Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-07-09
Id he any friepdSin forns'-

Jor had retired some little time befora
and lived at Upper Norwood. We com
municated with. him, of course. but he
I did pot even know that his brother Of
ticer was in England"
| "A singular case" remarked Holmes.
| have not yet described TO YOU the
most singular part. About six wears
ago-to be exact, upon the 4th of Nav.
Ioo2-an advertisement appeared in the
Times asking for the address of Miss
Mary Morstan, and stating that it
| would be to her advantage to come for
4 ward. There was no name or address
\ appended l had at that time Just en-
tered the family of Mrs. Cecil Forester
In the capacity of governess. By hSr
advice l published my address in the
advertisement column. The same dav
there arrived through the post small
| cardboard box addressed TO me, which
found to contain very large and lus-
trous pearl No word of writing was
inclosed- Since then, every wear, upon
the same date, there has always an
| peared a similar box, containing a sim
liar pearl, without any clew as to the
/ sender They have been pronounced
by an expert to be of a rare variety and
OF considerable value. You can see for
yourselves that they are very hand
some" She opened fat box as she
spoke, and showed me six of the finest
pearls that had ever seen.
| Your statement is most interest
lng," said Sherlock Holmes. Has any
thing else occurred to you?"
"Yes, and no later than to-day. That
is why l have come to you. This morn
ing l received this letter, which you
win perhaps read for yourself"
| THANK you" said Holmes. 1.-THE
envelope, too, please. Postmark, Lon
don, S. W.; date, July z. Hunt Mans
thumbmark on corner-probably post
man. Best quality paper. Envelopes
at slxpence packet. Particular man
In his stationery. No address. BE at
the third pillar from the left outside
the Lyceum theater tonight at seven
o'clock. If you are distrustful, bring
two friends. You are a wronged wom-
an, and shall have justice Do not
bring police. If you do, all will be in
vain. Your unknown friend Well,
really, this is very pretty little mys-
terry. What do you intend to do, Miss
| Morstan?"
THAT is exactly what want to ask
you"
"Then we shall most certainly 90.
You and l. and-yes, why, Dr. Watson
is the very man. Your correspondent
says two friends He and / have
worked together before"
/ But would he Gomez" she asked
with something appealing in her voice
and expression.
II should be proud and happy. "
said l, fervently, IF | can be of anv
service"
I You are both very kind" she an
swered. 81 have led a retired life, and
nave no friends whom could appeal
to. If am here at six twill do, sup
pose?"
l You must not be later" said
Holmes. There is one other point.
is this handwriting the same as that
upon the pearl-box addresses?"
/ II have them here" she answered
producing nall dozen pieces of paper.
You are certainly a model client:
You have the correct intuition. Let
us sec now" He spread out the paper
| upon the table, and gave little darting
chances from one to the other. "Thev
are disguised hands, except the letter"
he said, presently, but there can be no
| question as TO the authorship. See how
the irrepressible Greek will break
out, and see the twirl on the final 3
They are undoubtedly by the same per-
son. | should not like to suggest false
hopes, Miss Morstan, but is there anv
resemblance between this hand and
| that of your father?"
Nothing could be more unlike"
expected to hear you say so. We
shall look out for you, then, at six.
tray allow me To keep the papers. I
may look into the matter before then.
1t is only half-past three. An revoir.
then"
"Au revoir," said our visitor. and.
with bright, kindly glance from, one
10 the other of us, she replaced her
pearl box In her bosom and hurried
away. Standing at the window, |
watched her walking brislIly down the
street, until the gray turban and white
feather were but speck in the somber
crowd.
What very attractive woman" /
exclaimed, turning TO my companion
nc Hdu III MS pipe AGAIN, ana was
leaning back with dropping eyelids
SIS she?" he said, languidly. Il did not
observe"
You really are an automaton-a cal
culating machine!" cried There is
something positively inhuman in You
at times"
He smiled gently, at is of the first
Importance" he said, mot to allow
your Judgment to be biased by per-
sonal qualities. a client is to me a mere
unit-a factor in problem. The emo
tional qualities are antagonistic to clear
reasoning. i assure you that the most
winning woman | ever knew was
hanged for poisoning three little chill
dren for their insurance money, and
the most repellent man of my acquaint-
ance is philanthropist who has spent
nearly quarter of million upon the
London poor"
I'm this case, however,"
81 never make exceptions. An ex-
ception diSproveS the rule Have vou