The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-12

the circle OF yellow light which was
thrown by. the swinging lamp, while
breckenridge. the salesman, framed in
the door Of his stall, was shaking his
"I've had enough Of you and your
geese he shouted. ct wish you were
all at the devil together. If you come
Fostering me any, more with your silly
talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring
Mrs. Oakshott here and / III answer her,
but what have you to do with its Did
I buy the geese Of you7"
emo; but one of them was mine all
the same,o whined the little man.
HWell, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for
"She told me to ask you.''
"Well, you can ask the King Of
Proosia, for all care. I've had enough
Of it. Get out of this!' He rushed
fercely forward, and the inquirer fitted
away into the darkness.
cha! this may save us visit to
Brixton road, - whispered Holmes.
"Come with me, and we will see what
is to be made Of this fellow" stridin1g
iounged round the faring stalls, my
companion speedily overlook the little
man and touched him upon the shout
der. He sprang round, and I could see
in the gaslight that every vestige OF
color had been driven from his face.
"Who are you, thens What do you
want9'' he asked, in quavering- voice
"You will excuse me- said Holmes
blandly, "but I could not help over
hearing the questions which you put
to the salesman just now l think thai
HYouq Who are you7 How could
you know anything Of the matter?''
"My name is Sherlock Holmes. 1t Ii
nv business to know what other PEG
pie dom Il know"
HBut YOU can know nothing Of this.
"Excuse me, I know everything OF it
You are endeavoring to trace som
geese which were sold by Mrs; Oak
shott, Of Brixton road, to a salesman
named Breckenridge, by him IN turl
to Mr.. Windigate, of the Alpha Jpn an u,
by him to his club, Of which Mr.. Henr.
"Oh, sir, you are the very man WhoI
7 have longed to meet,' cried the littl
fellow. with outstretched hands an
uuivering fingers, "I can hardly eS
plain to you how interested l am i
this NATTER
Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-whee,
Ter which was passing: In that cas-
we had better discuss it in a cosey roor
rather than in this Tind-swept market
! -
before we 90 farther, who it is that
have the pleasure of assisting
The man hesitated for an instant
HMy name is John Robinson he ar
swered, with sidelong glance. :.
Ono, no; the real NAME" sal
Holmes, sweetly. cit is always awh
ward doing business with an alias; "
A flush sprang to the white cheek y
Of the stranger. "WeI, then; sad he
"my real name is James Ryder:
"Precisely so. Head attendant at tn
IsHotel Cosmopolitan Pray step int
the cab, and I shall soon be able to tie!
you everything which you would wis
to know -
| The little man stood glancing fro1
one to the other of us with halffrigh1
ened, half hopeful eyes, as one who
not sure whether he is on the verge, G
a windfall or of catastrophe. The
he stepped into the cab, and in hal
an hour we were back in the. slttins
room at Baker street. Nothing ha
been said during our drive, but tn
high. thin breathing of our new con
panion, and the claspings and unclasl
ings Of his hands, spoke of the nervor
tension within him.
"Here we are!'' said Holmes, CHI
ily, as we filed into the room. ii
fire looks seasonable in this weathe
You look cold, Mr.. Ryder. Pray tax
the basket-chair. I will just put on m
slippers before we settle this little ma
ter of yours. Now, then You wan
to know what; became OF those geese'
eyes, sir. -
cor rather, I fancy, of that COOS
It was one bird, T imagine, in whlc
you were interested-white, with
black bar across the tail.
. Ryder quivered with emotion. 90
sir he cried, "can you tell me whel
It went to9''
~ cane ne here
eyes, and a most remarkable biz
it proved. I don't wonder that yo
should take an interest in it,. 1t lai
an egg after it was dead-the bonnies
:. brightest little blue egg that ever W;
seen. [ have it here in my museum. -
Our visitor staggered to his feet an
clutched the mantelpiece with his rigl
hand. Holmes unlocked his stron
box, and held up the blue carbuncl
which shone out like a star, with col
brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryd'
| stood glaring with a drawn face, u
certain whether to claim or to di
own it.
, sThe games up. Ryder" sal
Holmes, quietly. Hold up, man,
you III be into the fire! Give him
) arm back into his chair, Watson. He
not got blood enough to 60 in for If: felol
with impunity. = Give him dash :
/ more human. What shrimp it is,
) be sure!'
For moment he had staggered an
! nearly fallen, but the brandy brougl
O tinge of color into his cheeks, ar
3 he sat staring with frightened eyes
his accuser.
TT have almost every link in n
:, hands, and all the proofs which l cou
: possibly need, SO there is little whlt
you need tell me-. Still, that little ma
as well be cleared up to make the ca
$ complete. You had heard, Ryder; <,
this blue stone of the Countess of Mo
cit was Catherine Cusaek who to
: me of it, said he, in cracking voic
III see-her ladyship's waiting-mai
Well, the temptation of sudden weal'
: so easily acquired was too much Il
S you, as it has been for better men b
g fore you; but you were not very scrup
q lous in the means you used. 1t seen
r to me, Ryder, that there is the maki1
: of very pretty villain in you. Y
Q knew that this man Horner, the plum
= er, had been concerned in some SUI
matter before, and that suspicion won
: rest the more readily upon him. VIII
! did You do, then? You made son
+ small job in my lady's room-you al
| your confederate, Cusack-and "
n managed that he should be the ms
t sent for. Then, when he had left. y,
y rified the iewel-case. raised the alarl
e and had this unfortunate man arreste
You then
g Ryder threw himself down sudden
{ L nncr tho rl1n and plnfchad qf NV aol