Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03

tioning. I had formed my conclusions as
to the case before our client came into
the room"
MY dear Holiness
II have notes OF several similar cases,
though none as l remarked before, which
were quite as prompt. My whole examina-
ton served to turn my conjecture into a
certainty. Circumstantial evidence Is oc-
casionally very convincing. as when you
find trout in the milk. to quote Thoreau's
example"
But l have heard all that YOU have
heard"
Without however, the knowledge of
pre-eXisting cases which serves me SO well.
There was parallel instance in Aberdeen
some years back. and something very
much the same lines at Munich the year
after the Franco Prussian war. 1t Is one
of these cases-but, hello. here is Lestrade!
Good afternoon. Lestrade! You will find
an extra tumbler upon the sideboard and
there are cigars in the box
The official detective was attired in pea
jacket and cravat, which gave him de-
cidedly nautical appearance. and he car
ried black canvas bag in his hand. With
short greeting he seated himself and lit
the cigar which had been offered to him.
Whats up, them asked Holmes, with
a twinkle in his eye. You look dissat-
isfied."
And ! feel dissatisfied. 1t is this infor-
nal st. Simon marriage case. 1 can make
neither head nor tail Of the business.
Really! You surprise me-
''Who ever heard of such q mixed affair
Every clue seems to slip through my fin-
gers. 1 have been at work upon it all day"
"And very wet 1t seems to have made
you," said Holmes, laying his hand upon
the arm of the pea-jacket.
Yes, l have been dragging the Serpen-
tine"
I'm heavens name. what for?"
'In search of the body of Lady St
Simon"
Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair
and laughed heartily.
Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar
Square fountain?" he asked.
'Why? What do you mean?"
Because you have just good a chance
of finding this lady In the one as In the
other
Lestrade shot an angry glance at my
companion. II suppose you know all about
it," he snarled.
well, have only just heard the facts,
but my mind is made up"
oh indeed! Then you think that the
Serpentine plays no part in the matter?">
Il think 1t very unlikely"
Then perhaps you will kindly explain
how 1t is that we found this in ft?" He
opened his bag he spoke and tumbled
on to the floor wedding dress of watered
silk, pair of white satin shoes and a
brides wreath and veil all dlscolored and
a new wedding ring upon the top of the
pile. There Is a little nut for you to
crack. Master Holmes"
''oh. indeed" said my friend, blowing
blue rings into the air You dragged
them from the Serpentine?
mo. They were found floating near the
margin by park keeper They have been
Identified as her clothes, and 1t seemed
to me that If the clothes We're there the
body would not be far off,
by the same brilliant reasoning every
mans body is TO be found In the neigh
borhood of his wardrobe And pray what
did you hope to arrive at through this?''
cat some evidence duplicating Flora
Miilar in the disappearance"
II afraid that you will find it diff
flcult."
Are you. indeed, now?" cried Lestrade
with some bitterness 81 am afraid
Holmes. that you are not very practical
with your deductions and your differences.