The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-22

HORTLY after my marriage
 ~ I had bought connection
 - in the Paddington district
 Old MT Farquhar, from
 whom I purchased it. had
 at one time an excellent gen.
 eral practice; but his age and an affiicton of the
 nature of St. Vitus dance from which he suffered, had very much thinned 1t. The public not unnaturally goes on the principle that he who would heal others must himself be whole, and looks askance at the curative powers of the man whose own case is beyond the reach of his drugs. Thus as my predeces- sor weakened his practice declined. un- til when I purchased it from him it had sunk from twleve hunderd to little more than three hundred a year. I had con f1dence, however, in my own youth and energy, and was convinced that in a very few years the concern would be as four ishing as ever
 For three months after taking over the practice I was kept very closely at work, and saw little of my friend Sherlock Holmes, for I was too busy to visit Baker street, and he seldom went anywhere himself save upon professional business. l was surprised, therefore, when, one morning in June, as l sat reading the British Medical Journal" after break fast, l heard a ring at the bell, followed by the high, somewhat strident tones of my old companions voice.
 "Ah, my dear Watson" said he strid- dolt see youl I trust that Mrs. Watson has entirely recovered from all the little ex- citement connected with our adventure of the Sign of the Four"
 Thank you, we are both we'll" said l. shaking him warmly by the hand
 And l hope, also," he continued sit- ting down in the rocking chair, that the cares of medical practice have not en- tirely obliterated the interest which you used to take in our little deductve prob lems."
 On the contrary" I answered, '1t was otly last night that I was looking over my old notes. and classifying some of our past results.'
 T trust you don't consider your collec- ton closed"
 Not at all I should wish nothing bet ter than to have some more of such ex- periences.'
 'Todays for example?"
 Yes, today, if you like"
 And go as far off as Birmingham?" Certainly. if you wish it.
 And the practice?"
 T do my neighbours when he goes. He is always ready to work off a debt''
 Ha! nothing could be better" said Holmes, leaning back in his chair and looking keenly at me from under his half closed lids. "I perceive that you have been unwell lately. Summer colds are always little trying"
 "I was confined to the house by se- were chill for three days last week. I thought. however, that I had cast off every trace of it
 50 you have You look remarkably TO- bust"
 How, then. did you know of it?" My dear fellow, you know my meth ods'
 You deduced it. then?'
 Certainly"
 And from what?''
 From your slippers glanced down at the new patent-leath CTS which 1 was wearing. How on earth--'' I began, but Holmes answered my question before it was asked
 Your slippers are new" he said. You could not have had them more than a few weeks The soles which you are a t this moment presenting to me are slight Iy scorched. For moment I thought they might have got wet and been burned In the drying. But near the instep there Is a small circular wafer of paper with the shopman's heroglyphics upon it. Damp would of course have removed this. You had, then, been sitting with your