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

I dog himself on our very doorstep. and
there IS the ring OF its owner. Don't move.
/ beg you. Watson. He il a professional
brother OF yours. and your presence may
be OF assistance TO me. Now IS ;he dra-
matte moment Of fate. Watson. when you
hear a step upon the stair which Is walk
Ing into your lie. and you know not wheth-
er Tor good or IN. What does Doctor James
Mortimer. the man or science. ask OF SAer-
lock Holmes. the specialist in crime? Come
In
The appearance o; our visitor was a sur
prise 20 me. since I had expected a typical
country practitioner. He was a very tall.
thin man. with a long nose like a bsak.
which jutted out between two keen, grey
eyes. set closely together and sparkling
brightly from behind a pair CT g~oId-rimmed
glasses. He was clad IN a professional but
rather sloyenly fashion. for his ~frock-coat
vas dingy and his trousers frayed. Though
young. his long back was already bowed.
and he walked with d forward thrust Of his
head and a general air OF peerins benevo-
lence. As he entered his eyes fen upon the
stick in Holiness hand. and he ran towards
It with an exclamation OF joy. Il am so
very glad" said he. Il was not sure wheth-
er 1 had left # here or in the Shipping Of
hce. 1 would not lose that stick for the
world"
a presentation. I see" said Holmes.
Yes. sir"
Prom Charing Cross Hospi;aI?'
Prom one or two friends there on the
occasion Of my marriage
Dear. dear. that's bsd!' said Holmes.
shaking his head.
Doctor Mortimer blInked through his
glasses in mild establishment
why was # bady'
only that you have d~isarranged our lit
tie deductions. Your marriage. you sayg'
Yes, SIR. I married. and so left the hos
pital, and with it all hopes OF a consulting
practice. Il was necessary TO make u home .
Of my own"
Come. come. We are not 50 far wrong .
after ALL" said Holmes. And now. Doctor
James Mortimer"
Mister. sir. Mister-a humble MR-C.S"
And a man Of precise mind. evidently"
"a dabbler IN science Mr.. Holmes. 4
picker Up OF shells on the shores Of the
great unknown ocean. ! presume that Il is ,
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes whom I am address
ing ana not
mo. this is my friend. Doctor Watson"
Glad To meet you, sir. l have heard
your name mentioned in connection with
that OF your friend. You interest me very
much. Mr.. Holmes. l had hardly expected
50 dolichOcephaiic 4 skull or such we'll
marked supra-orbital DEVELOPMENT. Would
you have any objection to my running my
finger along your parietal tissure? A cast
OF your skull. sir, until the original IS avail
able, would be an ornament to any an
thropologlcal museum. It is no; ray luten-
ton 10 5e fulsome, hut ! co-fass tina, I
cOyet your skull"
Sherlock Holmes waved our strange VS.
itor into a chair. You are an enth-siast
in your line OF thought. l perceive. sir. as
1 am in mine" said ne. Il observe from
your f~oreiinser that you make your own
cigarettes. Have 10 hesitation IN lighting
one"
The man drew out paper and tobacco and
twirled the one " in the other with sur
p-lsing d~eNtrity. He had long. qulverIng
fingers as agile and restless as the antennae
OF an insect.
Holmes was silent. but his little darling
siances showed ne the interest which lie
took IN our curious companion.
I presume. sir" said ne at last. that
It was not merely for the purpose Of ex-
my skull that you have done me
the honor 10 call here last night and again
to-dayg'
NO. sir. no; though I am happy to have
had the opportunity OF doing that as well.
came TO you. Mr.. Holmes. because 1 rec
ognized that ! am myself an impractical
man. and because l arm suddenly confront
Ell with a most serious and extraordinary
Recognizing. as 1 90. that Won
are the second highest expert in Europe"
"IHdeed. sir! May I inquire who has the
honor TO be the first?" asked Holmes, with
asperity.
ITO the man OF precisely scientific mind
the work Of Monsieur BertIIIon must al
ways appeal strongly
Then had you not better consult him.
Il said. sir. TO the precisely scientific
mind. But as a practical man OF Affairs it
IS that YOU stand alone.
trust. sir. that have not dyertentIy-
Just . little" said Holmes. - think