The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-26
THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEERS THUMB

submitted to my friend, Sherlock
Holmes, for solution during the years
of our intimacy, there were only two
which [ was the means Of Introducing |
to his notice-that of Mr.. Hatherley's
thumb and that of Colonel Warburton's
madness Of these, the latter may have
afforded q finer field for an acute and
original observer, but the other was so
strange in it's inception and so dramatic
worthy of being placed upon record,
even if it gave my friend fewer open
ings for those deductive methods Of
reasoning by which he achieved such
remarkable results. The story has, L
believe, been told more than once in the
newspapers, but, like all such mar
ratives, it's effect is much less striking
when set forth en- bloc in a single half
column of print than when the facts
slowly evolve before your own eyes,
and the mystery clears gradually away
as each new discovery furnishes a step
which leads on to the complete truth.
At the time the circumstances made
deep impression upon me, and the lapse
of two years has hardly served to weak
en- the effect.
1t was in the summer of $50, not long
after my marriage, that the events oc-
Cured which I am now about to sum-
Marie. l had returned to civil prac-
tice, and had finally abandoned Holmes
in his Baker street rooms, altho 1 con-
tinually visited him and occasionally
even persuaded him to foregoe his bo-
hemian habits so far as to come and
visit us. My practice had steadily in
creased, and as I happened to live at no
very great distance from. Paddington
station, 1 got a few patients from
among the officials. One of these, whom
I had cured of a painful and lingering
disease, was never weary OF advertising
my virtues, and Of endeavoring to send
me on every sufferer over whom he
might have any influence.
One morning, at a little before 7
o'clock, awakened by the maid
tapping at the door, to announce that
two men had come from Paddington,
and were waiting in the consulting
room. I dressed hurriedly, for I knew
by experience that railway cases were
seldom trivial, and fastened downstairs.
AS I descended, my old ally, the guard,
came out of the room and closed the
door tightly behind him.
"I've got him hcre,' he whispered,
Jerking his thumb over his shoulder;
she's all right
''What is it, thena' I asked, for his
manner suggested that it was some
strange creature which he had Gagged up
in my room.
"It's new patient,' he whispered.
CT thought I'd bring him round my
self; then he couldn It slip away. There
he is all safe and sound. [ must &c
now, doctor; have my dooties, just the
same as you.' And off he went, this
trustv tout, without even giving me
time to thank bin.
I entered my consulting room and
found a gentleman seated by the table
He was quietly dressed in a suit OF
heather tweed, with a soft cloth cap
which he had laid down upon my books
Round one of his hands he had hand
kerchief wrapped, which was notified
all over with blood-stains. He was
young, not more than fve-and twenty
I should say, with strong, masculine
face; but he was exceedingly pale, ant
gave me the impression of man wh(
was suffering from some strong agita
ton, which it took all his strength o:
mind to control.
~ am sorry to knock you up SO ear
1y, doctor,' said he, "but I hav
had a very serious accident during
the night I came in by train thi
morning, and on inquiring at Padding
ton as to where I might find doctor
a worthy fellow very kindly escorte
me here. I gave the maid card, bu
I sec that she has left it upon the sid
table,
I took it up and glanced at it. "Ml
Victor Hatherley, hydraulic enginee,
16A, Victoria Street (3d foor).' Tina
was the name, style and abode of m
morning visitor. ''I regret that 1 hav
kept you waiting,' said I, sitting dow
Ill MY library CudIi. Ou are LIES
from a night journey, I urderstan,
which is in itself monotonous occup;
tion.'
"Oh, my night could not be Gale
monotonous, said he and laughed. r
laughed very heartily, with high, rins
ing note, leaning back in his chair an
shaking his sides. All my medical il
stincts rose up against that laugh.
"Stop it'll" I cried; 'tpull yourse
together! and poured out some watt
from a caraffe. ..
1t was useless, however. He was O
IN. one of those hysterieal outburs
which come upon a strong nature whe
some great crisis is over and gon
Presently he came to himself once NOR
very weary and blushing hotly.
s'I have been making fool of m
SELF he gasped.
..' "Not at all. Drink this" I dash,
some brandy into the water, and G
color began to come back to his bloc
less cheeks.
sThat's better!" he said. al
now, doctor, perhaps you would kind
attend to my thumb, or rather to I
place where my thumb used to be.
held out his hand. It gave even \
hardened nerves shudder to look at