The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-14

ordinary detective would doubtless have
regarded as mere rubbish. Lucettina
meanwhile seemed to find him vastly en-
tertaining, and once she mounted astride
his back and he conveyed her consid-
cradle distance in this manner. 1t was
perhaps half an hour before they re-
turned together toA the veranda-
well Holmes" l exclaimed. what
success"
He gave me a vacant glance but made
no reply. His face was pale and there
was a drawn, stern look about his mouth.
For ten minutes. during which neither
Higgins nor myself ventured to draw a
breath, he strobe moodily up and down
the veranda, his hands thrust deep into
his trousers pockets and his chin sunk
upon his breast. Suddenly. without a
moments warning. he dashed through
the western door. which opened into the
dining room. and slammed 1t violently be-
hind him. What did ii all mean?
Higgins and / exchanged a startled
look. We listened. A low, but unmistak-
able gurgling noise struck our ears. We
sprang to our feet. Could 1t be that my
poor friend. defeated at last by the in
surrnountable difficulties of this problem.
had preferred death to dishonor? We
rushed into the room.
The following spectacle met our gaze.
Holmes sat at the table holding to his
lips pocket flask. the last drops from
which he was pouring down his throat.
I knew II TO contain Three-Stars brandy,
and leaped forward. hoping to secure
drain for myself But he had been to
quick for me.
Holmes" / gasped. staggering back
from a well-delivered blow on the eye,
have you solved the problem?"
THE problem he repeated with en-
amused smile. rolling UP the solid silver
flask as IL II had been a wisp of paper in
a nd FatQ IL ls
watch fob "The problem. as yoI call 1t.
my dear Watson. was solved three hours
ago."
How? What? exclaimed Higgins and
in a breath.
II have here" replied he. producing the
article as he spoke. "a twelve-ounce has
fun OF perique tobacco and a
pipe II YOU have no ob1ec-
ton I will smoke the former in the
latter while relating my Investigations"
Higgins signified his compliance, we all
three returned to the veranda, where
Holmes. from the midst OF the blue cloud
IN which he speedily enveloped himself,
spoke as follows:
My friend Watson here will bear me out
In saying that my interest I'm this case
has been due rather to it's romantic and
serni-tropical surroundings than to any,
thing specially abstruse In the circum-
stances themselves. The two volumes Of
my adventures and Memoirs, which
he has already published, and which. ~
you have not already secured them, /
should advise you to obtain without de-
lay, contain. somewhat enbell.shed per-
haps. a few of such OF my experiences az
the present state OF European politics
make II judiciocs to publish. l was about
to say that my first glimpse of your lit
tie advertisement convinced me that II
must be Lucettina who had lost Object.
OF course the stumble OF the little girl
over my legs was not the accident that
1t seemed TO be. but a part OF my care
fully prepared plan. My subsequent
cross-examination OF her, which to YOU
no doubt appeared SO aimiess and incon-
sequential. really informed me that she
had had a knife which she had lost, and
a dog which had been killed by a kick
form horse on which she had bean I'D
ing. IL was at this tuncture that we WIS.,
ited the pasture. during our STAY In
which l elected the information that she
had put her knife I'm her pocket lust be-
fore taking her ride. Her pocket having
at the time been fun OF other matter 7
at once perceived that the knife nigh,
easily have become dislodged. proba DIV
in the act of her being placed on the
horse by the groom, or In the suisse
quent galiop. The pocket is on the right
hand side Of the dress; IL was therefore
on tho right-haud side OF the path TINT 7
conducted my scrutiny. Satisfied that IL
ha