The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-11-07
OF OF Hound e the
: Tobascovilles
Or. HOT ON THE TRAIL


A. C.. D. in New York Sun: "Ah.
Holmes" said Watson, as he opened
the door Of the great detectives study
and was met by a cloud Of sitting
smoke. II perceive that you are en-
gagged in writing up a new case. I hope
that I am not interrupting." .
mot at all, not at all. Come in,"
replied Holmes.
Watson recognized the voice, but the
form of his friend was curtained by tn
smoke that effectually screened him.
But, tell me, how did you know I
was at work, doctor?" he asked as
Watson CROPPED his way sputtering
through the room and made for a win
dow.
"Why-why- gasped Watson,
one could hardly overlook the fact
that it Is your habit to shut yourself
up in this damnable way when you
wish to concentrate, and puff away at
that cursed shag-I recognize the very
brand by the stench-until you are en-
veloped. I don't understand how you
manage it."
First rate; a good and logical infer
ence. Watson" said Holmes, heartily,
you are making rapid strides in your
mastery Of my patent process Of in
ductive inferential ratiocination, n I
think you may be able to render me
some little assistance in a matter I
have in hand at the very moment. The
fue draws badly" he remarked.
Whats that you say?" exclaimed
DR.. Watson.
'That I must get a sweep to clean
this chimney. 7 nave been trying to
light a fire in the hearth for above an
hour" 49, el.g
,"And do you mean to say that that
is where the smoke comes from and
| that Won have NOT haan smoking at
all?"
mot to my knowledge, and I think I
should have known 1t If I had" re-
piled Sherlock in his calm, even, inn
perturbable manner
"And here I have been congratulate
ing myself on your compliments. You
have struck q terrible blow at my van
ity."
mot at all, my dear Watson" said
the detective as he arose from his
!kneeling posture before the fireplace.
The draught from h window had
cleared out the smok and Watson OBJ
served the, tall, gaunt form Of his
tourist cap and velvet house Jacket.
Threads and wisps of smoke curled
about him like cloud filaments about
the summit Of some mighty mountain.
He was indeed a mountain, an intel
lectual mountain, and Watson made a
SlGIlldl ulG1llCld VI Lie pOSL1C uS~
hre for future USE. ,...r sr. L..
'You have unwittingly done me a
great SERVICE" Holmes continued, land
1T was that to which I referred in what
| you are pleased to term my flattery.""
Holmes picked UP his violin, placed 1t
lovingly under his chin, and for a mo-
ment lost himself in the music he con-
jured from 1t by drawing across its
strings a stick Of. hickory from the
wood basket. Music was one Of
/, Holmes eccentricities. He was ex-
c%eeding1y fond of it and found his chief
relaxation in practicing 1t on a variety
Of Instruments, many Of which he had
from such odds and end as tin lard
pals and bits Of gas pipe. He could
get as much music from a single string
as many men could get from a whole
cord mattress.
"You have recalled to my mind" said
Holmes, returning from his reverie,
chat I am still dead and that If I ex-
pect to get back again before the pub
lie I must find some way to make g.
sensational r-eappea1ance. I have gen.
orally left the details Of publicity to
you, my lear Watson, but nov 7 have
an idea myself, and it was the sight OF
you that gave me the clue to the situa-
tom, as
"Well?" queried Watson.
watson" aaid Holmes, t'you call
yourself my friend, yet you have never
done better by me than a measly short
story l
ST know; but think of the advantages
IT know" replied Holmes, waving his
hand d~eprecatingly, "but that graft is
about worked out, and If LEONE back
it must be In a real novel;"
Have YOU thought of the plot?"
i got It this morning from the Times.
There was an article about a certain
family down in Devon which tradition
says is pursued by a phantom hound.
The late holder Of the obascoville title
died a victim to the delusion.n" RI
II thought you didn't place much
stock in superstitions?"
Not in my own, but a great deal in
other peoples" st
$50 you propose
II ITO work the hell-hound racket for
all 1t is worth sc that you can write 1t
up. There's, new heir to the title and
Iin#the family story. Then we must get
him chased by real dog. Any neigh
boris dog will do at night when his eyes
and mouth are. fixed with phosphores-
cence. That will innplicate the dogs
owner and we q reveal a real murder
II plot when we prove that the dog Is nc
phantom, but areal me-" sS
Watsonicoul not control his admir-
alton. In response to his unspoken look
OF wondecHolmes continued:
81 shall have to. count ii lot upon you
to arrange the pretty details. You must
have al lot OF them-half dozen mes
senger boys, "a score OF kilograms,
trains back and forth between London
and Devon, the inevitable s~tenographic
lady with a shady past, some well Sc
lected household servants. very sus-
ptcious. and at least one escaped COM
Wet. I am glad the country Is pictur-
esque, because description Will count
a greatSdeal IN b observation-disclosures
to be novel this time. Stave off Iii
end by all E till the very last min
u nie. It Will be 81 hard task. but i think