The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22

m NIT and that. therefore. am illegally
been committed" said Holmes you
would have done better to have trusted
ut was not the wife, it was the chill
dren," groaned the prisoner. God help
me, would not have them ashamed Of
their father. My. God! What an expos
ure! What can do?''
Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him
on the couch and patted him kindly on
If you leave it to a court Of law to
you can hardly avoid publicity On the
other hand, II you convince the police au-
thorities that there is no possible case
against you, do not know that there is
their way into the papers. Inspector
Bradstreet would, am sure, make notes
upon anything which you might tell us. .
and submit it to the proper authorities.
The case would then never go into court
at ALL
God bless your cried the prisoner,
Imprisonment. aye, even execution, rather
than have left my miserable secret as a
family blot to my children"
'You are the first who have ever heard
my story. My father was schOol-maSter
in Chesterfield, where received an ex-
cellent education. I travelled in my
youth. took to the stage, and finally be-
LONDON ie one day my e editor wished R to
have a series Of articles upon begging
in the metropolis, and volunteered to
supply them. There was the point from
only by trying begging as an amateur
that could get the facts upon which to
base my articles. When an actor had.
of course. learned all the secrets OF max
ing up, and had been famous in the
greenroom for my skill. I took advan-
tage now Of my attachments I painted
my face, and to, make myself as pitiable
u r 40 nv.1 ffUAd
one side Of my lip. in a, twist by the aid
of a small slip Of fesh-colored plaster.
Then with a red head OF hair and an ap-
dress 1t took ;tT my saG1 in the
match seller, but really as beggar. For
seven hours I piled my trade, and when
returned home In the evening found,
| to my surprise, that had received no
| less than 26s i'd.
II wrote my articles, and thought lit
tie more Of the matter until. some time
later. backed a bill for friend, and
had a writ served upon me for e25. I
was at my wits end where to get the
money. but a sudden idea came to me.
I begged a. fortnight's, grace from the
employers, and spent the time in begging
in the city under my disguise. In ten
days had the money and had paid the
debt;
was to settle down to arduous work at
| a2 a week, when ! knew that I could
earn as much in a day by smearing my
face with little paint, laying my cap
on the ground and sitting still. 1t was
long fight between my pride and the
money, but the dollars won at last, and
threw up reporting, and sat Day after
chosen inspiring pity by my CHASTITY face
and filling my pockets with coppers. Only
one man knew my secret He was the
keeper Of a low den in which I used to
lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could
every morning emerge as a squal1d beg
J gar and in the evenings transform my
J self into a well-dressed man about town.
m nalS tor 1s Rs rooms s' So that knew that
} my secret was safe In his possession.
We'll, very soon I found that I was
saving considerable sums Of money.
. streets of London could earn e700 a year
which is less than my average takings-
but I had exceptional advantages in my
power Of making up, and also in facility
2 and made me quite recognized character
in the city. All day a stream of pennies,
| varied by silver, poured in upon me, and
take G2.
GAS grew richer grew more ambi-
tious, took a house in the country, and
eventually married, without any one hav-
! ing suspicion as to my real OCCUPATION
My dear wife knew that had business in
the city. She little knew what.
: Last Monday I had finished for tne
the opium den, when looked out of my
window. and saw, to my horror and aston
ishment. that my wife was standing II
q the street, with her eyes fixed full upor
me. I gave a cry Of surprise, threw W
my arms to cover my face, and, rushing
n to my conf1dant, the Lascar, entreatet
k him to prevent any one from coming w
. to me. I heard her voice downstairs. bu'
r knew that she could not ascend. Swift.
!, Iy threw off my clothes pulled on those
d Of a beggar, and put on my pigments and
- so complete a disguise. But then 1t oe
:. CURED to me that there might be search
r in the room, and that the clothes nigh
betray me. threw open the window. re-
| opening by my violence small cut which
u had inflicted upon myself in the bedroom
,. that morning. Then seized my coat
a which was weighted by the coppers which
: had just transferred to 1t from tn
I hurled it out of the window, and 1t dis
d appeared into the Thames. The othe
y clothes would have followed. but at tina
o moment there was a rush Of constable
up the stair, and a few minutes after
e found, rather, I confess, to my relief. tina
. instead of being identified as Mr.. Nevill
5, IT do not know that there is anythin
d else for me to explain. was determine
4, to preserve my disguise as long as pos
n sible, and hence my preference for !,
l. be terribly anxious, I slipped off m
le ring, and confided 1t to the Lascar q
1T a. moment when no constable was watch
ID ing me, together with a hurried scraw
IS telling her that she had no cause to fear.
N 'That note only reached her yesteI
p, day." said Holmes.
= GOOD God! What a week she mu.
ID have spent"
d. ''The police have watched this Lascar,
l. said Inspector Bradstreet, "and ca
quite understand that be might find 1t dit
I'D ficult to post letter unobserved Prot
It. ably he handed it to some sailor custome
le of his, who forgot all about it for som
d days"
tn proyingly; 7 have no doubt OF It: b b,
. have you never been prosecuted for BEG
MANY times; but what was fine ,
a. me?' ,. 49,
e. Bradstreet rect II the he, police are to hus
this thing up, there must be no more
he Hugh Boone"
to Il have sworn It by the most solen
Ie oaths which a man can take" -
all sIn that case think that it Is probab
er that no further steps may be taken. B'
ce If you are found again, then all nu
es come out. I am sure, Mr.. Holmes, TIL
lis we are very much indebted to you f
r. having cleared the matter up wish
rs knew how you reach your results
II reached this one" said my fr1en
ID. 'by sitting upon Ave pillows and consun
he ing an ounce Of shag. think, Watso
that If we drive to Baker street we shs
a just be In time for breakfast
Ter -------
ee. REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
al New York Press.
lip Concerts are nice thing to Keep m;
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