The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-26

some hours in silence with his long. thin back curved over a chemical vessel in
 which he was brewing par
 ticularly malodorous pro
 duet. His head was sunk upon his breast, and he looked rom my point of view like strange, lank bird, with dull grey plumage and black top-knot.
 So, Watson" said he. suddenly, you do not propose to invest in South African securities?'
 gave a start of astonishment. Ac- customed as was to Holmes curi- ous faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable.
 How on earth do you know thatY' I asked.
 He wheeled round upon his stool. with a steaming test-tube in his hand, and gleam of amusement in his deep set eyes.
 Now, Watson. confess yourself ut- terly taken aback," said he.
 'I am.'
 "I ought to make you sign a paper to that effect"
 Why"
 s"Because in five minutes you will say that it is all so absurdly simple"
 'I am sure that l shall say nothing of the kind"
 You see, my dear Watson"-he propped his test-tube in the rack, and began to lecture with the air of professor addressing his class-'it is not really difficult to construct se- ries of differences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself If, after doing so, one sim ply knocks out all the central infer ences and presents ones audience with the starting-point and the conclu- sion, one may produce a startling, though possibly a meretr1cious, effect. Now, it was not really difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left forefingcr and thumb, to feel sure that you did not propose to in- vest your small capital in the gold fields"
 ''Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection Here are the missing. links of the very sim pie chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. ?.
 
 billiards to steady the cue. g. You never play billiards except with Thurston. 4. You told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option on some South African property which would expire in a month, and which he desired you to share with him. 5. Your cheque book is locked fin my drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You do not propose to in- vest your money in this manner"
 ''How absurdly simple!' I cried
 Quite sol' said he, a little netted. .'Every problem becomes very childish when once 1t is, explained to you. Here is an unexplained one. See what you can make of that, friend Watson" He tossed a sheet of paper upon the table, and turned once more to his chemical analysis.
 looked with amazement at the ab- surd hieroglyphics upon the paper.
 '.Why, Holmes, it is a child's draw ing cried.
 'sOh, that's your ideap'
 What else should it be?''
 That Is what MT. Hilton Cubitt of Riding Thorpe Manor, Norfolk is very anxious to know This little conun- drum came by the first post, and he was to follow by the next train. There's a ring at the bell, Watson. I should not be very much surprised if this were he."
 A heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and an instant later there en- tered a tall, ruddy, clean-shaven gen. tleman, whose clear eyes and dorid cheeks told of a life led far from the fogs of Baker street. He seemed to bring whiff of his strong, fresh, bracing, east coast fir with him as he entered. Having shaken hands with each of us. he was about to sit down, when his eye rested upon the paper with the curious markings, which I had Just examined and left upon the table.
 well, MT. Holmes. what do you make of these?" They told me that you were fond of queer mysteries and I don't think you can find a queerer one than that. I sent the paper on ahead, so that you might have time to study it before I came.'' . 'It is certainly rather a curious pro- duction," said Holmes. "At first sight it would appear to be some childish prank. It consists of number of ab- surd little figures dancing across the paper upon which they are drawn. Why should you attribute any impor- tance to so grotesque an object?"
 'I never should, MT. Holmes. But my wife does. It is frightening her to death. She says nothing, but can see terror in her eyes. That's why I want to sift the matter to the bot tom"
 Holmes held up the paper so that the sunlight shone full upon it. It was page torn from a notebook. The markings were done in pencil, and ran in this way:-