The Washington times., 1905-06-18
VCopyright 1893 by A. Conan Doyle.)
Copyright 1894 by Harper & Bros.)
~ NE summer night, few months
after my marriage I was seat

-
last pipe and nodding over
novel. for my days work had been an
exhausting one. My wife had already
gone upstairs. and the sound of the
locking OF the hall door some time be-
lore tod me that the servants had also
reIreo. had risen from my seat and
was knocking out the ashes of my pipe
when 1 suddenly heard the clang of the
bell.
looked at the cock. 1t was a quar-
ter to u. This couid not be visitor at
so late an hour. A patient. evidently,
and possibly an all-night sitting. With
WY face l went out into the hall and
opened the door. To my establishment
1t was Sherlock Holmes who stood upon
my step.
All. Watson said he. IT hoped that
might not be too late to catch you"
MY dear fellow. pray come in.
- y
You look surprised, and no wonderl
Relieved, too, 1 fancy HUM You still
smoke the Arcadia mixture of your
bachelor days theni There's no mistak-
Ing that fluffy ash upon your coat. It's
easy to tell that you have been accus-
toned to wear uniform, Watson.
You'll never pass as a pure-bred civilian
as long as you keep that habit of carry
ing your handkerchief in your sleeve
Gould you put me up tonight?''
With pleasure
You told me that you had bachelor
quarters for one, and I see that you
have no gentleman visitor at present.
Your hat-stand proclaims as much.''
L shall be delighted If you will stay"
Thank you. FL fill the vacant peg
then Sorry to see shat yor'v. had the
British workman in the house He's a
token of evil. Not the drains, hope? 2"
No, the gas
..Ah. He has left two nail marks from
his boot upon your linGleum just where
the light strikes it. No. thank you, 1
had some supper st Waterloo, but I'll
smoke a pipe with you with pleasure
handed him my pouch, and he seat
ed himself opposite to me and smoked
Tor some time in silence. / was well
aware that nothing but business of i'm
portance would have brought him to me
at such an hour, so l waited patiently
until he should come round To it,
I see that you arc professionally rath-
er busy just now. said he, glancing
very keenly across at me.
~ ~
Yes, I've had a busy day" L answer
ed. 1T may seem very foolish in your
eyes I added, but really 1 don't
know how you deduced IT.
Holmes chuckled to himself
Il have the advantage of knowing your
habits, my dear Watson, said he
When your round is short one you
walk, and when 1t is a long one you use
a hanson. As 1 perceive that your
boots. although used. are by no means
dirty, 1 cannot doubt that you are at
hing
SOM"
Excellent 1 cried
Elementary said he. ut is one of
those instances where the reasoner can
produce an effect which seems remark
able to his neighbor, because the latter
has missed the one little point which
Is the basis of the deduction. The same
may be said, my dear fellow, for the
effect of some of these little sketches
of yours, which is entirely merctricious
depending as it does upon your retain
ing in your own hands some factors in
the problem which are never impaired
to the reader. Now, at present I am in
the position of these same readers, for
] hold In this hand several threads of
one of the strangest cases which ever
perplexed a mans brain, and yet lack
the one or two which are needful to
COAAPiSiC LILY tifrOly. Iout i IL We lueIl
Watson, I'll have them,'' His eyes
kindled and slight flush srrang into
his thin cheeks For an instant the veil
had lifted upon his keen. intense nature
but for an instant only. When / glanced
again his face had resumed that red
Indian composure which had made so
many regard him as a machine rather
than a man.
1.-THE problem presents features Of IN
terest," said he. II may even say ex-
ceptional features of interest l have
already looked into the matter, and have
come. as think. within sight of my So
luton II you could accompany me in
that last step you might be Of consid-
cradle service to me-
II should be delighted
could you 60 as far as Aldershot
tomorrow"
II have no doubt Jackson would take
my practice"
Very good. i want to start by the
11:10 from Waterloo"
THAT would give me time"
Then. If you are not too sleepy,
will give you a sketch Of what has hap
pened, and of what remains to be done +"
II was sleepy before you came l am
quite wakeful now
II will compress the story as far as
may be done without emitting anything
vital to the case. 1t is conceive lie that
you may even have read some account
Of the matter. 1t is the supposed muir
der of Colonel Barclay, OF me Royal
MINISTERS, at Aldershot, which I am in
vestigating-"
'I have heard nothing Of IT.
y ~
eft has not excited much attention
yet, except locally. The facts are only
two days old. Briefly they are these:
1.-THE Royal MINISTER'S is. as you know.
one of the most famous Irish regiments
In the British army. It did wonders
both In the Crimea and the Mutiny, and
has since that time distinguished itself
upon every possible occasion. 1t was
commanded up to Monday night by
James Barclay, a gallant veteran. who
started as a full private, was raised to
commissioned rank for his bravery at
the time of the Mutiny, and SO lived to
command the regiment in which he had
once carried q musket.
Colonel Barclay had married at the
time when he was sergeant and his