The San Francisco call., 1905-04-09

AONACI = N6Chls-J
Copyright, 1905. by Mcclure. Phillips
& Coz
r HAVE never known my friend to
be in better form, both mental and
physical, than in the year So His
increasing fame had brought with
il an immense practice. and should
be guilty OF an indiscretion II / were
even to hint at the identity OF some
OF the illustrious clients who crossed
our humble threshold in Baker street
Holmes. however, like all great artists,
lived for his arts sake, and, save in
the case of the Duke of Holdernesse.
I have seldom known him TO claim any
large reward for his inestimable serv-
ices. So unwOrldly was he-or so capri
cious-that he frequently refused his
help 10 the powerful and wealthy where
the problem made ne 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 'S5 a Curl
Gus and incongruous succession of cases
had engaged his attention, ranging
from his famous investigation of the
sudden death Of Cardinal Tosca-an in
quiry Which was carried out by him
at the express desire of his Holiness
the POpe-down TO his arrest of VIII
son, the notorious canary-trainer. which
remON ed q plague spot from the East
End OF London. Close on the heels
Of these two famous cases came the
tragedy Of Woodman's Lee, and the
very obscure circumstances which sur
rounded the death of Captain Peter
Carey. No record 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 JuiyH my
friend had been absent 50 often and so
long from our lodgings that l knew
he had something on hand. The fact
that several rough-looking men called
during that time and inquired for Cap
tain Basil made me understand that
Holmes Was working somewhere under
one Of the numerous disguises and
names with which he concealed his
own formidable identity. He had at
least FIVE small refugees in different
parts OF London, in which he was able
to change his personality. He said
nothing of his business to me. and it
- AAON AA- AAdDll ~ AOINE d
The first positive sign which he gave
me Of the direction which his investi-
cation was taking was an extraordinary
one. He had gone out before break
fast, and ] had sat down to mine when
he STROBE into the room, his hat upon
his head and a huge barbed-headed
spear tucked like an umbrella under
his arm.
Good gracious, Holiness" 1 cried.
You don't mean TO say that you have
been walking about London with that
thing?"
I drove to the butchers and back"
The butcher's?"
And I return with an excellent ap-
petite. There can be no question. my
dear Watson. of the value of exercise
before breakfast. But I am prepared
that my exercise has taken
i viii not attempt it.
He chuckled as he poured out the
coffee.
If you could have looked into Al
lardyce's back shop you would have
seen dead pig swung from a hook in
the ceiling, and a gentleman in his
shirt sleeves furiously stabbing at it
with this weapon. I was that energetic
person, and have satisfied myself that
by no exertion Of my strength can l
transfix the pig with a single blow.
Perhaps you would care to try?"
Not for worlds. But why were you
doing this?"
Because it seemed TO me to have an
indirect bearing upon the mystery of
WOodman's Lee. All, Hopkins / got
your wire last night, and / have been
expecting YOU Come and join US"
Our visitor was an exceedingly alert
man, thirty years of age, dressed in q
quiet tweed suit, but retaining the
erect bearing Of one who was accus
toned TO official uniform. 1 recognized
him at once as Stanley Hopkins. a
young police inspector, for whose I'm
fure Holmes had high hopes. while he
in turn profeEsed the admiration and
respect of a pupil for the scientific
methods of the famous amateur. Hon
kins' brow was clouded, and he sat
down with an air of deep detection.
No. thank you. sir. / breakfasted
before I came round. spent the night
in town, for came I'D yesterday TO
report
And what had you to report %
Failure, sir; absolute failure
You have made no progress ?"
None"
..Dear me- must have look at the
matter"
Il wish to heavens that you would,
Mr.. Holmes. It's my first big chance.
ana i dIl dL lD- Wis EhAs EOOQ-
ness sake, come down and lend me
hand"
well, well, il just happens that I
have already read all the available eyi-
dence. including the report Of the in
quest, with some care BY the way,
what do you make of that tobacco
pouch. found on the scene of the crime?
Is there no clew there?
Hopkins looked surprised.
1T was the mans. own pouch, sir
His initials were inside it, And it was
of sealslzin-and he was an old sealer''
But he had no pipe"
No, sir, we could find no pipe. In
deed, he smoked very little, and yet
he might have kept some tobacco for
his friends"
No doubt. only mentioned it be-
cause, II had been handling the case.
] should have been inclined to make
that the starting point of my investi-
cation. However, my friend, DR.. Wat