Evening star., 1905-08-27
Copyright by Harper & Bros.)


settled our new acquaintance upon the sofa.
placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid
glass of brandy and water within his
reach.
been no common one, Mr.. Hatherley." said
he Pray lie down there and make your
self absolutely at home. Tell US what you
can. but stop when you are tired. and keep
up your strength with little stimulant.
Thank you.' said my patient. but
have felt another man since the doctor
ba dRged me. and 1 think that your break
fast has completed the cure / shall take
uo as little of your valuable time as pos
sible. so | will start at once upon my pecu-
liar experiences.
Holmes sat in his big arm chair with the
weary, heavy-idded expression which veil
ed his keen and eager nature while 1 sat
opposite him. and We listened in silence 10
the strange story which our visitor detailed
to US
You must know" said he that 1 am
an orphan and Il bachelor, residing alone in
lodgings In London. By profession l am an
hydraulic engineer, and l have had consid-
BILE experience of my work during the
seven years that / was apprentfced to ven
ncr & Matheson the wellknown firm of
Greenwich Two years ago. having served
my time. and having also come into a fair
of money through my poor fathers
death, ! determined to start in business for
myself and took professional chambers In
Victoria street.
Il suppose that every one finds his first
independent start in business dreary ex-
pcrience. To me it has been exceptionally
So During two years / have had three
consultations and one small JOB, and that
is absolutely all that my profession has
brought me. My gross takings amount 10
G21 los Every day. from Q In the morning
until In the afternoon. l waited in my lit
tla den, until at last my heart began to
sink and l came to believe that | should
neve:' have any practice at all.
yesterday. however, just as was think
ING nf office clerk
to say there was gentleman waiting who
wished to see me upon business. he
brought up a card. too with the name or
Col. Iiysander Stark engraved upon II.
Close at his heels came the colonel himself,
a man rather over the middle size, but or
an exceeding thinness. | do not thlnk that
] have ever seen so thin man His whole
face sharpened away into nose and chin,
and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite
tcEsc over his outstanding bones. Yet this
emacation seemed to be his natural habit.
and due to no disease. for his eye was
bright, his step brisk, and his bearing as
sured. He was plainly but neatly dressed.
and his age. l should judge. would be
nearer forty than thirty.
Mr.. Hatherley?' said he with some
thing of a German accent You have been
recommended to me. Mr.. Hatherley, as be
ing a man who is not only proficient in his
profession. but is also discreet and capable
OF preserving a secret.
Il bowed. feeling as fattered as any
Young man would at such address
May I ask who 1t was that gave me so
good character?
We'll, perhaps 1t IS better that should
not tell you that just at this moment. l
have II from the same source that you are
both an orphan and a bachelor, ana are re-
siding alone in London.
That is quite correct I answered. but
Won will excuse me if l say that I cannot
see how all this bears upon my professional
qualifications. / understood that 1t was on
a professional matter that you wished TO
speak to me-?
'I-ndoubtealy so But you will find that
all l say is really 20 the point. l have a
professional commission for you, but abso-
Lutte secrecy is quite essential-absoiute Sc
crecy YOU understand and Of course we
NAV expect that more from man who is
alone than from one who lives in the bosom
of his family
".If l promise to keep a secret said !.
YOU may absolutely depend upon my doing
so
He looked very hard at he as l spoke.
and II seemed 10 me that L had never seen
so suspicious and questioning an eye
- Do you promise, then? said he' at last.
Yes I promise
ABSOLUTE and complete silence before.
during and after? No reference TO the
matter at all. either In word or writing?
"'I have already given you my word
Very good He suddenly sprang up,
and. darting like lightning across the room.
flung open the door. The passage outside
was empty, ,, ,oo,,
That's all right said he, coming Dach.
q know that clerks are sometimes curious
as to their masters affairs. Now we can
talk in safety He drew up his chair very
close to mine and began to stare at me
again with the same questioning ana
thoughtful look.
~ feeling of repulsion and Of something
akin to fear had begun TO rise within me at
the strange antics of this fieshiess man.
Even my dread of losing client could not
restrain me from showing my impatience-
= hap bar
sir said I; my time is OF value Heaven
forgive me for that last sentence, put the
words came TO my llps
How would fifty guineas Tor night
work suit your he asked.
Most admirably.
az saw n nights work, but an hours
would be nearer the mark l simply want
your opinion about an hydraulic stamping
machine which has got out of gear II you
show us what Is wrong We shall soon set II
right ourselves What do you think OF
such a commission as thatE
The work appears 10 De Aght anu the
pay munifcent.'
'" Precisely so. We shall want you to
come tonight by the last train
"'Where tor
:" TO Eyford. in Berskshire 1t is little
Mace near the borders OF Oxfordshire and
within seven miles of Reading There Is
a train from PaddngtOn which would bring
you there about ll:l5.
Very good
~ shall come down in a carriage to
meet YOU
There Is a drive. then?
Yes, our little place is quite out in the
country. 1t Is a good seven miles from
Eyford station
Then We can hardly get there before
midnight / suppose there would be no
chance Of a train back. 1 should be COM
PEELED to stop the night
Yes. we could easily give you shake
down.
That Is very awkward. Could l not
come at some more convenient hour?
We have Judged It best that you should
come late. 1t Is 70 recompense you for any
Inconvenience that we are paying to you, a
young and unknown man, fee which
would buy an opinion from the very heads
of your profession. Still. of course, II you
would like TO draw out of the business,
there Is plenty OF time to do so
II thought of the fifty guineas, and of
how very useful they would be to me. Not
al all said l. / shall be very happy to ac-
commodate myself to your wishes. | should
like. however to understand n little more
clearly what 1t Is that you wish me to do
quite 1t is very natural that the
pledge OF secrecy which we have exacted
from you should have reused your
riosity. | have no wish to commit you TO
anything without your having it all laid
before you. l suppose that we are abso-
iutely safe from eIvesdroppers