The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-20
WAS ever such

y
from the tide Of vehicles. WAS ever sueA
bad luck and such bad management. toof
Watson. Watson. II you are an honest nan
you will record this also and set II again=I
nv successesr'
Who was the manr
Il have not an idea"
"a spyT"
We'll. Il was evident from vnat We nave
heard that Baskerville has been very
closely Swallowed by some one since ne has
been In town How else could IL be known
so quickly that 1t was the Northumber-
land Hotel which he had chosen7 II they
had followed him the first day I argued
that they would follow him also the SEQ
ond. You may have observed that I twice
strolled over to the window while DR.. Nor
timer WIS reading his l~engsnd."
Yes. 1 remember"
Il was looking out for loiterers IN
the street. but I saw mona We
are dealing with q clever man.
Watson. This matter cuts very deep. and
though I have not finally made up my mind
whether IL is a benevolent or a malevolent
agency. which Is IN touch with Us. I am
conscious always OF power and design
When our friends left ! at once followed
them In the hopes OF marking down their
invisible attendant. So willy was he that
he had not trusted himself upon foot. but
he had Ryailed himself OF q cab. 80 that he
could lolter behind or dash past them and
so escape their notice. His method had the
additional advantage that II they were TO
take q cab he was all ready TO follow them
IL has. however. one obvious disadvantage"
II puts him IN the power OF the cabman-"
Exactly"
What e pity We ara not get the num-
berr'
My dsar Watson, clumsy as I have been,
you surely do not seriously imagine that I
neglected to get the number? 2O4 is our
man But that Il no use for the moment"
u fail to see how you could have done
more"
o Observing the cab I should have In
stantly turned and walked In the other di-
rscton. l should then at my leisure have
hired a second cab and followed the first a.
e respectful distance. or. better still. have
driven TO the Northumberland Hotel and
waited there. When our unknown had fol-
lowed Baskerville home we should have had
the opportunity OF playing his own game
upon himself. and seeing where he made
FOR. Al 1t II. by an indiscreet eageEness.
which waa taken advantage OF with extra
ordinary ouickness and energy By our oppO-
nsnt. We have betrayed ourselves and lost
our man"
We had been ssuntering slowly down Re
gent street during this conversation and
Doctor Mortimer. with his companion. had
long vanished In front OF Us.
There Is no object in our following
thsm." said Holmes. The shadow has de-
parted and will not return. We must see
what further cards We have in our hands
and play them with decision. CouId YOU
swear to that mans face within the cab?'
I could swear only 10 the beard"
And go could I-from which 1 gather
that In all probability IL was a false one.
A clever mar upon so delicate an errand
mas no use Tor a beard save 70 conceal his
features. Come in here. Watson.'
he turned into one OF the district messen-
ger oHces- where he was warmly greeted
by the manager.
All. Wilson. I see you have not forgotten
the little case in which I had the gool forI
tune TO help you?"
No. sir. indeed I have not. You saved
my good name. and perhaps my life"
ny GEAR fellow. you exaggerate. I havs
some recollection, Wilson. that you had
among your boys a lad named Cartwright,
tgatIon."
Yes. sir. he IS still with ua-
could you r.ns him ~up7-thank you.
And / should be glad to have change Of
this hve-pound note"
A lad OF II. with a bright, keen face. had
obeyed the summons OF the manager. lie
stood now gazing with great reverence at
the famous detective.
Lot me have the Hotel Dlrectory." said
Holmes Thank you'll Now, Cartwright.
there are the names OF twenty-thres hotels
OF charins CrOas Do you seer
Yes, sir"
Yes. sir"
You will begin IN each cas-. BY giving
the outside porter one shilling. Here are
= shilirgs."
Yes. sir"
You Will tell him that you want to .s.
the waste paper OF yesterday. You win saw
that an important telegram has miscarrI4d
and that you are looking Tor #. You under
standP'
Yes. sir
But what you are really looking for -
the center page OF the Times with som,
holes cut IN 1t with scissors. Herr 4, a COW
OF tbs Ttmes- II Is this page. You could
easily recognize II, could you notr'
Yes. SIR"
In each case the outside porter viii s.7d
Ior the han porter. to whom also you viii
give = shilling. Here are Q shininEs. You
VIII then learn in possibly twenty casea
lut OF the twenty-three that the waste q
he day before has been burned or re-
In the three other cases Won will
- SHOWN a heap Of paper and you will look
,or this pags OF the Times among Il. The
'oos are enormously against your fndIrg
L There are 10 shillings over in case Of
Emergencies. Let ne have a report by wf~s
u Baker street before evening. And now.
atson. It only remains for us 20 md out
oy Wire the Identity OF the cabman. No.
~. and then we Will drop Into one OF the
Sond street picture galleries and nl in the
line until we ara due at the hotel
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