The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-10-11

USyH&41lU Iual IL Is very
vEZES1JI difficult for me out of
such wealth of mate
rial to select the cases which are most
interesting in themselves and at the
same time most conducive to display
of those peculiar powers for which my
pages l see my notes upon the repulsive
story Of the red leech and the terrible
death of Crosby, the banker. Here al
so l find an account Of the Addiction
tragedy and the singular contents OF
the ancient British barrow. The ia
nous Smith Mortimer succession case
comes also within this period, and so
do the tracking and arrest of Huret,
the boulevard assassin, All exploit
which won for Holmes an autograph
letter Of thanks from the French presi-
dent and the order of the Legion of
Honor. Each of these would furnish
narrative but on the whole l am Of
opinion that none of them unites so
many singular points of interest as the
episode of Yoxley Old Place, which in
cludes not only the lamentable death
of young Willoughby Smith, but also
those subsequent developments which
threw so curious light upon the causes
Of the crime.
1t was wild, tempestuous night, to-
ward the close Of November. Holmes
and 1 sat together in silence all the
evening. he engaged with a powerful
lens deciphering the remains of the
original inscription upon palimpsest,
/ deep In recent treatise upon sur
gerry. Outside the wind howled down
Baker street, while the rain beat fierce
~ against the windows. 1t was
strange there, in the very depths of the
town, with ten miles Of mans handi-
work on every side Of us, to feel the
iron grip Of Nature and to be conscious
that to the huge elemental forces all
London was no more than the molehills
that dot the fields. 1 walked to the
window and looked out on the deserted
street. The occasional lamps cleaned
on the eXpanse Of muddy road and shin
ing pavement. A single cab was
splashing it's way from the Oxford
street end.
"Well, Watson, it's as well we have
not to turn out tonight" said Holmes,
laying aside his lens and rolling up the
palimpsest. ''I've done enough for one
sitting. 1t is trying work for the eyes
So far as can make out it Is nothing
ore exciting than an abbe's accounts
ing from the second half of the if
teenth century. Hello, hello. hello!
What's thisY'
Amid the droning Of the wind there
had come the stamping Of a horses
hoofs and the long grind Of wheel as
1t rasped against the curb The cab
which had seen had pulled up at our
door.
what can he want?" calculated as
man stepped out Of it.
want? He wants us. And we, m,
poor Watson. want overcoats and era
watts and galoches and every aid that
man ever in.ented to fight the weather
Wait bit though! There's the cab of
again! There's hope yet. He'd have
kept it IL he had wanted us to come
Run down, my dear fellow, and open
the door, for all virtuous folk have beer
long in bed"
When the light Of the hall lamp fel
upon our midnight visitor had no diff
fculty in recognizing him. 1t was
young Stanley Hopkins promising
detective, in whose career Holmes hat
interest.
'Is he in?' he asked eagerly.
"Come up my dear SIR" said Holmes
voice from above II hope you have NJ
designs upon us such night as this"
The detective mounted the stairs, an6
our lamp cleaned upon his shining wa
terproof. helped him out Of it. while
{ Holmes knocked blaze out Of the logs
in the CRATE.
Nov, my dear Hopkins, draw uL
and warm your toes" said he. Here's
a cigar, and the doctor has prescrip
ton containing hot water and lemon
which is good medicine on night like
this. 1t must be something important
which has brought you out in such a
gale.'
ut is indeed, Mr.. Holmes. I've had
bustling afternoon. / promise you
Did you see anything of the Yoxley
case In the latest editions?'
I've seen nothing later than the fif
teenth century today"
"Well, it was only paragraph and
all wrong at that, SO you have not miss
ed anything. l haven't let the grass
grow under my feet. It's down in Kent
seven miles from Chatham and three
from the railway line. was wired for
at 1915, reached Yoxley Old Place at 5
conducted my Investigation, was back
at Charing Cross by the last train, and
straight to you by cab"
(Which means, suppose, that you
are not quite clear about your case?
ut means that can make neither
head nor tail Of it. So far as can see
1t Is just as tangled a business as ever
I handled and yet at first it seemed sc
simple that one couldn't go wrong
There's no motive, Mr. Holmes. That's
what bothers me. l can't put my hand
on a motive. Here's man dead