleScent, l was
50 weak and emaciated that q medical
board determined that not day should
be lost in sending me back to England.
l was dispatched, accordingly, in the
troop ship OrOntes, and landed a month
later on Portsmouth jetty, with my
health irretrievably ruined, but with
permission from a paternal govern
ment to spend the next nine months in
attempting to improve it.
l had neither kith nor kin in Eng
land and was therefore as free as air
or as free as an income of eleven
shillings and siXpence a day will per-
nit a man to be. Under such circum-
stances l naturally gravitated to Lon
don, that great cesspoOl into which all
the lOungers and idlers of the empire
are irreSistibly drained. There l re-
manned for some time at a private
hotel in the Strand, leading a COM
fortress, meaningless existence, and
spending such money as | had con
siderably more freely than l ought.
50 alarming did the state of my
finances become that | soon realized
that l must either leave the metropolis
and rusticate somewhere in the COun
$ry, or that | must make a complete
alteration in my style of living. ChoOs-
ing the latter alternative, / began by
making up my mind to leave the hotel,
and to take up my quarters in some
less pretentiOuS and less expensive
dOmicile.
On the very day that had come to
this conclusion l was standing at the
Criterian bar when some one tapped
me on the shoulder, and, turning
round, l recognized young Stamford,
who had been a dresser under me at
Bart's The sight of n friendly face
in the great wilderness of London is
pleasant thing indeed to a lonely
man. In old days Stamford had never
been a particular crOny of mine, but
now 1 hailed him with enthusiasm,
and he, in his turn, appeared to be de-
lighted to see me. In the eXuberancc
of my joy I asked him to lunch with
me at the Holborn, and we started off
! together in hanson.
"Whatever have you been doing with
Yourself. Watson!' he asked in undis-
guised wonder as we ratified through
the crowded London streets.
You are as thin as lath and as
brown as a nut"
1 gave him a short sketch Of my adj
ventures, and had hardly concluded it
by the time that we reached our desti
nation.
Poor DEVIL" he said, cOmmiserating
| ly, after he had listened to my mis-
| fortunes What are you up to nOWF
Looking for lodgings" 1 answered.
| Trying to solve the problem as to
| whether it is possible to get comfort
| able rooms at a reasonable price"
"Fhat's a strange thing" remarked
my companion; you are the second
man to-day that has used that express
sion to me-"
And who was the first?" I asked,
GA fellow that is working at the
! chemical laboratory up at the hospital.
| He was bemoaning himself this morn
| ing because he could not get some one
| to go halves with him in some nice
rooms which he mad found, and which
| We're too much for his purse"
| by Jovew 1 cried; "if he really
! wants some one to share the rooms
and the expense I am the very man
! for him. should prefer having part
ner to being alone"
| Young Stamford looked strangely at
| me over his wine glass. you don't
know Sherlock Holmes yet" he said;
perhaps you would not care for him
| as a constant companion"
"Why, what is there against him?'
ooh, / didn't say there was anything
against him. He is a little queer in
his ideas-an enthusiast in some
branches of science. AS far as know
he is a decent fellow enough.
"a medical student l supposeY
said I.
mo; have 30 idea what he intends
to go in for. / believe he is well up in
anatomy, and he is a first-class chem
| list; but as far as l 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-the-way knowledge which
! would astonsh his professors"
did you ever ask him what he was
| going in fOr?" / asked.
mo; he is not a man that is. easy to
draw out, though he can be commune
cative enough when the fancy seizes
| him."
II should like to meet him." I said.
eff am to lodge with any one should
| prefer a man of studious and quiet
| habits, ! am not strong enough yet to
stand mulch noise or excitement. Ihad
enough Of both in Afghapistan to last
me the remainder Of my natural ex-
istence. How could l meet this friend
of yours?"
''de 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