The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-13
Mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES.


Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually
very late In the mornings. save upon these
not infrequent occasions when he was "
all night, was seated at the breakfast table.
I stood upon the hearth-rug and picked up
the stick which our visitor had left behind
him the night before. 1t was a fine. thick
piece OF wood, bulbous-headed, OF the sort
which is known as a Penang lawyer"
Just under the head was q broad silver
hand, nearly an inch across. To James
Mortimer. NJ R c. s, from his friends OF
the C. c. H." was engraved upon #, with
the date 1854" It was just such e stick
as the e~ld-fashiOned family practitioner
used to ca-ry-dignihed. solid. and reassur-
ing.
wen. Watson. what do you make of
it7'
Holmes was sitting with his back to me,
and I had given him no sign Of my occupa-
ton.
How did you know what I was dolng?'
I bslieve you have eyes in the back Of your
head"
Il have. at least, a weIl-polished silver
plated conee-pot in front OF me-" said he.
o4A e ne HdLSOls VIII 10 you UlshG
Of our visitors stick? Since We have been
80 unfortunate as TO miss him and have no
notion of his errand. this accidental souve-
mir becomes OF Importance. Let me hear
you reconstruct the man by an examina-
ton Of IT"
II think" said I. following as far as I
could the methods Of my companion, that
Doctor Mortimer Is q successful elderly
medical man. weI-esteemed. since those
who know him give him this mark Of their
appreciation
"Goodr' said Holmes. Excellent
'T think also that the probability is in
favor Of his being a country practitioner
who does = great deal OF his visiting on
foot"
Why sor'
Because this stick, though originally a
very handsome one, has been 60 knocked
about that I can hardly imagine q town
practitioner carrying it. The thick iron
ferruls IL worn down, so It IS evident that
he has done q great amount Of walking
with It"
Perfectly soundI" said Holmes.
And then again, there Is the friends
OF the C.CH.' 1 should guess that to be the !
Something Hunt. the local hunt to whose
members he has possibly given some surgi-
cal assistance, and which has made him a
small presentation in return
Really. Watson. you excel yourself" said
Holmes. pursuing back his chair and light
ing a cirGarette. 81 am bound to say thai !
In all the accounts which you have been so
good as TO give Of my own small achieve
ments you have habitually moderated your |
own abilities. It may be that you are not
yourself luminous. but you are a Conductor |
NJ 1frhF Soma MANILA u-f+hors+ -neuae-f,- 4
genius have a remarkable power Of stimu- !
lsting it I confess, my dear fellow, that
I am very much in your debt"
He had never said as much before. and
I must admit that his words gave me keen
pleasure, for 1 had often been piqued by
his indifference to my admiration and to
the tempt which I had made to give
publicity to his methods. I was proud too
10 think that I had so far mastered his
system as to apply It IN a way which
earned his approval. He now took the stick
from my hands and examined It 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 win
dow. he looked over It again with a con-
rex lenG-
Interesting. though elementary" said
he. as he returned to his favorite corner Of
the settee. There are certainly one or two
indications upon the stick. 1t gives Us the
basis for several deductions"
Has anything escaped me?" I asked,
with some self-importance. II trust that
there is nothing Of consequence which
have overlooked"
I am afraid. my dear Watson, that most
ef your conclusions were erroneous. When
] said that you stimulated me I meant. to
be frank. that in noting your f~aIacies I was
occasionally guided towards the truth. Not
that you are entirely wrong IN this Instance.
The man is certainly a country practitioner.
And he walks a good deal"
Then ] was right"
ITO that extent"
But that was anZr
Ne, no, my dear Watson. not abby -