Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-07-29
BY A. CONAN DOYLE,

huu uoStuOiCu kut
"Tn the clubhouse you will ind O con.
siderable quantity Of straw" said
Holmes. II will ask you to carry in
two bundles Of II think n will be
Of the greatest assistance In producing
the witness whom I require. Thank
you very much. believe you have
some matches in your pocket, Watson.
Now. Mr.. Lestrade. I will ask you all
to accompany me to the top landing"
As I have said. there was a broad
corridor there, which ran outside three
empty bedrooms. At one end Of the
corridor we were all marshaled by
Sherlock Holmes, the constables grin
ming and Lestrade staring at my friend
with amazement, expectation and deri.-
sion chasing each other across his fea.
lures. Holmes stood before us with
the air Of a conjurer who Is perform.
ing trick.
would you kindly send one Of your
constables for two buckets Of water?
Put the straw on the floor here, free
from the wall on either side. Now I
think that We are all ready"
Lestrade's face had begun to grow
red and angry.
Il don't know whether you are play.
ing game with us, Mr.. Sherlock
Holiness" said he. III you know any.
thing you can surely say It without all
this tomfoolery."
Il assure you. my good Lestrade,
that l have an excellent reason for
everything that do You may posi-
bly, remember that you chafred me a
little some hours ago when the sun
seemed on your side Of the hedge. SO
you must not grudge me little pomp
and ceremony now. Might l ask you,
Watson, to open that window and then
to put a match to the edge Of the
strawT
l did so, and. driven by the draft,
a coil Of gray smoke swirled down the
corridor. while the dry straw cracked
and famed.
NOW we must see II we can find this
witness for you, Lestrade. Might I
ask you all to join in the cry Of 'Birer
Now, then-one, two, three!"
"Firer we all yelled.
THANK you. will trouble you once
again."
"Fire!'
Just once more. gentlemen, and all
together"
"Firer The shout must have rung
over Norwood.
1t had hardly died away when an
amazing thing happened. A door sud-
denly few open out Of what appeared
to be solid wall at the end Of the cor.
ridor and little wizened man darted
out Of It like a rabbit out Of its bur.
row.
"Capitalr said Holmes calmly.
watson, a bucket Of water over the
straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow
me to present you with your principal
missing witness. Mr.. Jonas Oldacre."
The detective stared Mt the newcom-
err with blank amazement. The latter
was blinking in the bright light Of the
corridor and peering at us and at the
smoldering fire. It was an odious
face-crafty. vicious, malignant, with
shifty, light gray eyes and white
lashes.
whats this, then? said Iestrade at
last. what have you been doing all
this time, eh7"
Oldacre gave an uneasy laugh, shrink
Ing back from the furious red face Of
the angry detective.
II have done no harm"
mo harm? You have done your best
to get an innocent man hanged. II II
wasn't for this gentleman here am
not sure that you would not have sue
cecded."
The wretchsd creature began to
whimper.
II am sure. sir. II was only my prae'
teal joke"
"Oh. u Joke. was It? You won't nnd
the laugh OH your side. promise you
Take him down and keep him In the
sitting room until come. Mr.. Holiness
he continued when they had gone, II
could not speak before the constables
but don't mind saying In the presence
of DIR. Watson that this Is the brightest
thing that you have done yet, though II
Is n mystery to me how you did II. You
have saved an innocent mans llfe, and
you have prevented very grave scan
dal, which would have ruined my repu
tation In the force"
Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrad'
upon the shoulder.
Instead OF being ruined, my goot
sir, you will find that your reputation
has been enormously enhanced. Jus
make a few alterations In that repor
which you were writing and they viii
understand now hard It Is to throw
dust In the eyes Of Inspector Lestrade.
"And you don't want your name :
appearT
"Not at all. The work Is its own re
ward. Perhaps shall get the credl
also at some distant day, when ! pei
NIT my jealous historian to lay out hi
foolscap once more-eh, WatsOnf Wei
now, let us see where this rat has bee
lurking"
A lath and plaster partition had bee
run across the passage six feet frol
! the end. with door cunningly concea