The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-27

series of small mysteries which had
/ succeeded each other so rapidly. Set
/ ting aside the whole grim story of
/ Sir Charles death we had line of in
! applicable incidents all within the linn
! its of two days, which included the
receipt OF the printed letter, the black :
! bearded spy in the hanson. the loss
| of the new brown boot. the loss of
| the old black boot, and now the re-
turn of the new brown boot Holmes
/ sat in silence in the cab as we drove
| back to Baker street. and / knew from
| his drawn brows and keen face that
| his mind. like my own. was busy in
| endeavoring to frame some scheme
| into which all these strange and ap-
| parently disconnected episodes could
be fitted. All afternoon and late into
the evening he sat lost in tobacco and
thought.
Just before dinner two kilograms
were handed in. The first ran:
Have just heard that Barrymore is
at the Hall.-Baskerville." The second:
Visited twenty-three hotels as di-
rected. but sorry to report unable 20
trace cut sheet of Times.-Cartwright.
There go two of my threads, Wat
son. There is nothing more stimuldt-
ing than a case where everything
goes against you. We must cast round
for another scent"
I'VE have still the cabman who drove
the spy
Exactly. / have wired to get his
name and address from the Official
Registry. l should not be surprised if
this were an answer to my question"
The ring at the bell proved to be
something even more satisfactory than
an answer, however. for the door open
ed and a rough-looking fellow entered
who was evidently the man himself.
II got a message from the head Of
flee that a gent at this address had
been jnquiring for 2.704," said he. i've
driven my cab this seven years and
never a word of complaint. 1 came
here straight from the Yard to ask you
to your face what you had against
me-
II have nothing in the world against
you, my good man. said Holmes. "On
the contrary, l have half a sovereign
for you if you will give me a clear
answer to my questions"
Well I've had a good day and no
mistake" said the cabman, with
grin. What was it you wanted to
ask. sir?"
First of all your name and address,
in case want you again"
John Clayton, 8. Turpey street, the
Borough. My cab is out of Shipley
dldy near w dlGI lOO EoLdllOii
Sherlock Holmes made a note of it,
Now, Clayton, tell me all about the
fare who came and watched this house
a 10 o'clock this morning and after
wards followed the two gentlemen
down Regent street"
The man looked surprised and a lit
tie embarrassed. why, there's no
good my telling you things, for you
seem to know as much as 1 do al
ready" said he. THE truth is that
the gentleman told me that he was
detective and that l was to say moth
ing about him to anyone"
My good fellow, this is a very Sc
rious business and you may find your
self in a pretty bad position if you try
to hide anything from me. You say
that our fare told you that he was
detective?"
Yes. he did"
when did he say this?"
when he left me-"
did he say anything more"
He mentioned his name"
Holmes cast a swift glance of
triumph at me. "Oh. he mentioned his
name, did he? That was imprudent.
What was the name that he mention
ed?"
His name" said the cabman, was
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes"
Never have / seen my friend more
completely taken aback than by the
claimants reply. For an instant he sat
in slant amazement. Then he burst
into a hearty laugh.
"A touch, Watson-an undeniable
touch!" said he II feel foil as quick
and supple as my own. He got home
upon me very prettily that time. So
his name was Sherlock Holmes, was
it?"
Yes. sir, that was the gentleman's
name"
Excellent! Tell me where you pick
ed him up and all that occurred"
He hailed me at half-past nine in
Trafalgar Square. He said that he was
detective, and he offered me two
guineas if l would do exactly what he
wanted all day and ask no questions.
l was glad enough to agree. First we
drove down to the Northumberland Ho-
tel and waited there until two gentle
men came out and took a cab from
the rank. We followed their cab until
1t pulled UP somewhere near here"
This very door," said Holmes.
well, 1 couldn't be sure of that,
but daresay my fare knew all about
it. We pulled up halfway down the
street and waited an hour and a half
Then the two gentlemen passed us,
walking, and We followed down Baker
street. and along
Il know" said Holmes.
Until we got three-quarters down
Regent street. Then my gentleman
threw up the trap, and he cried that
l should drive right away to Waterloo
Station as hard as l could 60 l whip
ped up my mare and we were there
under the ten minutes Then he paid
up his two guineas, like a good one,
and away he went into the station
Only just as he was leaving he turned
round and he said: 1t might interest
you to know that you have been driv-
ing Mr. Sherlock Holmes That's how
/ came to know the name"
Il see. And you saw no more of
him?"
mot after he went into the station"
And how would you describe Mr..
Sherlock Holiness
The cabman scratched his head
well. he wasn't altogether such an
easy gentleman to describe. I'd put
him at 40 years of age,
and he was of a middle hight.
two or three inches shorter
than you, sir. lie was dressed like a
toff, and he had a black beard, cut
square at the end, and a pale face.
don't know as l could say more than
that"
Color of his eyes?"
NO, l can't say that"
Nothing more that you can remem-
bero''
No. sir: nothing"
We'll. then, here is your half-sov-
ereign. There's another one waiting for
you If you can bring any more intor-