The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-12

!, tlIVculug EllNCWS,
Echo and any others that occur to
. Very we'll, sir. And this stone7o
All, yes, { shall keep the stone.
Thank you. And, l say, Peterson, just |
buy a goose. on your way back, and
leave here with me, for we must have
one on 3h TO give e this gentleman IN place
vouring.V
5 When the commissionaire had gone,,
Holmes took up the stone and held it
against. the light. .sIt's bonny
thing" said he. nJust see how it
glints and sparkles. Of course it is a
nucleus and focus Of crime. Every good
stone; is. They are the devils pet bats.
facet may stand for bloody deed.
This stone is not yet twenty years old.
TWAS found in the banks Of the Annoy
river in southern China, and is remark
able In having every characteristic of
the carbuncle, save that it is blue in
shade, instead of ruby red In spite Of
its youth, it has already sinister his
tory. There have been two murders, a
vltriol.thr@wing, suicide, and several
robberies brought about for the sake Of
this forty grain weight Of crystallized
charcoal. Who would think that SO
pretty toy would be a purveyor to the
gallows and the prison7 I'll lock it up
to the countess to say that we have it. "
"Do you think that this man Horner
is innocent7'
~ cannot tell.'
"Well, then, do you imagine that this
other one, Henry Baker, had anything
to do with the matter?'
cit is, think, much more likely that
man, who had no idea that the bird
which he was carrying was of consid-
erably more value than if it were made
of sold gold. That, however, I shall de-
termine by a very simple test, if we
have an answer to our advertisement.
"And you can do nothing until
"Nothing.' .-
Gin that case I shall continue my
professional round. But I shall come
back in the evening at the hour you
have mentioned, for should line to see
the solution Of SO tangled business
Every glad to see you. dine at
seven. There is a Woodcock, | believe.
By the way, in view Of recent occar-
HEf ndso,n Ret anme Gaght 70 ask Mrs.
/ had been delayed at case, and it
was a little after half past six when I
found myself in Baker street once more.
AS l approached the house / saw a tall
man in a Scotch bonnet with a coat
| which was buttoned up to his chin,
waiting outside in the bright semicircle
Just as I arrived, the door was opened
and we were shown up together to
Holmes room. "a, ,.s.- ill.,,
ssMr. Henry Baker, I believe,' said
| he, rising from his arm chair and greet
| ing his visitor with the easy air of
genia~ity which he could SO readily as
sumo; ',P1ay tale this chair by the
/ observe that ySfr.s circulation is more
adapted for sumgher than for winter.
All. Watson, you have just come at the
right time. Is, that your hat, Mr..
Baker?" ii
eyes, sir, that is undoubtedly my
He was a large man., with rounded
intelligent face, sloping down to a
pointed beard Of grizzled brown. A
touch. Of red in nose and cheeks, with
a slight tremor of his extended hand, re-
called Holmes surmise as to his habits.
His rusty black frock coat was but
toned right up in 'front.' with the collar
turned up, and his lank wrists pro-
of cuff or shirt. He spoke in slow
staccato fashion, choosing his words
with care, and gave the impression gen
! orally of a man of learning and letters
who had ill-usage at the hands of for
tune:
some days said Holmes. "because we
you giving your address. I am at loss
i to know now why you did not adver-
| tise." .1
Our visitor gave rather shamefaced
laugh. "Shillings have not been SO
plentiful, with me: as they once were,'
he remarked. ~ had no doubt that the
! gang of roughs who assaulted me had
did not care to spend more money in 9
hopeless attempt at recovering them.
/ Every naturally. By.the-way, about
the bird, we were compelled to eat it. -
j. "To eat It'll" Our visitor half rose
from his chair in his excitement.
s. Yes, it would have been Of no use
to anyone had we not done so. But
| sideboard, which is about the same
weight and perfectly fresh, will answer
your purpose equally well9'
."Qh, certainly, certainly, answered
Mr.. Baker, with sigh Of relief.
/ "Of course, we still have the
/ feathers, legs, crop, and SO on Of your
own bird, so 1t you wish
i The man burst into hearty laugh
".They might be useful to. me as relics
4 Of my adventure said he, "but be
. You'd that [ can hardly see what use the
disjecta membra Of my late acquaint
ance are going to be to me. No, sir,
think that, with your permission, will
confne my attentions to the excellent
bird which ] perceive upon the side
board. - =. l
4 Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply
across at me with slight shrug of hi:
shoulders.
There is your hat, then, and there
your bird, = said he. "By-the-way
would 1t bore you to tell me where YOU
got the other one from9 I am some
what of a fowl fancier, and I have sci
J dom seen better grown goose. -
had risen and tucked his newly -gainet
property under his arm. "There are {
/ few of us who frequent the Alpha inn
!, near the Museum---We are to be fount
, in the Museum itself during the day
you understand This year our goot
host, Windigate by name, instituted {
! goose club, by which, on consideration
, of some few pence every week, we Wer,
each to receive a bird at Christmas
Ny pence were duly paid, and the res
is familiar to you. / am much indebted
to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fttet
neither to my years nor my gravity
: With a comical pomposity of manner h
! bowed solemnly to both Of us AM
strobe off upon his way.
\ ...so much for Mr.. Henry Baker
door behind him. It is quite certain
THAT he knows nothing whatever abou
J the matter. Are you hungry, Watsong T.
Not particularly. .
I Then I suggest that we turn on
II dinner into a sumner and follow III