The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-11-29

with England, but we will draw the
larger cover first"
Holmes card sent in to the manager
insured instant attention, and he was
not long in acquiring all the informa-
ton he needed. In June Of '95 only one
Of their line had reached home port.
1t was the Rock of Gibraltar, their lar
gest and best boat A reference to the
passenger list showed that Miss Fra
ser of Adelaide, with her maid, had
made the voyage In her. The boat was
now on her way to Australia somewhere
in the south of the Suez canal. Her Off
GERS were the same as in '95, with one
exception. The first officer, Mr.. Jack
Croker, had been made captain and
was to take charge Of their new ship,
the Bass Rock, sailing in two days
time from Southampton. He lived at
Sydenham, but he was likely to be in
that morning for instructions, If we
cared to wait for him.
No; Mr.. Holmes had no desire to see
him, but would be glad to know more
about his record and character
His record was magnificent There
was not an officer in the fleet to touch
him. AS to his character, he was relia-
bic on duty, but wild, desperate fell
low off the deck of his ship-hot head
ed, excitable. but loyal, honest and
kind hearted. That was the pith Of the
information with which Holmes left
the office of the Adelaide Southampton
company. Thence he drove to Scotland
Yard, but, instead of entering, he sat
in his cab with his brows drawn down,
lost in profound thought. Finally he
drove round to the Charing Cross tele-
graph office, sent off message and
then, at last, we made for Baker street
once more.
"No; couldn't do 1t, Watson" said
he as we re-entered our room. "Once
that warrant was made out nothing on
earth would save him. Once or twice
in my career feel that have done
more real harm by my discovery Of the
criminal than ever he had done by his
crime. have learned caution now, and
had rather play tricks with the law of
England than with my own conscience.
Let us know little more before we
act"
Before evening we had visit from
Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things
were not going very well with him.
II believe that you are a wizard, Mr..
Holmes 7 really do sometimes think
that you have powers that are not hui
man. Now, how on earth could you
know that the stolen silver was at the
bottom of that pond?"
II didn't know it,
"But you told me to examine it."
You got it, then?"
Eyes, got it."
81 am very glad IL have helped
you.'
"But you haven't helped me. You
have made the affair far more difficult.
What sort of burglars are they who
steal silver and then throw it into the
nearest pond2"
"It was certainly rather eccentric be
havior. I was merely going on the
idea that If the silver had been take1
by persons who did not want it-wht
LAClClS IOOh II III Oll1lO, tlo IL WIZ
then they would naturally be anxiou.
to get rid Of It,"
"But why should such an idea cross
your mind?''
"Well. I thought it was possible
When they came out through thu
French window, there was the pond
with one tempting little hole in th
ice right in front of their noses. Coul,
there be a better hiding placer"
''Ah. hiding place! That is BETTER!
cried Stanley Hopkins. Yes, yes;
see it all now! 1t was early, Their
were folk upon the roads, they wer
afraid of being seen with the silver
so they sank it i'll the pond, intendin
to return for it when the coast wa
clear. Excellent, Mr.. Holmes! Tha
is better than your idea Of a blind"
"Quite so. You have got an admire
BILE theory. have no doubt that N
own ideas were quite wild, but 70
must admit that they have ended
discovering the silver"
eyes, sir-yes. 1t was all your doint
But have had a bad setback"
"a setback"
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. The Randall gan
were arrested in New York this morl
ing"
"Dear me, Hopkins, that is certainl
rather against your theory that the
committed murder in Kent las
} night"
} ut is fatal, Mr.. Holmes-absolutel
fatal. Still there are other gangs {
three besides the Randalls, or it ma
be some new gang of which the polio
; have never heard"
"Quite SO. 1t is perfectly possibl
What, are you OFF,"
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. There is no re!
for me until have got to the bottol
Of the business. suppose you hay
no hint to give me?"
II have given you one."
(Which"
"Well, suggested a blind"
"But why, Mr.. Holmes-why?"
"Ah, that's the question, of cours
! But commend the idea to 70,