Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-09-07

H.M2H 81 lfltllQ 10 ne IN Dcttcr
IKE B form, both mental and
@SsM@ physical, than in the year
E6aMNAN m5. His increasing fame
NSDHeGE had brought With it an
immense practice, and l
should he guilty Of an indiscrction if |
We're even to hint at the identity of
some of the illuStrious clients who
crossed our humble threshold in Baker
street. Holmes, however, like all great
artists. lived for his arts sake. and.
save IN the case of the Duke of Holder
nesSe. have seldom known him claim
any large reward for his ineStimable
services. SO unworldly was he-or so
capriciouS-that he frequently refused
his help to the powerful and wealthy
where the problem made no appeal to
his ~sympathieS. while he would devote
weeks OF most intense application to
the affairs of some humble client whose
case presented those strange and dra-
matte qualities which appealed to his
imagination and challenged his inge-
nuity.
In this memorable year '95 q curious
NINA itNSii@ loiS Sl(NNSSltll VI CASTS
had engaged his attention, ranging
from his famous investigation If the
sudden death Of Cardinal ToSca-an
inquiry which was carried out by him
at the express desire of his holiness the
~pope-down to his arrest of Wilson, the
notorious canary trainer. which remOv
ed a plague spot from the east end of
fOnHOn Close on tho hnAlS Df tNnSn
two famous cases came the tragedy of
Woodlnan'S Les and the very obscure
circumstances which surrounded the
death of Captain Peter Carey. No rec
ord Of the doings of Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes would be complete which did
not include some account of this very
unusual affair.
During the first week of July nv
friend had been absent SO often and so
long from our lodgings that knew he
had something on hand. The fact that
several rough looking men called dur
ing that time and inquired for Captain
Basil made me understand that Holmes
was working somewhere under one of
the numerous DISCUSSES and names with
which he concealed his own formi-
dable identity. He had at least five
small refugees in different parts Of
london in which he was able to
change his personality. He said moth
ing Of his business to me, and It was
not my habit to force a confidence.
The first positive sign which he gave
me of the direction which his investi-
cation was taking was an extraordi-
nary one. He had gone out before
breakfast, and I had sat down to
mine when he strobe into the room,
his hat upon his head and a huge
barb headed spear tucked like an I'M
brella under his arm.
Coco gracious. Holmes" cried,
you don't mean to say that you have
been walking about London with that
thing!.'
II drove to the butchers and back"
"The butcher's?'
And / return with an excellent an
petite. There can be no question. nv
dear Watson. Of the value of exercise
before breakfast. But l am prepared
to bet that you will not guess the form
that my exercise has taken"
Il will not attempt it."
He chnckled as he poured out the cof-
fee.
"If YOU could nave looked into AL
lardyre's back shop you would have
seen u dead pig swung from a hook in
the ceiling and a gentleman in his
shirt sleeves %furiously sta5bing at it
with this weapon. I was that ener-
getic person, and l have satisfied my
self that by no eXertion Of my strength
can ] transfix the pig with a single
blow. Perhaps you would care to
try"
Not for worlds. But why were you
doing thiS:"
Because it seemed to me to have an
Indirect bearing upon the mystery of
WooGman's Lee. All, HOPKINS. | got
your wire last night, and | have been
expecting YOU. Come and join us
Our visitor was an e~xceclingly alert
man, thirty years Of g dressed in Il.
quiet tweed suit, but retaining the
erect bearing Of one who was accus-
toned to official uniform. recognized
him at once as Stanley Hopkins. Il
young police inspector, for whose flu
ture Holmes had high hopes, while he
in turn professed the admiration anG
respect Of Il pupil for the scientific
methods Of the famous amateur. Hop
kinS' brow was clOudeI, and he sat
down with al air of deep detection.
"NO, thank YOU, sir. / Drcakfasteu
before l came round. / spent the night
i'll town, for | came up yesterday to re
port
and what had you to report?'
"Failure, sir; absolute failure"
"IOu have made no progress"
"None."
"Dear me. l must have a look at
the matter"
81 wish to heavens that you would,
Mr.. Holmes. It's my first big chance,
and | am at my wits end. For good
ness sake. come down and lend me a
hand"
well, well, it just happens that | have
already read all the available evidence,
including the report Of the inquest.