Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
SOLVED BY SHERLOCK H0LMES|
How Reporter Was Aided In Finding
the Secret of the Holt Will
Written for The Evening Star.

recognized that so intricate problem
should have brought to bear upon 1t the
discerning mind Of the finest detectives
hat could be procured. This one conclu-
sion Is all that I claim the credit for in
unraveling this most mysterious case. Re
suits that followed attribute to luck only,
and I can never doubt that luck is an ele-
ment in the determination of human af-
fairs.
1t was pure luck that led me to discover
that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, the famous
London detective, whose confidence was
gained by one Conan Doyle, was in Wash
ington. I was walking along Pennsylvania
avenue on the evening of the day after the
burned will was received for record, medi-
tating on the herculean task before me-
MY attention was attracted by a strange
looking object hobbling along on crutches.
me man had evidently lately met an acct
cent, and l became interested in him at
once, thinking there might be a story
concerning his mishap that would prove
or value. He was gazing In a shop win
aoW as came up to him, ard l stopped by
MS side. His left hand was bandaged and
a large piece of court plaster ornamented
his right cheek.
Railroad accident?" asked as the crip-
pied man glanced toward me.
Inc stranger did not deign to reply to
my question, but, looking me over from
NJ, 800 ~ .oot ~ d nasty manner, replied, to
my great astonishment:
dress" az"
The man placed small piece of paper in
my hahd. and, with no other word, hob
pled away on his crutches. This strange
proceeding excited my wonder, and I would
nave again accosted the cripple but he
ing pressed for time, continued my way
doWn the avenue, examining the bit of ma
per l had just received. l was still MOI.
perplexed when l read:
SHERLOCK HOLMES
No. - E street,
Washington, D. c.
Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes" T
repeated, to call to mind any one l had
known bearing that name. That's Conan
Doyies detective" ruminated: but surely
l remember correctly, he was killed In
Switzerland while on the track of a Grim
inal."
My mysterious friend. however, was real
tered. 1 determined to allow nothing to
prevent me from calling at the address. for
believed there was something about the
man and the accident he mad lately met
worth knowing.
"Come in"
ihese words came as response to my
Knock. l had sought ;:.:;. address of the
a back room Of the top floor of a rather
dinsy house. With some hesita ton l OPEN
ed the door. The room was a large one
comfortably furnished. with two large win
dows facing the south, whence came a re-
freshing breeze. The gas was burning
dimly. and by its light 1 saw a man re-
Ginning on couch.
BE seated. Breeze near the window"
he said.
Still the figure reclined, and felt a little
uneasy regarding my surroundings, as /
closed the door and accepted his invitation
or rather followed his instruction, as 1 re-
q Td ar fr> fha IT,, s-l,
given. l had actually forgotten to inquire
for Mr. Holmes which then lost no time
in doing. Wien ] did so the reclining fig
IRE sat upright: then arose. and. walking
across the rocm took seat by me. 1t was
plain that it was the man l had seen on
Pennsylvania avenue, though there was
no evidence of lameness, and the bandage
and court plaster had disappeared.
asked.
had said nothing that could lead him to
believe that was connected with any news
paper. l was SO mystified that 1 became
reply.
"Of course, you are interested in the
solution of the Holt will case he cont;n-
ued. IF such slight matter should be Of
Importance to you as a new spaper man,
will look 1t over and unravel the ske!n of
events that make it complicated and I'M
fathomable to the lawyers-and the report
ers." he added, with a look that suggested
sneer.
Locking the man over carefully, 1 was
inclined to believe that 1 had a mailman
20 deal with or at least harmless crank,
and l remained silent.
Now, mind YOU, said my queer ac-
qraintance. II will give you the results
of the investigation I propose making on
one condition I've been cheated by those
mus hhead Scotland Yard detectives, so that
they always get credit for what do, but
they paid me and it made no difference.
They got credit for all I have ever done,
but the pay l received was all 1 wanted,
together with the amusement that came
to me from following my profession. /
have decided to leave England forever and
tc take up my homo in Washington, which
is destined to be the greatest capital of
the world. Conan Doyle wrote a great
fake about my being killed in Switzer-
land"
Holmes smiled with satisfaction as he
continued. But don't blame him for that.
He knew no better. That was a little game
of my own. to keep the public eye off me
while / ran down some delicate matters.
But that is past
ITO come right down to business pro-
pose to settle here, and want an adver-
tisement. Once 1 am known there viii be
no end of professional business that will
seek me. I will unravel this little mystery
atcut the burned will, and you can have
the results. but you are to give me credit
for it. See! After l am known here, 1
don't care about having credit for any
thing. Do you promise?'
L hastily replied that III he would lay be
fore me the solution Of the Holt will case
I would give him ample credi. for his rev.
Citations. I asked him to tell me why he
supposed he could get at the solution Of
great n mystery.
so great a mystery!' he repeated, as
If hooking me. and in a sneering tone.
Anything is mysterious to the ignorant
and the blind. I have not yet given a
single thought to the case" he went on,
except to see that the newspapers here
are making a great hurrah over 1t. The
reporters are about as obtuse as the Scot
land Yard detectives"
Having given my solemn promise that he
should receive all the credit for unraveling
the mystery. l related, at his request, the
circumstances of the case, how Judge
Hollis property was being distributed to
his heirs-at-law when a mysterious burned
document was received by the register of
wills. ] told him all I knew of the case,
of which he appeared to be utterly ignor-
ant. I thought 1 had given him all infor-
nation that a detective could desire, but
at the conclusion of my narrative he asked
If that was all knew, and remarked that
detectives, lawyers and reporters see only
what is unimportant, while they allow the
salient facts to pass unnoticed.
Were there any marks on the burned
paper-no finger prints?"
replied that SO far as / knew there
had been no attempt to discover such
n arks.