Morris tribune., 1895-06-12

leased yesterday evening. 1t is be
lieved, however, that the police have 6
clew to the real culprits, and that it i:
being prosecuted by Mr.. Athelney
Jones, of Scotland Yard, with all his
well-known energy and sagacity. Fur
Their arrests may be expected at any
moment"
''That is satisfactory so far as il
goes" thought /. "Friend Sholto is
safe at any rate. wonder what the
fresh clew may be; though it seems to
be a stereotyped form whenever the
police have made blunder."
tossed the paper down upon the ia
BILE, but at that moment my eye caught
an advertisement in the agony column.
It ran in this way:
LOST. = Whereas Mordecai Smith,
boatman, and his son Jim left Smiths
wharf at or about three o'clock last
Tuesday morning in the steam launch
| Aurora, black with two red stripes,
| funnel black with white band, the
sum of five pounds will be paid to any
one who can give information to Mrs.
Smith, at Smiths wharf, or at 221 b
Baker street, as to the whereabouts of
the said Mordecai Smith and the
launch Aurora"
This was clearly Holmes doing. The
Baker street address was enough to
prove that. It struck me as rather in
genious, because it might be read by
| the fugitives without their seeing in it
more than the natural anxiety of a
wife for her missing husband.
1t was long day. Every time that
a knock came to the door, or sharp
step passed in the street, l imagined
that it was either Holmes returning or
an answer to his advertisement I
tried to read, but my thoughts would
wander off to our strange quest and to
the ill-assorted and villainous pair
whom we were pursuing. Could
there be, 1 wondered, some radi-
cal flaw in my companions reason
ing? Might he be suffering from
some huge self-deception? Was it not
possible that his nimble and specu-
lative mind had built up this wild
theory upon faulty premises? I had
never known him to be wrong; and yet
the keenest reasoner may occasionally
be deceived He was likely, thought,
to fall into error through the over
refinement of his logic-his preference
for subtle and bizarre explanation
when a palmer and more common
place one lay ready to his hand. Yet,
on the other hand had myself seen
the evidence, and had heard the rea-
sons for his deductions. When I looked
back on the long chain of curious cir
cumstances, many of them trivial in
themselves, but all tending in the same
direction, could not disguise from
myself that even if Holmes explana-
ton were incorrect the true theory
must be equally outre and startling.
At three o'clock in the afternoon
there was loud peal at the bell, an
authoritative voice in the hall, and, to
ny surprise, no less person than Mr..
Athelney Jones was shown up to me. !
Very different was he, however, from
the brusque and masterful professor of
common sense who had taken over the
case so confidently at Upper Norwood.
His expression was downcast, and his
bearing meek and even apologize.
"Good day, sir; good day." said he.
'Mr. Sherlock Holmes is out, under
stand"
Eyes, and cannot be sure when he
will be back. But perhaps you would
care to wait. Take that chair and try
one of these cigars"
''Thank you; I don't mind if I do,'
said he, hopping his face with a red
bandanna handkerchief.
''And a whisky-and-soda?"
'sWeH, half glass. 1t is very hot
for the time of year; and have had
good deal to worry and try me. You
know my theory about this Norwood |
case?"
81 remember that you expressed
one."
''Well, have been obliged to recon
slider it. / had my net drawn tightly |
round Mr.. Sholto, sir, when pop he went |
through hole in the middle of it. He |
was able to prove an alibi which could
not be shaken. From the time that he
left his brothers room he was never
out of sight of some one or other So
it could not be he who climbed over
roofs and through trap-doors. It's
very dark case, and my professional
credit is at stake. should be very glad
of a little assistance"
'We all need help sometimes said I.
''Your friend, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes,
is wonderful man, SIR" said he, in a
husky and confidential voice ''He's
man who is not to be beat. I have
known that young man go into good
many cases, but I never saw the case
yet that he could not throw light
upon. He is irregular in his methods,
and little quick, perhaps, in jumping
at theories, but, on the whole, think
he would have made most promising
officer, and don't care who knows it.
have had wire from him this morn
ing, by which understand that he has
got some clew to this Sholto business.
Here is his message"
He took the telegram out of his
pocket, and handed it to me. It was
lated from Poplar at twelve o'clock.
go to Baker street at once" it said.
IF have not returned, wait for me.
I'm close on the track of the Sholto
gang. You can come with us tonight
f you want to be in at the finish"
"This sounds well. He has evidently
picked up the scent again." said I.
"Ah, then he has been at fault too"