The Washington times., 1895-04-14

diately appear omit Mr.. Higgins account
ofthe eeventsleadingu up TO the advertisement,
as irrelevant.
When he had finished, Holmes Enclosed
his eyelids and brought together the tips
OF his long fingers.
Your statement is singularly lucid
he remarked. But as an error at this stage
might prove serious let us recapitulate. The
Object you say, was lost three days ago by
one OF your children, but you have been
unable to discover by which one OF them, or
what the Object itself was. You remember,
Watson, my saying that this case was sure
TO develop a bizarre interest. Now, Mr..
Higgins, let me ask you one question. How
came il To your knowledge that any Object
/ al all had been lost?"
'on entering my study the morning before
/ last. . replied Higgins, Hound duponmytable
! this sentence:-I have lost somthin'.'
! The last word lacked the e and the g
Holmes eye cleaned. Did you recognize
the handwriting"
Il did not
Why"
'Becausethe words were formed byputting
together some letter blocks which Were given
! TO the children last Christmas"
This is OF immense Importance, said
| Holmes, making a note upon his shirt cuff.
| did you preserve the document"
lam sorry tOsay that Charlotte, my negro
housemaid, removed it in my absence"
"Huml But you have the blocks? think
we shall manage. VIII you oblige me by
calling the children"
'All OF then?"
by all means. Watson'-he bent towards
me. caught my pith helmet from my head,
and sent il whirling down into the yard. "As
You go down 10 pick il up, Watson" he
added, take a look underneath the verauda
il is always well TO make sure that one has
been overheard" Knowing his methods,
- -
clear.
Holmes now stretched out his long legs
so that they completely covered the breadth
OF the veranda. The seven children ap-
peared in the order OF their ages, from a
gawky girl OF twenty-five with sandy hair
/ and an ill-fitting riding habit. to little
miss of ten with yellow hair, q sor'
thumb and her frock unbuttoned behind
Ordinary diSguises were superfluous fol
Holmes, but, familiar though l was OF
his power of utterly changing his appear
ance by mere force of Will, / was hardly
prepared for the amazing alteration IL
his physical aspect. which he now affected
; 1t hardly seemed possible that the short
rat, bald-headed old gentlemen, with the
bulbous nose, heavy gold earrings anC
strong smell OF musk, who now sat in HI:
chair, was really my lean and asceu'
friend. In fact, / was on the point OF eA
claiming, why, what has become o.
| HOlmeS?" when, recolIecurS ms ulsi1k'
of being Interrupted. / restrained mysel
! and remained motiOnless.
The children We're required to pass Il
single file from the door at the wester
end of the veranda to that at the eastern
, | All of them did this without mishap unit
il came 10 The turn of the youngest who
in lifting her left foot to step over Holmes
leg. accidentally put 1t through a rent il
the hem OF herfrock and stumbled. Holme
instantly shot out long arm and caugh
2 her. at the same time recovering his nat
ural appearance.
Your name is Lucettina ~ he said, wit
! intense energy. lit is marked in indellbl
ink on the top corner OF your piRafore 70
y are in the habit of riding horse astrid
in the pasture. Here are the filaments G
the horse blanket on both sides OF you
petticoat You have q dog eleven inche
hight was his teeth that tore this reI
in your skirt. You-
ssI haven't got any dog now" intel