The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-10


 street, "here is a madman
 coming along. It seems rath-
 CT sad that his relatives.
 should allow him to come out
 alone"
 My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands tn the pockets of his dressing gown, look ing over my shoulder. It was bright crisp February mornlng and the snow CT the day before still lay deep upon the ground shimmering b.lghtly in the wlr.fy sun. Down the center of Baker street it had been ploughed into brown, erull- bly brown by the traffic, but at either side and to the heaped-up edges Of the f, ctlaths 1t still az as white as when 1t fell. The gray pavement had bean cleaned and scraped, but was still dan gerously slippery, so that there were fewer passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Metropolitan station no one was coming save the single gentleman whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention
 He was man of about DO, tall, portiy and imposing, with massive strong marked face and a commanding figure. He was dressed in a sombre yet rich style in black frock coat, shining hat, neat brown gaiters and well-cut pearl gray trousers Yet his actions were In ab- surd contrast to the dignity of his dress and features. for he was running hard, with occasional little springs such weary man gives who is little accustomed to set any tax upon his legs As he ran he ierked his hands up and down, wag- gled his head and writhed his face into the most extraordinary contortions.
 What one earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. 'He is looking up at the numbers of the houses
 T believe that he Is coming here, said Holmes, rubbing his hands
 'Here?"
 "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I think that l recognize the symptoms. Ha! Did l not tell you?" As he spoke the man. puffing and blowing rushed at our door and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the changing.
 A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pity. For while he could not get his words out, but swayed his body and plucked at his hair ike one who has been driven to the extreme limits of his reason Then. suddenly springng to his feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into an easy chair, and, sitting beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, soothing tones which he knew 90 we'll how to employ.
 You have come to me to tell your story. have you not?" said he. You are fatigusd with your haste. Pray wait un- til you have recovered yourself, and then shal be most happy to look into any little problem which you may submit to me"
 The man sat for minute or more with "a heaving chest; fighting against Slis emotion. Then he passed his hand kerchef over his brow. set his lips tight and turned his face toward us.
 IN, doubt you think me mad?" said he. q see thta you have had some great troune," responded Holmes.
 "God knows I havei-a trouble which is eneuih to unseat my reason, so sudden and 50 terrible is it. Public disgrace I nigh have faced, although I am a man who's character has never yet borne a stain Private affliction also is the lot of eIery man; but the two coming to- gethr and in so frightful a form have beenenough to shake my very soul. Be- sides it is not alone. The very noblest in tie land may suffer unless some way be fund out of this horrible affair.""
 Pay compose yourself. sir" said Holmes, and let me have a clear &C., couft of who you are and what it is that has 5efalen you"
 'sNy name," answered our visitor. lis proably familiar to your ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holer & Stevenson, of Threadneedle stret."
 Tie name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior partner in the second largest private banking coitern in the city of London. What cold have happened, then, to bring one z of the foremost citizens of London to thi most pitable pass? We waited, all cuiosity, until, with another effort, he breed himself to tell his tory.
 [ feel that time is of value,' said he; "tat Is why I hastened here when the poice inspector suggested that I should 1 seure your cooperation. I came to Baker street by the Underground and hrried from there on foot. for the cabs gt slowly through the snow. That is wy I was so out of breath, for I am man who takes very little exercise. fel better now, and I will put the facts bfore you as shortly and yet as clearly all can.
 llt IS, or course, well knOWfi to you tfdt ina successful banking business as much dpends upon our being able to find re- nhnerative investments for our funds as uon our increasing connection and te number of our depostors. One of our nDst lucrative means of laying out money isin the shape of loans where the secur- iy is unimpeachable We have done a pod deal in this directions during the lst few years, and there are many noble antilles to whom we have advanced large ums upon the security of their pictures, lbraries or plate
 Yesterday morning I was seated in my ffice at the bank when a card was ,rought in to me by one of the clerks started when saw the name, for it was hat of none other than-well, perhaps even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which is house. hold word all over the earth--one of the highest, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the hon. or, and attempted when he entered to say so, but he plunged at once into busi- ness with the air of a man who wishes to hurry quickly through disagreeable task.
 ' MT Holder said he, T have been in- formed that you are in the habit of ad- vancing money
 '' The firm does so when the security Is good I answered
 |" It Is absolutely essential to me- said he. that should have e50,O00 at once. I could, of course, borrow so trif1ing a sum ten times over from my friends, but 1 much prefer to make it matter of bust ness and to carry out that business my-