The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-06
Ar sHERLocK HOLMES.


Mr. Sherlock Holmes. who was usually
very late in the mornings. save upon
those not infrecuent occasions when he
was UP ell night, was seated at the
breakfast table. stood upon the hearth
rug and picked up the stick which our
visitor had left behind him the night be-
fore. II was q fine. thick piece of wood
dubious headed. OF the sort which is
known as a Penang lawyer" Just UNI
der The head was a broad silver band,
nearly an inch across TO James Nor
timer. Al. r. c. s., from his friends of
The c. c. H." was engraved upon it
With the date 'IsSz" 1t was Just SUCH
"a stick as the old-fashioned family prac-
utioner used to carry-dignified, solid,
and reassuTinE.
We'll. Watson. what do you make Of
it?"
Holmes was sitting with his back to
me, and had given him no sign of my
occupation.
How did you know what I was do
ing? / believe YOU have eyes in the
back of your head
u have. at least, a well-polished silver
plated coffee-pot in front of me-" said
he But. tell me, Watson. what do you
make or our visitors stick? Since we
have been SO unfortunate as to miss
him and have notion of his errand.
this accidental souvenir becomes OF i'm
Icrtance. Let me hear you reconstruct
the man by examination Of il
j think said l following as far as
could the methods Of my companion.
that DR. Mortimer is a successful cid
orIy medical man. well esteemed. since
those who know him give him this mark
OF their appreciation.
'.Good." said Holmes Excellent
81 think also that the probability is in
favor of his being country practitioner
Il ~ so III F~Jt t.,er y,,,
foot
wy so?"
Because this stick, though originally
very handsome one has been
knocked about that I can hardly mag
inc a town practitioner carrying it. The
thick iron ferrule is worn down, SO it
Is evident that he has done great
amount of walking with It"
Perfectly sound!' said Holmes.
And then again. there is the friends
OF the c. c. H I should guess that to
he the Something Hunt. the local hunt
to whose members he has possibly given
some surgical assistance. and which has
made him small presentation in re-
turn
SAID Holmes pushing back his chair and
lighting cigarette. Il am bound to
sa. that in all the accounts which you
have been so good as to give of my own
small achievements you have hahitual1y
underrated your own abilities. It may
be that you are not yourself luminous.
but you are a conductor of light Some
people without possessing genius have
a remarkable power of stimulating it.
] CONFESS. my dear fellow. that am
Very much in your debt,
He had never said as much before, and
must admit that his words gave me
keen pleasure. for ] had often been
piqued by his Indifference to my admi-
ration and to the attempts which ! had
made to give publicity to his methods
] was proud. too. TO think that ] had SO
far mastered his system to apply It
3n way which earned his approval. He
now took the stick from my hands and
examined II for a few minutes with his
naked eyes Then with an expression
of interest he laid down his cigarette
and. carrying the cane to the window,
ne looked over 1t again with a convex
lens.
Interesting. though elementary" said
he as he returned to his favorte corner
of the settee. There are certainly one
or two indications upon the stick. 1t
gives US the basis for several deduc-
tons
HAS anything escaped me-" I asked.
with some self-iuportance. II trust that
there is nothing of consequences which
I have overlooked.
II am afraid. my dear watson. that
most of your conclusions We're erron-
eous When 7 said that you stimulated
me. I meant, to be frank, that in noting
rour falla cies I was occasionally guided
towards the truth. Not that you are en-
tirelv wrong IN this instance. The man
Is certainly country practitioner ana
he walks q good deal
Then I was right