Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-01
CONTINUED from Page SIX

tance OF sleeves the sugEestiveness OF
-thumb-nails, OF the great issues that may
hang from a boot-lace. Now, what did
you gather from that woman's appear
ance7 Describe t."
well, she had a slate-coiored. broad
brimmed straw hat, with a feather OF a
briclish red. Her jacket was black, with
black beads sewn upon II, and a fringe
OF little black Jet ornaments. Her dress
was brown, rather darker than coffee
color, with a little purple plush at the
neck and sleeves. Her gloves we're grayish
and were worn through at the right fore
finger. Her boots 1 didn't observe. She
bad small. round. hanging gold earrings,
and general air Of being fairly well-to-do,
IN vulgar comfortable, easy-going way"
Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly
together and chuckied.
"Pon my word. Watson. you are coming
along wonderfully. You have really done
very well indeed. It is true that you have
missed everything Of Importance, but you
have hit upon the method, and you have
a quick eye for color Never trust to gem
eral Impressions. my boy, but concentrate
yourself upon details. My first glance Is
always at womAns sleeve. In a man
It IL perhaps better first 20 take the knee
OF the trouser. AS you observe, this woman
had plush upon her sleeves, which In most
useful material for showing traces. The
double line a little above the wrist, where
the typewritist presses against the table,
was beautifully defined The sewing gina
chine, of the hand-type, leaves similar
mark, but only on the left arm, and on the
eide of II farthest from the thumb, instead
OF being right across the broadcast part, as
this was. I then glanced at her face, and
observing the dent of pince nez at either
. IL - 7 raH urlr anon
short sight and typewriting, which seemed
to surprise her"
TT surprised me-"
but surely 1t was very obvious. I was
then much surprised and interested on
glancing down to observe that, though the
boots which she was wearing were not unlike
each other, they were really odd ones; the
one having a slightly decorated toe-cap'
/. and the other a plain one. One was but
toned only in the two lower buttons out or
Ave, and the other at the first, third, and
fifth. Now, when you see that young
lady, otherwise neatly dressed, has come
away from home with odd boots half-but-
toned, It is no great deduction to say that
she came away In hurry"
4 And what else?' l asked keenly inter-
ested, as always was, by my friends in
cisive reasoning.
81 noted, In passing, that she had written
2 note before leaving home, but after being
fully dressed. You observed that her right
glove was torn at the forehnger, but you
did not apparently see that both glove and
D finger were stained with violet Ink. She
had written in a hurry, and dipped her
pen too deep. II must have been this
morning, or the mark would not remain
clear upon the finger. All this is amusing
though rather elementary; but I must go
back to business, Watson. Would you
mind reading me the advertised description
Of Mr. Hosmer Angler
/ held the little printed slip to the light.
missing" it said "on the morning of the
18th. a gentleman named Hosmer Angel.
About 5 feet inches in height; strongly
built, sallow complexion, black hair, little
bald in the center, bushy,. black side
whiskers and mustache; tinted glasses,
slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed,
when last seen, In black frock coat faced
with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert
chain and gray Harris tweed trousers, with
brown CATERS over elastic-sided shoes.
Known to have been employed in an office
in Leadenhall street. Any body bringing"
etc, etc.
''rhat will do" said Holmes GAS to the
letters" he continued, glancing over them,
they are very commonplace. Absolutely
quotes Balzac once There is one remark
able point however, which will no doubt
strike YOU"
"They are typewriter" remarked.
mot only that but the signature is type
written. Look at the neat little 'Hosmer
Angel at the bottom. There is a date, you
see, but no superscription except Leaden'
hall street, which is rather vague. The point
about the signature is very suggestive-iu
fact, we may call II conclusive"
"Of what2"
MY dear fellow, is II possible you do moi
see how strongly It bears upon the case?'
that he wished to be able to deny this sig
nature II an action for breach Of promise
were instituted"
mo, that was not the point However
shall write two letters which should settle
the matter. One is to a firm In the city
the other is to the young woman's step
father. Mr.. Windibank, asking him whether
he could meet us here at o'clock tomorrow
evening II is just as well that we shoulC
do business with the male relatives. And
now, doctor, we can do nothing until tn,
answers to those letters come, 50 we may
put our little problem upon the shelf fol
the interim"
had had so many reasons 10 believe ii
my friends subtle powers OF reasoning and
extraordinary energy In action, that l fel
that he must have some solid grounds fo
the assured and easy demeanor with which
he treated the singular mystery which h,
had been called upon to fathom. once onl!