The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-24


 into the room and closed the door be- hind me.
 You could not possibly have come at better time, my dear Watson he said cordially.
 T was afraid that you were engaged.
 So I am. Very much so."
 .eThen I can wait in the next room"
 .Not at all. This gentleman, MT. Will son, has been my partner and helper in many of my most successful cases, and have no doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also"
 The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a mob of greeting, with a quick, little, questioning glance from his small, fat-encircled eyes.
 .arry the settee' said Holmes relaps- ing into his armchair and putting his finger-tips together, as was his custom when in judicial moods. 'I know my dear Watson that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the con yentions and humdrum routine of every day life. You have shown your relish for 1t by the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you will excuse my saving so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own little adventures.
 Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me-" I observed.
 You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before We went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sutherland, that for strange ef- tects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the inn agination."
 "A proposition which took the liberty of doubting.'
 You did, doctor but none the less you must come round to my view, for other wise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to be right. Now, MT. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me this morning, and to begin narrative which promises to be one of the most singular which l have ever listened to for some time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occa- sionaly, indeed. where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as l have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is cer- tainly among the most singular that l have ever listened to- Perhaps, MT. Will son, you would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative. I ask you, no merely because my friend Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part, but also because the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips As a rule, when I have heard some slight indication of the course of events, l am able to guide my self by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the facts are, to the best of my be- lief, unique.'
 The porty client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some little pride, and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspa- per from the inside pocket of his great coat As he glanced down the advertise ment column, with his head thrust for ward, and the paper fiatened out upon his knee I took a good look at the man, and endeavored, after the fashion of my com- panion, to read the indications which might be presented by his dress or ap- pearance.
 I did not gain very much. however, by my inspection Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy gray shep- herds check trousers, not over-elean black frock coat, unbuttoned in the front, and drab waistcoat with heavy brassy Albert chain, and square pierced bit Of material dangling down as an ornament. A frayed top hat and faded brown overcoat with a wrinkle velvet collar lay upon chair beside him. Altogether, look as I would, there was nothing re- markable about the man save his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his head with smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual labor, that he takes snuff, that he is a Free mason that he has been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of writing lately, I can deduce nothing else"
 MT. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair with his forefinger upon the pa per, but his eyes upon my companion.
 How, in the name of good fortune. did you know all that MT Holmes?' he asked. How did you know, for ex- ample, that I did manual labor It's as true as gospel, for I began as ships carpenter"
 Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger than your left. You have worked with 1t and the muscles are more developed"
 Well, the snuff. then. and the F'reema- sonry?'
 q won't insult your intelligence by tell ing you how I read that, especially as. rather against the strict rules of your order, you use an arc-and-compass breastpin."
 "Ah, of course. forgot that. But the writing?"
 What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for five inches. and the left one with the smooth patch near the elbow where you rest it upon the desk"
 well, but China?''
 "The fish that you have tattoed im- mediately above your right wrist could only have been done in China. l have made small study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes scale of delicate pink is dition. I see Chinese coin hanging comes even more simple.''
 Mir Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. Well never!' said he. I thought at first that you had done something clever but I see that there was nothing in it after all''
 q begin to think. watson.' said Holmes, that I make a mistake in ex- plaining. Omne ignotum pro magnifco. you know, and my poor little reputation. such as 1t ise will suffer shipwreck If am so candid. Can you not find the ad- vertisement, Mir. Wilson?"
 ''Yes. have got it now" he answered, with his thick. red finger planted half way dowy the column ftTIera fc Tbie