Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
rEeAppyE1,NNI QMS% SHERLOCK @EMESz
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
THE ADVENTURE 4 3HE BERYL CORONET.
BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.

,Uolmes" said l. rs I stood one morning
IN our bow window, looking down the
street here Is a mad man coming along.
1t seems rather sad that his relatives Should
allow him to come out alone.
NV friend rose lazIly from his armchair
and stood with his hands in the pockets OF
his dressing gown. looking over my
shoulder. 1t was a bright. crisp February
morning, and the snow of the day before
stu lay deep upon the ground, simmer
Ing brightly In the wintry sun. Down the
confer of Baker street II had been plowed
into a brown, crumbly band by the traffic.
hut at either side and on the heaped-up
edges of the footpaths 1t still lay as white
as when 1t fell The gray pavement had
been cleaned and scraped. but was still dan
gerously slippery. so that there were fewer
messengers than usual Indeed. from the
direction of the Metropolitan station no one
was coming save the single gentleman
whose eccentric conduct had drawn my at
tenton
He was a man of about fifty, tall. portly
and imposing, with a massive. strongly
marked face and commanding figure He
was dressed In a somber yet rich style in
black frock coat. shining hat, neat brown
Ualters and well-cut pearl-gray trousers.
the dignity of his dress and features, Tor
he was running hard, with occasional little
springs such as weary man gives VINO ID
little accustomed to set any tax upon his
legs AS he ran he jerked his hands up
and down waggled his head and writhed
his face into the most extraordinary con-
tort!ons.
what on earth can be the matter with
him." asked. "He Is looking up at the
numbers of the houses
II believe that he is coming here said
Holmes, rubbing his hands.
Here
yes. | rather think he Is coming to con-
sult me professionally. | think that rec
ognize the symptoms. Ha! Did not tell
your As he spoke the man. pufflng ana
blowing. rushed at our door and pulled at
our bell until the whole house re5ounded
with the changing.
A few moments later he was in our room,
still pulling. still gesticulating but with so
fixed a look of grief and despair In his eyes
that our smiles were turned in an instant
10 horror and pity. For a while he could
not get his words out. but swayed his body
and plucked at his hair like one who has
been driven to the extreme limits of his
reason Then suddenly springing to his
feet. ne beat his head against the wall with
such force that we both rushed upon him
and tore him away 10 the center or the
room Sherlock Holmes pushed him down
into an easy chair, and. sitting beside him,
patted his hand and chatted with him In
the easy, soothing tones which he knew so
well how TO employ.
"You have come to me to tell your story,
have you not?' said he. You are fattgued
with your haste. Pray wait until you have
recovered yourself. and then l shall be most
happy to look into any little problem
which you may submit to me-
The man sat for a minute or more with
heaving chest. fighting against his emo
ton. Then he passed his handkerchief
over his brow, set his lips tight and turned
his face toward us.
mo doubt you think me mad2' said he.
Il see that you have had some great
trouble" responded Hines.
God knows | hayel-a trouble which Is
enough to unseat my reason. so sudden and
so terrible Is 1t. Public disgrace l might
have faced, although / man whose
character has never yet borne stain. Prl-
waite affllctlon also Is the lot of every man;
but the two coming together and In SO
frightfu a form have been'enough to shake
my very soul. Besides. II Is not l alone.
The very noblest in the land may suffer
Tlhie affair"
Pray compose yourself. sir" said
Holmes. and let me have clear account
OF VINO you are and what 1t IS that has be-
fallen you"
My name" answered our visitor. rs
probably familiar to your ears. / am Alex
ander Holder of the banking firm of Holder
d Stevenson of Threadneedle street
The name was indeed well known to US
as belonging to the senior partner IN the
second largest private banking concern In
pened. then, to bring one of the foremost
citizens OF London to this most pitiable
pass? We waited, all curiosity, until with
another effort he braced himself to tell his
story,
Il feel that time IS OF value" said he;
that Is why | FASTENED here when the po-
lice inspector suggested that l should
cure your cooperation. | came to Baker
street by the Underground. and hurried
from there on foot, for the cabs go slow
ly through the snow That Is why l was
60 out OF breath. for I am a man who
takes very little exercise! l feel better now,
ard l VIII put the facts before you
Shortly and yet as clearly as l can.
1t IS, OF course. well known to you that
in n successful banking business as much
depends upon our being able TO ind re-
muueratiVe 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
uu.mpcachabie We have done 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
curity OF their pictures. libraries plate.
Yesterday morning l was seated In my
Office at the bank when card was brought
in TO me by one OF the clerks. l started
when ! saw the name. for II was that or
none other than-wcll. perhaps even to you
] had better say no more than that Il was
q name which Is household word all over
the rarth-Cne OF the highest. nOblest most
exalted names in England. l was over
whelmed by the honor and attempted,
when he entered 20 say so, but he plunged
a. once Into business It'll the air of man
who wishes to hurry quickly through dis
agreeable task.
20 MI Holder said he. I have been In
formed that you are in the habit OF ad-
Vanc!ng money.
The firm does 80 when the security is
good | answered.
It Is absolutely essential TO me- said
he that I should have 10000 at once 1
could, OF course borrow triflng Il sum
ten times over from my friends. but l much
prefer 10 make II matter of business and
To carry out that business myself In my
position you can readily understand that 1t
IS unwlse TO place ones self under obliga-
lions
For how long. may 1 ask. do you want
this sum?' | asked.
Next Monday l have a largo sum due
10 me. and I shall then most certainly Pc
pay what you advance. with whatever In
terest you think It right TO charge. But II
IS very essential 10 me that the money
should be paid at once
e" 4 should be happy TO advance Il with
out further parley from my own private
purse. said l. were IT not that the strain
would be rather more than 1t could bear.
II mn 10 I ~ do In ba