The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-27
DID be raw ANYTHING morer

| 'Did h say anything morer
HE mentioned his mama"
Holmes cast q swift glance Of triumph
At me. -oh. he mentioned his name. did
hef That was imprudent- What was the
name that he mentionedT'
HIS name" eaid the cabman, was Mr..
Sherlock Holmes"
Never have 1 seen my friend more COM
pletely taken aback than by the cabman's
] reply. For an instant he sat In silent
amazement. Then he burst into = hearty
laugh.
"A touch, watson-en ~undenIable touchr'
said he. Il feel a foil as quick and supple
as my own. He got home upon me very
prettily that time. So his name was Sher-
lock Holmes, was itr'
Yes. sir, that was the gentleman's
name
Excellent Tell me where you picked
him Up and all that occurred"
He hailed me at half-past nine In
Trafalgar Square. He said that he was
a detective. and he offered me two Suineas
II I would do exactly what he wanted AL
day and ask no question: I was glad
enough 20 agree First We drove down to
the Northumberland Hotel and waited
there until two gentlemen came out and
took a cab from the rank We followed
their cab until It pulled up somewhere
near here"
This very door" said Holmes.
well, l ouldn be sure OF that but
I daresay my fare knew all about It We
pulled up halfway down the street and
waited an hoLr and q half. Then the
two gentlemen passed us. walking, and We
followed down Baker street and along"
I know" said Holmes
Until we got three-cusrters down Re
gent street Then my gentleman threw up
the trap. and he cried thai / should drive
right away to Waterloo Station as hard
as 1 could go. 1 whipped up the mare
and We were there under the ten minutes.
Then he paio up his two g~uineas. like a
good one. and away he went Into the sta
ton Only Just as he was leaving he turned
round and said: Tt might interest you
to know that you have been driving Mr..
Sherlock Holmes That's how I come to
know the name"
Il see. And you saw no more Of himr-
mot after he went into the station"
And how would you describe Mr.. Sher
lock HolmesT'
The cabman scratched his head. We'll,
he wasn't altogether such an easy gentle
man to describe. I'd put him at 40 years
OF age. and he was Of middle
height, two or three inches shorter
than you. sir. He was dressed like a ton.
and he had a black beard. cut square at
the end. and 8 pale face. 1 don't know as I
could say more than that"
Color OF his eyesr'
NO, I can't say that"
Nothing more that you can remember?'
No. sir; nothing"
well, then. here Is your half sovereign.
There's another one waiting for you II you
can bring any more information Good
night"
Good night. sir. and thank you"
John Clayton departed chucklinE. and
Holmes turned to me with q shrug OF tbs
shoulders and a rueful smile.
Snap goes our third thread. and We end
where we began" said he. The cunning
rascal He knew our number: knew that
Sir Henry Baskerville had consulted me;
spotted who 1 was in Regent street; con-
tectured that l had got the number OF the
cab. and would lay Ty hands on the driver,
and so sent back this audacious message.
/ tell you. Watson. this time We have got a
foeman who is worthy OF our steel I've
been checkmated In London. I can only
wish you better luck in Devonshire- But
I'm not easy in my mind about It."
About what?"
About sending you It's a ugly busl-
less, Watson. an ugly. dangerous business,
and the more / see Of IL the less I IKE IL.
Yes, my dear fellow. you nay laugh. but
1 give you my word that I shall be very
glad to have you back safe and sound In
Baker street once more"
CHAPTER vi.