Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

throwing a suicide and several robberies
brought about for the sake Of this forty
grain weight of crystalliZed charcoal. VINO
would think that so pretty a Toy would be
a purveyor to the gallows and the prison?
Ill lock it up in my strong box now, and
drop a line to the countess to say that we
have it,
DO you think that this man Horner is
innocent?'
81 cannot tell"
well, then, do you imagine that this
other one, Henry Baker, had anything to
do with the matter?'
at is. | think. much more likely that
Henry Baker is an absolutely innocent
man, who had no idea that the bird which
he was carrying was of considerably more
value than if it were made of solid gold.
| That however I shall determine by a very
simple test, If we have an answer to cur
advertisement
and you can do nothing until theu?'
Nothing"
In that case shall continue my profess
sionai round. But 1 shall come back in the
evening at the hour you have mentioned.
for / should like to see the solution OF SO
tangled a business
VERY glad to see you. l dine at q,
There is a woodcock, l believe. BY the
way, in view of recent occurrences, per-
haps l ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to ex-
anime its crop
/ had been delayed at case and 1t was
little after half-past when l found my
self in Baker street once more. AS L ap-
preached the house l saw a tall man in a
Scotch bonnet, with coat which was but
toned up to his chin, waiting outside N the
bright semi-circle which was thrown n
the fanlight. Just as l arrived the door
was opened, and we were shown up TO-
gether to Holmes room.
'Mr Henry Baker, l believe, said ne,
rising 'rom his arm chair and greeting his
visitor with the easy air of geniality which
he could so readily assume Pray lake
this chair by the fire, Mr.. Baker 1t is a
cold night, and observe that your circula-
ton is more adapted for summer than for
winter All Watson, you have Just come
at the right time. Is that your nat, Mr..
Baker,?
Yes sir; that is undoubtedly my hat"
He was a large man, with rounded Shout
ders a massive head and a broad. intelli-
gent face, sloping down to pointed beard
of grizzled brown. touch OF red IN nose
and cheeks, with slight tremor of MS ex-
tended hard, recalled Holmes surmlse as TO
his habits His rusty black frocli coat was
buttoned right up in front, with the collar
turned up. and his lank wrists protiuded
from his sleeves without sign OF cur or
shirt He spoke in q slow Staccato fashion,
choosing his words with care, and gave the
impression generally of man " learning
and letters who had had ill-usage at tie
hands of fortune.
1--WE have retained these things for some
days" said Holmes, because we expected
to see an advertisement from you giving
your address. l am al a loss to know why
you did not advertise"
Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced
| laugh. 'Shillings have not been SO plenti-
| full with me as they once were,' he re-
marked Il had no doubt that the gang of
! roughs who assaulted me had carried off
| both my hat and a bird. 1 did not care to
spend more money in hopeless attempt at
recovering them"
T, VERY naturally. By the way, about the
I bird-we were compelled to eat it."
ITO eat itr' Our visitor half arose from
his chair In his excitement
Yes: ii would have been of no use to
any one had we not done 80. But 1 pre-
sumo that this other goose upon the side
| board, which is about the same weight and
perfectly fresh, will answer your purpose
| equally well?'
"Oh, certainly. certainly" answered Mr..
Baker, with sigh of relief
"Of course. We still have the feathers,
| legs, crop, and so on, of your own bird, so
| If you wish"
The man burst into hearty laugh They
/ might be useful to me as relics of my ad-
venture" said he, but beyond that / can
hardly see what use the disjecta membra of
| my late acquaintance are going to be to me-
| No, sir: i think that with your permission
| 1 will confine my attentions to the excellent
bird which / perceive upon the sideboard'
Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across
at me with slight shrug of his shoulders.
There is your hat, then, and there your
| bird" said he by the way, would 1t bore
you to telE me where you got the other one
from? I am somewhat of fowl fancier,
and / have seldom seen a better grown
goose"
Certainly, sir" said Baker who had
risen and tucked his newly gained property
under his arm. There are a few of us who
frequent the Alpha Inn. near the Mu-
seum-we are to be found in the Museum
itself during the day. you understand. This
stituted goose club by which, ON consid-
Grafton of some few pence every week, We