Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-06-21

10. Plays the violin well.
III. Is al expert single-Stick player,
boxer and swordsman.
II. Has a good practical knowledge
of British law.
When I had got so far in my list 1
threw 1t into the fire in despair. IF
/ can only find what the fellow is driy-
ing at by r%econciling all these accom-
plishments, and discovering a calling
which needs them ALL" / said to my
self, II may as well give up the at
tempt at once"
/ see that / have alluded above to
his powers upon the violin. These are
very remarkable, but as eccentric as all
his other accomplishments. That he
could play pieces, and difficult pieces, 1
knew well, because at my request he
has played me some Of Memberships
"Lieder," and other favorites. When
left TO himself, however, he would sell
dom produce any music or attempt my
recognized air. Leaning back in his
III 'n.chair Of an evening, 1e would close
his eyes and scrape carelessly at the
fiddle, which was thrown ,tcross mis-
lnee. Sometimes the chords were s1n-
orous and melancholy. Occasiolaliy
they We're fantastic and cheerful.
Clearly they reaected the thoughts
which possessed him, but whether the
music aided those thoughts, or wheth-
er the playing was simply the result Of
a within or fancy was more than I
could determine. I might ha &c rebelled
against these exasperating solos had
II not been that he usually termiI ated
them by playing in quick Succession a
whole series of my favorite airs as a
slight compensation for the trial upon
my patience.
During the first week or so we had no
callers, and I had begun to think that
my companion was as friendlass a man
as 1 was myself. Presently, however,
l found that he had many acquaint-
ances, and those in the most different
classes of society. There was oae 1t
tie, sallow, rat-facad, dark-eyed fellow
who was introduced TO me as Mr.. Ie-
strade, and who came three or four
times in Il single week. One morning
a young girl called, ~fashionably dress
ed, and stayed for half an hour or
more. The same afternoon brought a
gray-headed, seedy visitor, looking like
a jew peddler, who appeared to me to
be much excited, and who was Gle sely
IDllOWeu DN n Slp-SuOu elueTly WOIlStn.
On another occasion an old white-hair-
ed gentleman had an interview with
my companion, and on another a rail-
way porter in his velveteen uniform.
When any Of these nondescript individ-
uals put in an appearance Sherlock
Holmes used to beg for the use Of the
sitting-room, and l would retire to my
bedroom. He always ~apologized to me
for putting me to this inconvenience.
II have to use this room as a place of
business" he said, land these people
are my clients" Again l had an OPP
portupity of asking him a point blank
question, and again my delicacy pre-
vented me from forcing another man
to confide In me. / imagined at the
time that he had some strong reason
for not abiding to 1t, but he soon dis
PEELED the idea by coming round TO
the subject of his w accord.
II was upon the fourth of March,
as / have good reason to remember,
that / rose somewhat earlier than usu-
al. and found that Sherlock Holmes
had not yet finished his breakfast. The
landlady had become so accustomed TO
my late habits that my place had not
been laid nor my coffee prepared. With
the unreasonable petulance Of mankind
/ rang the bell an gave n curt intima-
ton that I was rendy. Then l picked