Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-26

UaMNlH AliCAu " Dc III DeClGr
luMu form, both mental and
DSsA -, physical, than in the year
H6@5MSMAv 'o5. His increasing fame
A1DWGg had brought with it an
Immense practice, and I
should be guilty of an indlscretion 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 oil 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 a curious
and incongruous succession of cases
had engaged his attention, ranging
from his famous investigation of 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 plague spot from the east end of
London. Close on the heels of these
two famous cases came the tragedy of
Woodlands Lee 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 my
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 confidence.
The first positive sign which he gave
me of the direction which his investi.
CATION was taking was all extrhordi-
nary one. He had gone out before
breakfast, and 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 UNI
brella under his arm.
Good gracious, Holmes,a ! cried
you don't mean to say that you have
been walking about London with tina,
thing!"
II drove to the butchers and back.
"The butcher's?"
"And return with an excellent ap
petite. There can be no question, m,
dear Watson, Of the value of exercis,
before breakfast. But am prepared
to bet that you will not guess the form
that my exercise has taken"
81 will not attempt It,"
He chuckled as he poured out the cot.
fee.
"If you could have looked into AL
lardyces back shop you would have
seen dead pig swung from hook in
the ceiling and gentleman in his
Shirt sleeves furiously stabbing at i
with this weapon. I was that ener
Igetic person, and I have satisfied my
self that by no exertion Of my strength
can 1 trans1x the pig with a single
blow. Perhaps yoY would care 7
try?" - ~
"Not for worlds. But why were 70,
doing this?"
Because it seemed to me to have al
Indirect bearing upon the mystery o
Woodlands Lee. All, Hopkins, l 50
your wire last night, and have heel
expecting you. Come and join u.s."
Our visitor was IN exceedingly aler
man, thirty years of age, dressed in
Iquiet tweed suit but retaining tn
erect bearing Of one who was accus
toned to official uniform. recognize
him at once as Stanley Hopkins.
young police inspector, for whose fl
ture Holmes had high hopes. while
in turn progressed the admiration an
respect Of a pupil for the scientif
methods of the famous amateur. Hol
kins' brow was clouded, and he sa
down with an air of deep detection.
mo, thank you, sir. I breakfaste
before came round: spent the pigt
in town, for came up yesterday to r.
port"
"And what had you to reports"
"Failure, sir; absolute failure"
"You have made no progress 2"
"None."
"Dear me! I must have a look {
the matter"
II wish to heavens that you woul,
Mr.. Holmes. It's my first big chanc
and am at my wits end. For goo
j ness sake, come down and lend me
/ hand" = =. ~ -
/ "Well, we'll, 1t just happens that ha,
I already read all the available evidenc
including the report of the inques
with some care. By the way, what {
you make Of that tobacco pouch -Four
l on the scene of the erime7 Is there |
clew there?"
Hopkins looked surprised.
1T was the mans own pouch, 81
His initials We're inside it. And it WI
Of sealskin-and he was an old sealel
IL "But lie had no pipe
j mo, sir, we could find no pipe. l
, deed, he smoked very little, and yet,