The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-19

From the point of Wow Of the
criminal expert" said Mr.. Sherlock
Homes, London has become a sin
gularly uninteresting city since the
death of the late lamented Professor
Moriarty."
"I can hardly think that you would
find many decent citizens to agree
with you," I answered.
We'll, well, l must not be selfish, :"
said he, with a smile, as he pushed
back his chair from the breakfast
table. 1.-THE community is certainly
the gamer, and no one the loser. save
the poor out-of-work specialist, whose
occupation has gone. With that man
in the field, ones morning paper pre-
sented infinite possibilities. Often it
was only the smallest trace, Watson,
the faintest Indication, and yet 1t was
enough to tell me that the great ma
lgnant brain was there, as the gen.
tlest tremors of the edges OF the web
remind one of the foul spider which
turks in the centre. Petty thefts.
wanton assaults, purposeless outrage
to the man who held the clue all
could be worked into one connected
whole. To the scientific student Of
the higher criminal world, no capital
in Europe offered the advantages
which London then possessed. But
now" He shrugged his shoulders
OF things which he had himself done
SO much to produce.
At the time Of which / speak,
Holmes had been back for some
months. and at his request had sold
my practice and returned to share
the old quarters in Baker street. A
young doctor, named Werner, had
tice, and given with astonishingly lit
tie demur the highest price that l
ventured to aSk-an incident which
only explained itself some years later,
when l found that Werner was a
distant relation of Holmes, and that
il was my friend who had really found
the money.
Our months Of partnership had not
been so uneventful as he had stated.
for / find, on looking over nv notes,
that this period includes the case
OF the papers of ex-PreSident Murlllo,
and also the shocking affair of the
Dutch steamship Friesland, which SO
nearly cost US both our lives. His
cold and proud nature was always
avcrse, however, from anything in the
shape of public applause. and he
bound me iii the most stringent terms
To say no further word OF himself,
his methods, or his successes pro-
hibition which, as / have explained,
has only now been removed.
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes was leaning
back in his chair after his whimsical
protest, and was unfolding his morn
ing paper in leisurely fashion, when
our attention was arrested by a tre-
mcndous ring at the bell, followed inn
mediately by IA hollow drumming
sound. as if some one were beating
on the outer door with his fist. As
il opened there came tumultuouS
rush into the hall, rapid foet clattcr-
Il tutf
a wild-cyed AMI frantic young man,
pale. dishevelled, anu palpitating,
burst>into the room. He looked from
one to the other of us. aud under our
gaze of inquiry he became conscious
that some apology was needed for
this unceremonious entry.
I'm sorry, Mr.. Holmes" he cried.
You mustn't blame me. / am nearly
mad. Mr.. Holmes, l am the unhappy
John Hector ~cFarlane."
He made the announcement as IL
The name alone would explain both
his visit and its manner. but ! could
see, by my companions unreSponSive
face. that ii meant no more to him
that tn me.
Have n cigarette, Mr.. McFarlane.
said he, pushing his case across. Il
my friend DIR. Watson here would
prescribe a sedatiye. The weather
has been 50 very warm these last few
day. Now. if you feel u little more
composed. / should be glad if you
would sit down in that chair, and tell
us very slowly and quietly who you
are, and what it is that you want
should recognize it. but l assure you
that, beyond the obvious facts that
you are q bachelor, a solicitor, a
FreemaSon, and an asthmatic, | know
nothing whatever about you.''
Familiar as / was with p1y friend S
methods, it was not difficult for me
TO follow his deductions, and TO OBJ
serve the untidiness Of attire, the
shcaf of legal papers, the watch
charm. and the breathing which had
prompted them. Our client, however,
stared In amazement.
"Yes, 1 am all that, Mr.. Holmes:
and, in addition, I am the most un-
fortunate man at this moment in Lon
don. For Heavens sake. don't aban-
don mc, Mr. Holmes. 1f they come
to arrest d bef2 8 I have finished
SO that a,ay tel yep flIe whole truth.
] could go 20 gitci happy if / knew
that you were working FOR me out
side
is really mos aT'ti--Enogf interesting.
on what chaTse 5.o sou expect to be
arrested.
Upon the chafge II numbering Mr..
Jonas Oldacre OF Los CT Norwood
NV companion's expressive face
showed a syripat1y Which was not.
am afraid. entfe'y ailoiiEel with sat-
isfaction.
This moment at be 4kI4sf that I was
saying TO my lriena, Or. watson. that