The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-15
ADVENTURE v.
THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS

When I glanced over my notes and
records Of the Sherlock Holmes cases
between the years 'S2 and 100, am
faced by so many which present strange
and interesting features that it is no
easy matter to know which to choose
have already gained publicity thru the
papers, and others have not offered a
field for those peculiar qualities which
my friend possessed in so high a de-
gree, and which it is the object Of these
papers to illustrate. Some, too, have
baffed his analytical skill, and would
be, as narratives, beginnings without an
ending, while others have been but
partially cleared up, and have their ex-
plantations founded rather upon conjec-
ture and surmise than on that absolute
logical proof which was so, dear to him.
There is, however, one of these last
which was SO remarkable in it's details
and so startling in its results that | am
tempted to give some account of it,
in spite Of the fact that there are points
in connection with it which never have
been, and probably never will be, entire
ly cleared up. -.
series of cases of: greater or less in
terest, Of which / retain the records.
twelve months I find an account Of the
adventure Of the Paradol Chamber, of
the Amateur Mendicant Society, who
held a luxurious club in the lower vault
of a furniture warehouse, OF the facts
connected with the loss Of the British
bark Sophy Anderson, of the singular
adventures Of the Grice Patersons In
Camberwell poisoning case. In the lat
ter, as may be remembered, Sherlock
Holmes was able, by winding up the
dead man 8 watch, to prove that it had
been wound up two hours before, and
that therefore the deceased had gone
to. bed within that ti1ne-a deduction
which was Of the greatest Importance
sketch out at some future date, but
none Of them present such singular
features as the strange train Of cir
cumstances which have now taken up
my PEN to describe.
It was in the latter, days Of Sep
TENDER, and the equinoctial gales had
set in with exceptional violence. All
day the wind had screamed and the rain
had beaten against the windows, SO that
even here in the heart Of great hand
made London we were forced to raise
our minds for the instant from. the rou-
tine Of life, and to recognize the pres
enee Of those great elemental forces
which shrek at mankind thru the bars
Of his civilization, like, unframed beasts
III d CdS0. faS oVeu1uS uI6" LII, Cuo
storm grew higher and louder, and the
wind cried and sobbed like a, child in
the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat
moodily at one side Of the fireplace
cross-indexing his records of crime,
while at Sthe other was deep in one
Of Clark Russell's fine sea stories, until
the howl Of the gale from without
splash Of the rain to lengthen out into
the long swash Of the sea waves. My
wife was on a visit to her mother IS,
and for few days 7 was a dweller
once more in my old quarters at Baker
street.
saS r5s sn saPsv up }hs at be{
! Who could come tonight Some friend
Of yours, Perhaps9" :,
he answered: II DO not encourage
IA client, then7" - -,
"If so, it is a serious case. Nothing
less would bring a man out on such q
. day and. at such an hour. But T take
it that it is more likely to be some
crony Of the landlady's.' j :
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his
conjecture, however, for there came q
step in the passage and tapping at the
door. He Stretched out his long arm
to turn the lamp away from himself
and towards the vacant chair upor
which q newcomer must sit. "Come
in,!' said he.
The man who entered was young
some two-and-twenty at the outside
we'll groomed and trinity clad, with
something Of refinement and delicacy il
his bearing. The steaming umbrella
which he held in his hand, and his long
, weather thru which he had come. HI
( looked about him anxiously in the glar,
of the lamp, and could see that hi
! face was pale and his eyes heavy, Xix
: those Of man who is weighed down
+ with some great anxiety. 80: =.
! IT owe you an apology" he said
raising his golden pincenez to his eyes
! fear that I have. brought some trace
Of the storm and rain into your snu'
! chamber 80
..Give me your coat and umbrella, ,
i said Holmes. They may rest here o.
! the hook, and will be dry presently
You have come up from the southwest
: H7Yes, from Horsham." > 80
st#That clay and chalk mixture whic'
q ! see upon your toecaps Is quite dis
tinctiven
81 have come for advice =,
nThat is easily got.''
"And help" = -s
Adt ID INV always -oo 0doJs
CT have heard Of you, Mr.. Holme:
I heard from Major Prendergast no,
you saved him in the Tankerville Glu
Scandal" "a 4
+ ss.Ah, Of course. He was wrongful
accused Of cheating at cards.
HE said that you could solve an,
sfHe said too much. il -
That you are never beaten.'
1T have been beaten four times
three times by men, and once by
woman. a..
! ssBut what is that compared with til
number of your successes9'
1t is true that have been general
successful
1'Then you may be so with me.'
81 beg that you will draw your cha!
up to the fire, and favor me with SON
details as to your case. ~
! It is no ordinary one. -
, HNone of those which come to N
IRE. I am the last court of appeal. =
tsAnd yet I question, sir, whethe
IN .all your experience, you have evt
listened to more mysterious and i
explicable chain Of events than tho.
! which have happened in my own Tar
stYou fill me with interest" sal
Holmes. !" Pray give us the essenti
facts from the commencement, and
:. can afterwards question you as to tho
details which seem to me to be mo