The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-20
COPYRIGHT BY HARPER & BROTHERS

was very weak, but l have had good
deal to go through
Perhaps you had better not speak
Of the matter. 1t is evidently trying
to your nerves."
"Oh no, not now. / shall have to
tell my tale to the police; but, be.
tween ourselves, If it were not fol-
the convincing evidence of this wound
OF mine, should be surprised if they
believed my statement; for it is a very
extraordinary one, and / have not
much in the way of proof with which
to back it up; and, even If they believe
me, the clews which l can give them
are SO vague that it is a question
whether justice will be DONE"
Hal" cried I, .''if it is anything in
the nature of problem which you
desire to see solved should strongly
recommend you to come to my friend
Mr.. Sherlock Holmes before you go
to the official police"
ooh, / have heard of that fellow"
answered my visitor land / should be
very glad If he would take the matter
official police as well. Would you give
me an Introduction to him?''
III do better. I'll take your round
to him myself. Well call a
cab and go together. We shall
just be in time to have a lit
tie breakfast with him. Do you feel
equal to it?'
YES; 1 shall not feel easy until I
have told my story
/ rushed upstairs, explained the
matter shortly to my wife, and in five
minutes was inside hanson. driving
with my new acquaintance to Baker
Street.
Sherlock Holmes was, as 1 expected,
lOunging about his sitting-rOom in his
dressing-gown, reading the agony
column of The Times, and smoking
his before-breakfast pipe, which was
composed of all the plugs and dottels
left from his smokes of the day be-
fore, all carefully dried and collected
on the corner of the mantel-piece. He
received US in his quietly genial
fashion. ordered fresh rashers and
eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal
When 1T was concluded he settled our
new acquaintance upon the sofa.
placed a pillow beneath his head, and
laid glass of brandy-and-wate
within his reach.
1T is easy to see that your expert
ence has been no common one, Mr.
Hatherley." said he. Pray. lie down
there and make yourself absolutely at
home. Tell us what you can, but stop
when you are tired, and keep up your
strength with a little stimulant."
THANK you,'' said my patient, "bu;
have felt another man since the
doctor bandaged me, and / think that
your breakfast has completed the
cure. 1 shall take up as little of your
valuable time as possible, so / shall
start at once upon my peculiar ex-
periences."
Holmes sat in his big armchair
with the weary, heavy-lidded express
sion which yelled his keen and eager
nature, while / sat opposite to him.
and we listened in silence to the
strange story which our visitor detail
ed to us.
"YOu must know" said he, "that 4
am an orphan and a bachelor, residing
llone in lodgings in London. BY pro-
fessiOn 1 am a hydraulic. engineer,
and | have had considerable expert
ence Of my work during the seven
years that / was apprenticed to Ven
ner & Matheson. the well-known firm.
of Greenwich. Two years ago, having
served my time, and having also come
into fair sum of money through my
poor fathers death, I determined to
start in business for myself and TOOK
professional chambers in Victoria
Street.
II suppose that every one finds his.
first independent start in business .
dreary experience. To me 1t has beer
SO. During two years
have had three consultations and one
small job, and that Is absolutely ali
that my profession brought me,
My gross takings amount to Ell 10c.
Every day, from nine in the morning
until four in the afternoon, | waited
in my little den, until at last my heart
began to sink, and I came to believe
that l should never have any practice
at all.
Yesterday, however, just as I wan
of leaving the office, my clerk
entered to say there was a gentleman
waiting who wished to see me upon
business. He brought up a card, too,
with the name of Colonel Lysandel
Stark engraved upon it. Close at his
heels came the colonel himself, man
rather over the middle size, but of an
exceeding thinness. l do not think
that 1 have ever seen so thin a man
His whole face sharpened away into
nose and chin. and the skin of his
cheeks was drawn quite tense over his
bones. Yet this emacia-
ton seemed to be his natural habit,
and due to no disease, for his eye was
bright, his step brisk, and his bearing
assured. He was plainly but neatly
dressed. and his age, l should Judge,
would be nearer forty than thirty
"'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with
Of a German accent You
have been recommended to me, Mr..
as being a man who Is not
only proficient in his profession, but
is also discreet and capable of presery-
Ing a secret
II bowed. feeling as flattered as any
young man would at such an address.
May / ask who it was who gave me
so good character"
Well, perhaps it is better that /
should not tell you that just at this
/ have it from the same
source that you are both an orphan
md bachelor. and are residing alone
in London ett9
That is quite correct answered.
bat you will excuse me if / say that l
ar not see how all this bears upon my
PROFESSIONAL qualifications. / under
stood that IT was on a professional
niafter that you wished to speak to
Heg
'Undoubtedlys So But you will
ind hat all | say is really to the
point. ] have professional commits
sion for you, but absolute secrecy is
quite essential-abSOlutc secrecy, YOU
and OF course we may ex-
pect that more from man who is
aioEe than from one who lives in the