The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-09
as neatly as II he had been brought
up In a cAgcus.
vsxr NEAT DxyIcIs.

as neatly as II he had been brought
up In a Nycus.
yrKr NEAT DxyIcrs.
.-rhis device" Holmes said on the
ors, occas sion OF its use. has enabled
me IN discourage two thieves at once"
INV dear Holmes" / replied. how
do YOU make that outi 1 observed only
one
how oftsn must l tell you that your
observation Is defective; Dld you not
see that pretended to buy teketf'
Yes"
And didn't do it,
Well such conduct as that dlscour-
ages the New York, New. Haven & Hart
ford Railroad Company.
Just like my stupidity exclaimed,
II saw only the thief who attempted to
steal your bag"
HE was very small potatoes compared
to the other one" said Holmes, as he
set the bag again. and walked back to-
ward the window.
/ think the neatest OF his games, and
the one which will be the most generally
appreciated, since 1t deals win the Oldest
81 crimes, was played while we were at
a millionaires' luncheon cIup down town;
As we sat at the table. Holmes directed
my attention TO a gentleman OF imDos-
ing appearance who was lunching near
US. -,
You would not suppose said Holmes
10 me, that that man, so emmently re-
spectacle in appearance, was 10 De Nhe
next victim Of the society
4 will bet YOU five TO one said the
gentleman who had invited us TO the
club. that he will not be the Vlctlm OF
anybody or anything. Ihal Ola sam
Rhodes and he's been In Wall street
fortv years Hes been the controlling
spirit in more than a thousand railroad
deals, and IL is estimated that If all the
rope with which despairlng stockholuers
have hanged Themselves on accouht ..
sam Rhodes were joined in one piece IT
would reach around the world twice ana
tie double bow knot; ,,u,.hos a.
And he has never been punished ~
any crime" said Holmes 49, 49,.
Punished cried our nos why "e
worth forty million dollars. ,.,,s
I'll ttme has come" said my friend,
impressively. r,,osos n.ht,o no fin.
isned his lunch When he rose we Iol-
lowed him. obeying a sign from Holmes.
IT, roiiijonaire went out into the Vesu-
buIe of the club where the mats COATS
md umbrellas of the members were lett
while they were at luncheoh'
THE prLFERrD UMBRELLA.
Mr. Rbodes selected his hat and coat;
tbid Won have an umbrella, SIT: asked
one of the attendants ~ iai''''ie
S'' "kh q Umbrella? Certainly. certainly"
said k kn9tifS selected one from the rack.
Holmes cUitched my arm. The million
aire hurried out upon the steps lie
opened the umbrella over MS ngau' ,,h-
About a quart Of some dark SUP.
stance. which / t5ok to be ink. fell out
of the umbrella upon Rhodes head, anu anu
AZ fhe same time thin stream OF the
same fluid trickied OUT on NOE oieot va '''e
'"r8t1SiII toi, claim the umbrellar
whispered to Holmes .,,1os "a tho
Not inst now" he responded III the
same guarded tone. Mr. hhoqes - - %, a
verv large man, and from his language
and demeanor at this moment l judge
him TO be Of a violent disposition
am NOT so Young as | was, and per
haps it would be safer not TO introduce
ny Ne sen Vent emf TO the clubs smokng-room,
where our host insisted upon opening a
bottle of champagne. The mystery IN me
affair which had just witnessed
weighed heavily upon me- ana ! coulu s w..
resist the temptation 10 ash holIheS i'i
'HoW is il possible" said /, that you
were able 10 predict with certainty thdI
Mr.. Rhodes would steal an uinDre,a' anu
not only that, but that ne wouIu 'ahe
1T was perfectly simple" said Holmes.
81 had bribed the attendant not to let
anybody else have it., AS for Rhodes
desiring to take IT, | have only 10 say
that it was the best looking umbrella
in the rack
80 you see | had laid out the whole
thing in advance and that Is the whoie
secret Of this detective fiction 1t is easy
er6uSh for the detective to find the
crimipal. He IL In the confidence OF the
author who controls destiny as | did in
this case BHt in real life the detec-
rive Is Obliged to contend against the
Disadvantage Of having to find out about
IL. Thus but two courses are usually
open to him. one is 10 do nothing but
draw his pay, and the other Is 20 convict
he Is guilty or innocent"
HOWARD FIELDING.