The Washington times., 1905-05-07
6ke Stock Brokers'
Clerk

wafer of paper with the shopman's 8 iier-
oglyphics upon it. Damp would of
course have removed this. You had,
then, been sitting with your feet out
stretched to the fire. which a man
would hardly do even ia so wet June
as this if he We're in his full health
Like all Holmes reasoning the thing
seemed simplicity itself when it was
once explained. He read the thought
upon my features, and his smile had
tinge of bitterness.
Il am afraid that I rather give my
self away when I explain said he.
Results without causes are much more
impressive. You are ready to come TO
Birmingham, then?''
Certainly. What is the case?"
You shall hear 1t all in the train. My
client Is outside in a wheeler. Can
you come at onec?"
IN an instant" l scrubbed a note to
my neighbor, rushed upstairs to explain
the matter to my wife. and Joined
Holmes upon the doorstep.
Your neighbor is a DOCTOR said he,
nodding at the brass plate.
Yes; he bought a practice as I did
IAN old-established one?''
Just the same as mine. Both have
been ever since the houses were built
'Ah! then YOU got hold Of the best
Of the two -
4 think I did But how do you
known
by the steps, my boy. Yours are
worn three inches deeper than his. But
this gentleman in the cab is my client,
Mr. Hail Pyeroft Allow me TO intro
GAGE you TO him. Whip your horse up,
| cabby. for we have only Just time TO
catch our train
The man whom / found myself facing
was a well-buiit, fTesh-complexioned
young fellow, with a frank, honest face
and q slight, crisp. yellow mustache.
He wore a very shiny iop hat and neat
suit OF sober black, which made him
look what he was-a smart young City
man, one OF the class who have been
labeled Cockneys, but who give us our
crack volunteer regiments, and who turn
out more fine athletes and sportsmen
than any body of men in these islands.
His round. ruddy face was naturally
full OF cheeriness, but the corners of
his mouth seemed TO me to be pulled
down in q haIf-comical distress. II was
not. however, until We were all In a
first-cl&ss carriage and wei started up
on our journev to Birmingham that /
was able to learn what the trouble was
which had driven him TO Sherlock
Holmes
.tWe have a clear run here OF seventy
minutes Holmes remarked. Il want
you, Mr.. Hall Pycroft. to tell my friend
your very interesting experience exactly
as you have told it to me. or with more
detail If possible II will be of use to
me to hear the succession of events
again. It is q case. Watson, which may
prove 10 have something Ia il, or may
prove to have nothing, but which. at
least, presents those unusual and outre
features which are as dear to you as
| they are TO me. Now, Mr.. Pvcroft.
shall not interrupt you again.
oar young companion looked at me
with twinkle I'm his eye.
The worst of the story is. said he, that
show myself up such a confounded
fool. OF course, IL may work out all
right. and | don't see that I could have
done otherwise; but If I have lost my
crib and got nothing In exchange shah
feel what d soft Johnny l have been
/ m not very good al telling story, Dr.
Watson. bat 1t is like This with me:
used 20 have billet at coxon g.
Woodhouse's. of Drapers Garden but
they We're let in early In the spring
through the Venezuelan loan. as no
doubt you remember, and came = misty
efopper, ] had been 54ith them five wears
and old Cox0n gave me a rfpning good
testimonial when the smash came. bl,t
OF course We clerks were all turned
adrift, the t~enty-seven of US 1 tried
here and seLsa there, but there vere lots