The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-10
SECTION THREE.


III morning in our bow window,
:. looking down the street. here
mailman coming along. He seems
rather sad that his relatives should
aiiow him to come out alone"
MY friend rose lazily from his arm
chair and stood with his hands in the
pockets of his dressing gown looking
over my shoulder. II was a bright.
crisp February morning, and the snow
OF the day before still lay deep upon
tle ground, snimmering brightly in the
Mhitry sun. Down the center of Baker
street II had been plOughed into a
Drown, crumbly band by the traffic. but
al either side and on the heaped-up
edges OF the footpaths it stin lay as
#hite as when il fell The gray pave
ihehJ had beeen cleaned and scraped.
Dul was still dangerously slippery. so
thdJ there were fewer passengers than
usual lndeed, from the direction of
the metropolitan station no one was
coming save the single gentleman
whose eccentric conduct had drawn nv
attention
He was a man OF about so, tall. port
~ and imposing, with a massive
strongly marked face and a command
al
Ore yet rich style in black frock coat,
shining hat, neat brown CATERS and
Well cut pearl gray trousers. Yet his
actions were in absurd contrast to the
dignity OF his dress and features. for
NJ was running hard. with occasional
Httte springs such as a weary man
gives who is little accustomed to set
any tax upon his legs AS he ran he
Jerked his hands up and down. Wag-
sled his head and writhed his face
tons.
What on earth can be the matter
with him." l asked. He is looking
4 up AT the numbers of the houses
y 1 believe that he is coming here"
SAID Holmes, rubbing his hands.
'Here?"
Yes; 1 rather think he is coming
10 consult me professionally. 1 think
that l recognize the symptoms Hai
Did l not tell you?" As he spoke the
man, putting and blowing, rushed at
our door and pulled at our bell until
the Whole house resOunded with the
changing.
A few moments later he was in our
ROOM still putting. still gesticuIating.
put with so fixed a look of grief and
despair in his eyes that our smiles
and pity For a while he could not
get his words out, but swayed his body
and plucked at his hair like one who
mas been driven to the extreme limits
or his reason. Then suddenly spring
ing 10 his feet he beat his head against
the wall with such force that we both
rushed upon him and tore him away
TO the center of the room Sherlock
Holmes pushed him down into an easy
chair and, sitting beside him, patted
his hand and Gated with him in the
easy, soothing tones Wh.vh he knew
so well how 70 employ.
You have come to me to tell YOUR
story have you not?" said he. you
are fatigusd with your haste Pray
wait until you have recovered yourself
and then | shall be most happy to look
into any little problem which you may
submit 10 me"
The man sat for a minute or more
with a heaving chest, lighting against
mis- emotion. Then he passed his hand
kerchief over his brow. set his lips
tigt and turned his face toward us
mo doubt you think me mao? ." said
he.
Il see that you have had some great
trouble responded Holmes.
God knows ] haVe,-a trouble which
is enough TO unseat my reason. so sud
den and so terrible is it, Public dis
grace j might have faced, although I
am man whose character has never
Yet borne a stain. Private affection
also is the lot of every man; but TIA.
TWO coming together la So frightful
a form have been enough to shake my
very soul Besides, il is not 1 alone.
The very nOblest in the land may suf-
fer unless some way be found out of
this horrible affair"
Pray compose yourself. sir" said
Holmes, land let me have a clear ac-
count of who you are and what it Is
that has befallen you"
My name" answered our visitor
sis probably familiar TO your ears I
am Alexander Holder, of the banking
firm Of Holder & Stevenson. Of Thread
needle street"
The name was indeed we'll known to
US as belonging TO the senior partner
In the second largest private banking
concern in the city of London. What
could have happened, then. to bring
one of the foremost citizens of Lon
don to this most pitiable pass? We
waited, all curiosity, until, with an
other effort, he braced himself 10 tell
his story.
L feel that time is of value" said
he; that is why / FASTENED here when
the police inspector suggested that /
should secure your cooperation. l.
came to Baker street by tn Under
ground, and hurried from there on foot,
for the cabs go slowly through the
snow. That is why / was SO out of
breath. for l am a man who tax
very little exercise. l feel better now.
and / will put the facts before you as
shortly and yet as clearly as / can.
1T is, of course, well known to you
that ia a successful banking institu-
ton as much depends upon our b ing
able to find remunerative investments
for our funds as upon our increasing
our connection and the number of our
depOsitors. One of our most lucrative
means of laying out money is in the
shape of loans where the security is
unimpeachable. We have done a good
deal in this direction during the last
few years. and there are many noble
families TO whom We have advanced
large sums upon the security Of their
pictures. libraries or plate.
Yesterday morning / was seated i'm
my office at the bank when a card
was brought in 10 me by one of the
clerks. / started when / saw the name
for Il was that of none Otper than
we'll perhaps even 10 you / had bel
ter say no more than that IL was a
name which is a household word AZ
over the earth-One Of the highest, NJ
blest, most exalted names in England
I was overwhelmed by the honor. and
attempted, when he entered. 10 say SO,
hut he plunged at once into business
rgith the air of a man wh2 wishes TO
hurry quickly through a disagreeable
task
% Mr.. Holder. said he. I have been
Informed that you are in the habit Of
advancing money
The firm does so when the secur-
ity is good. l answered.
IL Is absolutely essential To- me