The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-27

Then on Saturday. unless you hear to
the contrary, We shall meet er tia 1870
train from P~addington."
We had risen to depart when Baskerville
gave e cry Of triumph. and diving into
one Of the corners Of the room he drew q
brown boot from under a cabinet.
Ny missing bootr' he cried.
Ma all our difficulties vanish az easily!-
SAID Sherlock Holmes.
But It is a very singular thing" Doctor
Mortimer remarked. Il searched this room
carefully before lunch"
And so did l." said Baskerville. Every
tnch OF it"
There was certainly no boot in II then"
In that case the waiter must have
placed 1t there while We were lunching."
The German was sent for. but protested
to know nothing OF the matter, nor could
any inquiry clear It up. Another item had
been added to that constant and apparently
purposeless series Of small mysteries which
had succeeded each other SO rapidly. Set
ting aside the whole grim story OF Sir
Charles's death. We had a line OF mex
plIcable incidents all within the limits
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 Low the return OF the new brown
boot Holmes sat in silence N the cab as
wc drove back to Baker street, and I knew
from his drawn broWs and keen face that
his mind. like my own, was busy In en-
dea .orinS to frame some scheme into which
all these strange and apparently discon-
nected episodes could be fitted. All after
noon 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 directed,
but sorry to report unable to trace cut sheet
Of Times. CARTWRIGHT"
There 20 two of my threads. Watson.
There Is nothing more stimulating than a
case where everything goes against you
We must cast round FOR another scent"
W have still the cahman who drove the
Spy"
Exactly. I have wired to get his name
and address from the official registry. 1
should not be surprised II this were an an
Swer to my question"
The ring at the bell proved to be some
thing even more satisfactory than an an
swer. however. for the door opened and n
rough-looking fellow entered, who was evil
IDENTIFY the man himself.
Il got o message from the head offce
that q gent at this address had been in
curing for zA." said he. I've driven my
cab this seven years and never a word of
complaint. I came here straight from the
Yard to ask you to your face what you
had against me-"
i have nothing in the world against you.
my good man." said Holmes. ''On the con-
trary, I have half q sovereign for you II
you will give me a clear answer to my
questions"
We'll, I've had a good day and no mis-
take" said the cabman. with a grin. What
was 1t you wanted to ask. sirF'
First OF all, your name and address, in
case l wan you again"
John Clayton. No. 3 Turpey street. the
Borough Ny cab Is out OF ShlpIey's Yard,
near Waterloo Station"
Sherlock Holmes made a note of It.
Now, Clayton. tell me all about the fare
who came and watched this house at 10
o'clock this morning and afterwards fol-
lowed the two gentlemen down Regent
street"
The man looked surprised and q little en-
barrassed- Why. there's no good my tell
ing you things. foi you seem to know as
much as I do already" said he. The truth
Is that the gentleman told me that he was
q detective and that I was TO say nothing
about him to any one"
My good fellow, this Is a very serious
business and you may find yourself In a
pretty bad position IL you try TO hide any
thing from me You say that your fare
told you that he was q detectiYe?'
Yes, he did"
when did he say this?p
when he left me-"