The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-15
ADVENTURE v.
THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS

When. I glanced over my notes and
records Of the Sherlock Holmes cases
between the years 'S2 and 80, I am
/ faced by so many which present strange
and interesting features that it is no
easy matter to know which to choose
have already gained publicity thru the
papers, and others have not offered a
field for those peculiar qualities which
my friend possessed in SO high de-
gree, and which it is the object Of these
papers to illustrate. Some, too, have
baffed his analytical Skill. and would
be, as narratives, beginnings without an
partially cleared up, and have their ex-
plantations founded rather upon conjec-
ture and surmise than on that absolute
logical proof which was So dear to him.
There is, however, one Of these last
which was SO remarkable in it's details
and so startling in its results that am
tempted to give some account of it,
i'm connection with it which never have
been, and probably never will be, entire
~ cleared up. ~
The year 1877 furnished us with long
series of cases Of greater OR less in
terest, Of which I retain the records.
Among my headings under this one
twelve months I find an account Of the
(
the Amateur Mendicant Society, who
held luxurious club in the lower vault
of a furniture warehouse, Of the facts
connected with the loss Of the British
bark Sophy Anderson, of the singular
adventures Of the Grice Patersons In
the island Of Uffa, and finally Of the
Camberwell poisoning case. In the lat
Holmes was able, by winding up the
dead man 5 watch, to prove that it had
been wound up two hours before, and
that therefore the deceased had gone
to bed within that time-a deduction
which was Of the greatest Importance
in clearing up the case. All these I may
sketch out at some future date, but
mono Of them present such singular
features as the strange train Of cir.
cumstances which have now taken up
my PEN to describe.
It was in the latter, days Of Sep
TENDER, and the equinoctial gales had
set in with exceptional violence. All
day the wind had screamed and the rain
had beaten against the windows, so that
even here in the heart Of great hand
made London we were forced to raise
tine Of life, and to recognize the pres
enee Of those great elemental forces
which shrek at mankind thru the bars
Of his civilization, like untamed beasts
in cage. As evening drew in, the
storm grew higher, and louder, and the
the chimney. Sherlock. Holmes sat
moodily at one side Of the fireplace
cross-indexing his records Of crime
while I at the other was deep in one
Of Clark Russe1l's fine sea stories, until
the howl of the gale from without
seemed to blend with the text, and the
splash Of the rain to lengthen out into
4ha och - %l1
wife was on visit to her mother 8
and for few days I was dwelle1
once more in my old quarters at Baker
street.
"Why,' said I, glancing up at my
companion, "that was surely the. bell
Who could come tonig4o. Some friend
of yours, Perhaps7"' :,
he answered. IT do not encourage
visitors.'s J. - :, + !" - :
"a client, thenq' g..
"If 50, it is serious case. Nothing
less would bring a man out on such
day and at such an hour. But I tax,
it that it is more likely to be some
crony Of the landlady s."
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in hi
conjecture, however, for there came 3:
door. He Stretched out his long arm
to turn the lamp away from himsel
and towards the vacant chair upon
which newcomer must sit. 'fCom
in,!' said he.
The man who entered was young
some two-and-twenty at the outside
well groomed and trinity. clad, witt
his bearing. The steaming umbrella
I which he held in his hand, and his Ion,
I shining waterproof told of the ferc
: weather thru which he had come. H
3 looked about him anxiously in the glar
/ of the lamp, and could see that hi
/ face was pale and his eyes heavy, lik
! those of a man who is weighed dow,
! with some great anxiety. =:
+ II owe you an apology" he sale
raising his golden pincenez to his eye.
/ CT trust that 7 am not intruding.
! fear that I have brought some trace
Of the storm to and rain into your snu
..Giye me your coat and umbrella,
the hook, and: will be dry presently
You have come up from the southwest
I see."
/ fcsYes, from Horsham." - 80
ssThat clay and chalk mixture whic
> 7 see upon your toeeaps Is quite dis
q have come for ADVICE
ttThat is easily got.''
rAnd help. - %.
tttThat is not. always SO easy"
CT have heard Of you, Mr.. Holme.
I heard from Major Prendergast no,
you saved him in the Tankerville Gu
: 1Ah, of course. He was wrongful
accused Of cheating at cards. -
"He said that you could solve any
sHe said too much
THAT you are never beaten.''
z st have been beaten four times
three times by men, and once by
woman
"But what is that compared with til
number of your successes7"
It is true that I have been general
! successful"
"Then you may be so with me.'
81 beg that you will draw your cha!
up to the fire, and favor me with SON
1t is no ordinary one. -
tNone Of those which come to m
IRE. am the last court of appeal. -
HilAnd yet question, sir, whethe
IN all your experience, you have evt
listened to more mysterious and il
explicable chain Of events than thos
which have happened in my own far
ssYou fll me with interest,", sal
! Holmes. Pray give us the essenti
facts from the commencement, and
:. can afterwards question you as to tho!
details which seem to me to be mo
( 5 . i = (. III