The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-13
A1vENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE SPECIFIED BAND.
BY Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,

Holmes, l find many tragic, some
comic large number merely strange,
but none commonplace; for, working
as he did rather for the love OF his
art than for the requirement of
wealth, he refused to associate him.
self with any investigation which did
not tend towards the unusual, and
even the fantastic. OF all these varied
cases, however, / cannot recall any
which presented more singular fea
lures than that which was associated
with the well-known Surrey family of
the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The
events in question occurred in the
early days of my association with
Holmes, when we were sharing rooms
as bachelors in Baker Street. 1t ia
possible that I might have placed
them upon record before, but q
promise of secrecy was made at tn:
time, from which / have only beer
freed during the last month by the
untimely death of the lady to whom
the pledge was given. 1t is perhaps as
well that the facts should now come
to light, for 1 have reasons to know
that there are widespread rumors as
to the death of DR.. Grimesby Roylott
which tend to make the matter even
more terrible than the truth.
1t was early in April in the year 'S3
that / woke one morning to find Sher .
by the side Of my bed. He was a late
riser, as a rule, and as the clock on
the mantel-piece showed me that il
was only a quarter past seven, | blink
ed up at him in some surprise, and
perhaps just a little resentment, for
was myself regular in my habits
Every sorry to knock you up, Wat
son." said he, "but it's the common lot
this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been
lxnnOlyQd nm she rptOrta6 nnOn mo
and 1 on you.''
What is it, then-a fire."
No; a client 1t seems that
young lady has arrived in a consider
able state of excitement, who insists
upon seeing me. She is waiting now
in the sitting room. Now, when young
ladies wander about the metropolis al
this hour of the morning and knock
sleepy people up out of their beds, /
presume that it is something very
pressing which they have to communl-
cate. Should it prove to be an inter-
esting case you would, am sure, wish
to follow it from the outset | thought,
at any rate, that should call you and
give you the chance"
MY dear fellow, 1 would not miss
it for anything"
L had no keener pleasure than in
following Holmes in his professional
Investigations, and I'm admlring the
rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions.
and yet always founded on a logical
basis, with which he unravelled the
problems which were submitted to
him. I rapidly threw on my clothes,
and was ready in a few minutes to
accompany my friend down to the sit
ting room. A lady dressed in black
and heavily yelled, who had been sit
ting in the window, rose as we en-
tered.
Good morning. madam said
Holmes, cheerily. MY name is Sher
lock Holmes. This is my intimate
friend and associate, DIR. Watson, be-
fore whom you can speak. as freely
as before myself. Ha! / am glad 10
see that Mrs. Hudson has had the
good sense to light the fire. Pray
draw up to it, and / shall order you a
cup of hot coffee, for l observe thar
you are shivering."
at is not the cold which makes me
shiver," said the woman, in a low
voice. changing her seat as requested.
what, them"
'It is fear, Mr.. Holmes. 1t is ter
ror." She raised her veil as she spoke.
and we could see that she was indeed
in a pitiable state of agitation, her face
all drawn and gray, with restless,
frightened eyes, like those of some
hunted animal. Her features and fig
lire were those of a woman Of thirty
but her hair was shot with premature
gray, and her expression was weary
and haggard. Sherlock Holmes ran
her over with one of his quick, all
comprehensive glances
"You must not fear" said he, sooth-
ingly, bending forward and patting her
forearm. eve shall soon set matters
right, I have no doubt. You have
come in by train this morning,
see"
'You know me- them"
mo, but 1 observe the second half
of return ticket In the palm of your
left glove. You must have started
early, and yet you had al good drive
in a dog-cart along heavy roads. be-
fore you reached the station"
The lady gave a violent start. and
stared In bewilderment at my COM
panion.
There is no mystery. NV dear
madam" said he, smiling. THE left
arm of your jacket is spattered with
mud in no less than seven places. The
marks are perfectly fresh. There is
no vehicle save a dog cart which
throws up mud in that way, and then
only when you sit on the left-hand side
of the driver"
whatever your reasons may be,
you are perfectly correct" said she.
81 started from home before six.
reached Leatherhead at twenty past.
and came in by the first train to
Waterloo. Sir can stand this strain
no longer; I shall go mad if it con-
tinues. I have no one to turn to
none. save only one, who cares for
me, and he, poor fellow can be of lit
tie aid 1 have heard of you. Mr..
Holmes; I have heard of you from
Mrs. Farintosh, whom you helped in
the hour of her sore need. 1t was
from her that I had your address. oh.
sir do you not think that you could
help me, too, and at least throw a lit
tie light through the dense darkness
which surrounds me? At present it is
out of my power to reward you for
your services, but in a month or six
weeks I shall be married, with the
control of my own income. and then |
at least you shall not find me migrate
full"
Holmes turned to his desk, and un-
locking it, drew out a small case
book, which he consulted.
"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, |
recall the case; it was concerned with |
an opal tiara. 1 think it was before |
your time, Watson. 1 can only say, |
madam, that / shall be happy to de- |