The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-14
SHERLOCK HOLMES BAFFLED.
TRANSLATED from the Anglican of DIR.
Conandoylc by j. G. OchiItree)

my 'front.' verdnda, smoking Admiral cuDebS
| and thinking about Sherlock Holmes 1 had
not seen him for more than a week. but
had received note from him the day be-
fore containing bit of characteristic in
| formation 1t ran as follows:
My Dear Watson-Eureka, / have evap-
! GRATED an infusion of bruised glykys rhiza.
| and obtained an inspissitated Juice which
| must one day become valuable article
! OF commerce. It is. indeed, already a fa-
/ vorite confectionery in the peninsular por-
/ Incidental and in the line of my profess
sional work. The present end accomplished
| a suspicion of burglary and robbery; but
1 that is bagatelle compared with the value
| of the glabra product as marketable COM
"P. S. am in little trouble and may
/ call to see you soon. s. H.
It was about 9 o'clock. My wife had re-
tired. and / was cogitating this rather puz-
zling letter, when Holmes walked in at
| the front gate He came forward some
| what hastily, as If on special errand. l
rose to greet him. He grasped my hand
| nervousy-rnore so than he had ever done
! beforehand said
Watson, I'm in a hole
| felt relieved for the moment. Sherlock
/ Holmes was not the man to use American
| slang if he in real trouble. thought.
Il mean it, he said. with some petulance
| in his tone, for his keen eyes had taken
/ note OF my cnanBe OF expression. LOOK
here" he went on, when we were both
| seated; It have been working a case
for two days and nights without results
| to speak Of and am about ready to drop it
! as beyond even my Depth
And he settled back in his chair-a genu-
| inc calamus rocker-in limp sort of way
and closed his eyes, as if not caring to
| pursue the disagreeable subject further.
After a minute two of silence said
Would you mind giving me some idea
of the case?,'
He partially aroused himself and looked
at with half-quizzical grin whats
the use?" he said. languidly closing his
eyes again. you can't help me-of course?'
The last phrase spoken in tone
that nettled me.
Il have no such presumptious ambition
I returned, little testify. But it is GER
tainly natural that / should be interested,
at least. in case that has baff1ed you
Holmes quickly arose from his seat and
advanced to me, offering his hand.
II beg your pardon old FRIEND" he said.
with his usual warmth. IT hardly knew
what / was saying. Why, / called this
evening for the express purpose of making
you my confessor."
! accepted his proffered hand and squeezed
it cordially. He then resumed his chair.
Yes he continued. II shall tell you all
about it-that is, all know about it, which,
am sorry to say, is id little
He paused-and offered him cigarette.
mo, thank you," he said; 81 prefer this"
And he produced a small bottle containing
crystalline liquid. and a hypodermic
syringe. which he proceeded to use. first
removing his celluloid dicky.
Having adjusted himself Sherlock
Holmes frightened up-evidently under the
influence of the alkaloid-and began his
story.
Last Monday night think about this
hour-a rude knock at my door made
spill some nitric acid on my hand, causing
me to swear with unusual energy and volu-
biity. opened the door, intending to ask
the intruder why the devil he hadn't pressed
the bell, when heavybuilt powerful man
unceremonously strobe in, almost knocking
me over as he pushed past me. He had no
coat on. and his coarse shirt and trousers
showed him to be tradesmaT of the rough
err sort. / closed the door and told him to
be seated while 1 dressed my hand.
He obeyed, asking gruffiy how I
hurt it, Not caring to take the chance of
having to deliver a disquisition on the
virulence of certain acidiferous chemicals,
/ told him it was an old sore. When I
had wrapped the wound in sulphate of
soda took seat opposite him and asked
him how the meat business was fiourishing
in Piccadily
1.-THE man elevated his shaggy eyebrows
and demanded to know low the deuce /
got him and his business and location down
fine l pointed out his seventeenth CEN
fury collar. the clotted blood under his
finger nails, the abnormal protuberances in
his skull at the top of his ears, and men
toned the unconsciously vulgar and brutal
way he had in shoudering past his betters,
l,<, III
bullock for his ak.
"The butcher looked at his nails. but
gave no further sign of appreciation. When
/ was done speaking he said:
- guess you're the cove / wants
He then detailed in his coventry dialect
how 'Sum-un' had broken open his till three
alternate nights in the same week. the first
time securing q pound and six pence, the
time nothing. because the drawer was
empty. The last two nights of the till
tapping he had watched for the burglar,
the work ! was done, or attempt
s sa just the Of The doors t2a
disturbed. Each time the till had been
pried open with the butchers own cleaver,
that instrument being always found on the
counter in the near vicinity OF the dis
that his shop was connected with his dwell
ing, the. only inmates of which We're his
him about the shop. The latter slept in a
room above the kitchen, in, the rear part
going through the bedroom used by the
butcher and his wife. He said he consid-
cred the lad much above suspicion as
any of his own family. The affair had
assumed look of mystery that was be-
ginning to work on the illiterate fellows
superstition. | asked him whether he had
ever fallen asleep while watching. He re-
piled that he had once twice the first
night, but remained wide awake all of the
last night, and had at no time heard
seen anything that startled him. Yet in
the morning he found the till open and the
cleaver lying near 1t. This was the off
night he said. and he asked me if l would
come to his place the next night and keep
watch with him. l promised to do SO, and
he took his leave.
The following night-that is. night be-
fore last-I found my way to the butchers
market about 10 o'clock. which was the
Trademarks hour for closing. took with me
two revolvers and a copy of Tupper's
'Proverbial Philosophy The latter ex-
pected to utilize in keeping myself wake
ful. This may sound paradoxical, but it is
a fact of experience that the best way to
drive off drowsiness is to get. mad. / find
Topper Indispensable a stimulant to
fighting moods. Ten of his incoherent
Alexandrines will put in humor to
fight the devil. l sometimes vary the dose,
however, with copy of Robert Browning
or Walt Whitman There is another Amer
lean writer whose 'Altrurian Travels and
Hlterary Passions are also capital induc-
ers of insomnia furioso
We'll. read till sleep out of the
question, and consequently was in a fine