The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-09
W.-Mr. Homes Solves a Question OF
Authorship.

Copyright, 1903. by .
4 VI.-Mr. Homes Solves a Question OF
Authorship.
There had been some acrimonious dis
tcussion at last session of the Cimmerian
Branch of Sorosis over the authorship of
the works Of William Shakspere Cleo
patra had read paper Of some cleVerness,
which proved to its fair author, at least,
that the plays that have come down to us
from the Golden Age Of Letters, were
from the pen of a syndicate, of which
Shakspere was the managing director;
Xanthippe, in a satirical philippe, dem
onstrated beyond peradventure that they
were written by Guy Fawkes; queen
Elizabeth was strong in the debate in the
affirmation of Bacon's responsibility for
the works; Mrs. Noah proved an alibi for
her husband, and Anne Hathaway, when
called upon to speak,, observed that she
had never heard Of them at all. The dis
cussion waxed SO fast and furious that in
order to prevent the disruption OF the So
ciety, a committee of three, consisting of
Lucretia Borgia, Madame Du Barry and
Portia, was appointed to wait upon myself
with the request that I solve the mystery
| on behalf of the club, promising to abide
| by whatever decision might render.
And then entered upon the enterprise
which, must confess, startled even my
| self in the manner of it's ending. The first
| thing I did was to call upon Sir Francis
Bacon. He received me in the library of
his villa at Noxmere, and I found him
most interesting parsonage.
| Aha he cried, betraying no little
nervousness. You are not taking up lit
erary detection, I hope?,, -.
| Yes, am, Sir Francis" answered.
And my reputation Is at stake. / wish to
save it" -
Bacon eyed me narrowly, and the6 sat
down.. :>s>a'' ~ 80
The action had begun sooner than had
expected: 1t was clear that his lordship
was mueh perturbed at, the intrusion of
myself into his affairs and SO. to throw
him off the scent, instead of asking him
frankly the question, Did you, or did you
not write Shakespere's plays" as I had
come to do. l. answered, choosing my
words by: the merest chance. THAT of
/ DR.. sJekyll and Mr.. HYDE ~. ",
If had thrown a bomb into the middle
OF the library, the effect could not have
been more dramatic. Bacon jumped up as
| If he had been shot, but paid no atten-
ton, going on with my question calmly.
WAS that story romance or realism 90
i You have the subtelty of the serpent,
Mr.. Shylock Homes,' he answered with
difficulty regaining his composure. 'eWhy
do You ask me- of all men, that question ?''
Because" said 1, a great light dawn
ing upon my mind. L thought YOU. OF
all men, could tell me-
'But why? Why? Why? Why?'' he
cried. the reiterated why's rising in in
fection until they ended in Shrek.
Unconsciously, I had struck a vein oi
rich ore, and my future course revealed
itself to me on the instant
i "Because,' said,e because you, Of al
men, should know-having tried the same
fscheTne yourself ''':@
The pallor that spread over his counte-
nance was deadly, and he sank back limI
in his chair, but, with a sudden re.
5 solve, he Strengthened. up again and be.
, came strong. -.
Great Heavens, Homes, where have
you heard this?' he implored.
"Oh-just little coterie to which be
longed in London used to take that the
ory,' lied, land it found so general al
acceptance among us that our friends AM
| our friends friends, that 1 had supposed
I that by this time it was all over
T.. You are retained by?" he queried.
II "Sorosis," said l. - = =
$ ."And your fee-aI will double it. MI
6 Shylock Homes, if you will call off,
E II am incorruptib1e, Sir Francis - sal,
p l, rising, with mock show of anger, "an'
d bid you good evening
: Don't leave me in anger Mr.. Homes
t he pleaded, holding out his hand, Il lav
d long admired you and your work, and wa
8 frankly delighted when I received you
/, card. My unfortunate suggestion, as t
e your fee, I deeply regret. I, of course
: know that you could not be corrupted, bu
!, I so deprecate the prolongation Of the con
t troversy as to my connection with-er
S Shakespeare's works. that I forgot my
:, SELF" - ..
r Don't mention it, Sir rancis,'' replied
e accepting his proffered hand. 81 under
"A oS1.- 1,
:. ill feelings, wish you would TAX
e luncheon with me next Wednesday,"
e He fell into the trap at once. II sha
IS be delighted,'' he said. .
o; .'.And to set forever at rest this absur
theory as to you and Shakspere bein
It another case of Jekyll and Hyde, I'll as
n him, too. If you are both there, you can
Lr not, of course, be the same man, you see.
y Bacon tottered and almost fell as
: spoke, but he soon recovered his equi
l. librium. ...t =-- g. :.
'IrI will see that he accepts he sal
huskily. >, ...-.
s'Thank you," said T. and took my dc
parture.
:, Upon my return to my office, I di
- patched, a, note to .Shakspere biddir
=, him to the feast of Wednesday, and W:
~ ~ somewhat taken aback, in view of n
~ theory, to receive an immediate accep
| dnC6. WuSn L lolI LOIu bdCO!l, L WI
= morally convinced that I had fallen upt
:. - the right solution of the mystery, but
!; this were so, how could both Shakspe
- and Bacon be present. t my luncheon sin
~ ultaneously? It perplexed me much: an
seeing no way out of the mystery, I di
missed the whole matter from my min
and sat down, to await development
e Wednesday. came, and, at the appoint
10 hour, both guests arrived, walking in, ar
~ in arm, and chatting away as a!niab
/ AS if there had never been fierce ba
III tie raging between their followers for t
greatest literary honors the world has
bestow. I was more than ever puzzle
rs when l shook them by the hand and ma
he them welcome at my. table, but it "
>" none the less clear that there was sor
elk mystery to which they were both part
on for Bacon was excessively nervous
through the luncheon, and Shakespe
perspired as freely as though he we
MT EDamocles sitting beneath a suspend
he sword. Moreover, Bacon was loath to
,al EShakespere open his mouth, save to ia
,n in food and drink. He talked incessar
ng lily, and, at times, SO vagariously that
e wondered if he were in his right mir
sly Nor was there about Shakespere any
en- the rbonhoanie that had heard was
elk characteristic Of the man, and, when
e- luncheon was over, instead of feeling tt
e" had known him all my life really +
as if knew him less well than when
had first sat down at table. Still, The
raj they were, both of them, and my thec
no must fall in the face of the fact, .unle