The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-22
SECTION THREE.


har, from whom l purchased it, had at
one time an excellent general practice;
but his age, and an amiction of the
nature OF st. Vitus' dance from which
he suffered, had very much thinned It.
The public not unnaturally goes on the
principle that he who would heal others
must himself be whole, and looks
askance at the curative powers of the
man whose own case is beyond the
reach OF his drugs. Thus as my pre-
decessor weakened his practice de
clined,, until when l purchased il from
him ii had sunk from e1 200 to little
more than $500 a year. had confidence
however in my own youth and energy.
and was convinced that in a very few
years the concern would be as flourish
ing as ever.
For three months after taking over
the practice / was kept very closely at
work, and saw little Of my friend Sher-
lock Holmes, for / was too busy 20
visit Baker street, and he seldom went
anywhere himself save upon profess
slOndl business. l was surprised, there
fore, when one morning in June, as /
sat reading the British Medical Jour
mai after breakfast l heard a ring at
the bell, followed by the high, some
what strident tones Of my old COM
panion's voice.
All, my dear Watson" said he strid-
ing into the room, "am very delighted
10 see you! l trust that Mrs. Watson
has entirely recovered from all the lit
tie excitement connected with our ad-
venture OF the Sign of the Four"
Thank You, we are both we'll" said
b. ], shaking him warmly by the hand.
And l hope also" he continued. sit
ting down in the rocking chair. that
the cares of medical practice have not
entirely obliterated the interest which
you used to take in our little deduc-
tive problems"
ION the contrary" I answered, 1T
was only last night that l was looking
over my old notes and classifying some
OF our past results"
i trust you don't consider your col
lection closed"
Not at all. I should wish nothing
better than TO have some more of such
experiences"
Today, for example,"
Yes. today, if you like
And as far of as Birmingham?
Certainly, if you wish it."
And the practice
Il do my neighbours when he goes.
lie is always ready to work off a debt 20
"Ha. Nothing could be better" said
Holmes, leaning back in his chair and
AbNhAlf6 htClllN dl me lIolu unuCE Ms
halt-closed lids. Il perceive that you
have been unwell lately. Summer colds
are always a little trying"
4 was confined TO the house by q
severe chill for three days last week. Z
thought. however. that L had cast of
every trace of it,"
so YOU have. You look remarkably
robust"
How, then, did you know Of it,"
fa1
DDS"
You deduced it. them"
Certainly"
And from what?"
From your slippers"
j glanced down at the new patent
feathers which l was wearing. How
on earth" ] began, but Holmes an
swered my question before it was
asked.
Your slippers are neW,' he said
You could not have had them more
than a few weeks. The sDles which
you are at this moment presenting 10
me are slightly scorched. For "a mo-
ment i thought they might have got
wet and then burned in the drying
But near the instep there is a small
circular wafer of paper with the shop
mans hieroglyphics upon it. Damp
would, of course, have removed this,
feet OutstTetChed TO the fire. which a
man would hardly 10 even in SO wet a
June as this if he were in his fun
health"
Like all Holmes reasoning the thing
seemed simplicity itself when 1t was
once explained. He read the thought
upon my features and his smile had
tinge of bitterness.
Il am afriad that / rather give my
self away when I taxntgiu - said
Results without causes are much more
impressive. You are ready to come 70
birmingham, them
Certainly. What is the Case?"
You shall hear it all in the train.
My client is outside in four-wheeler.
Can you come at once?'
IN an instant" I scrubbed a note
10 my neighbOr, rushed upstairs 10 eN-
plain the matter TO my wife, and joined
Holmes upon the doorstep.
Your neighbOr is a Doctor said he,
nOdding at the brass plate.
Yes; he bought a practice as l did. "
An Old-established one?"
Just the same as mine. Both have
been here ever since the houses were
built"
"Ah! then you got hold Of the best of
the two"
Il think I did. But how do you
know
BY the steps, my boy. Yours are
worn three inches deeper than his. But
this gentlcmIn in the cab is my client.
Mr.. Hall PycrOft Allow me 10 intro
duce You TO him. Whip your horse up,
cabby, for we have only Just time 10
catch our train
The man whom / found myself fac
ing was "a well-built. fresh-cOmpleX-
toned young fellow, with a frank hon.
est face and a slight crisp. yellow mus
tache. He wore a very shiny top hat
and a neat suit of sober black, which
made him look what he WaS-a smart
young city man, of the class who have
been labelled COckneys, but who give
us our crack regiments, and who turn
out more fine athletes and sportsmen
than any body of men i'm these islands.
His round, rudy face was naturally
full of cheeriness, but the corners of his
mouth seemed TO me TO be pulled down
IN q hdlf-cOmical distress. IL was not,
however, until we We're all i'm a first
class carriage and well started upon
our journey TO Birmingham that I was
able to learn what the trouble was
which had driven him 10 Sherlock
Holmes.
I'VE nave a clear run here Of seven
~ minutes" Holmes remarked. Il
want you, Mr.. Hall PycrOft, 20 tell my
friend your very interesting experience
exactly as YOU have told it 10 me- or
with more detail if possible. IT viii be
of use to me 10 hear the succession OF
events again. IL is a case, Watson,
which may prove 10 have something
in il, or may prove 10 have nothing
but which, at least presents those un-
usual and Ouue features which are as
dear 10 you as they are 10 me. Now
Mr.. Pycroft, / shall not interrupt you
again"
our young companion looked at me
with a twinkle in his eye.