The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-10
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
A Famous
1hich Made Their Author, A. Conan DOYLE Famous

| that what was dark to me might be
very light to Sherlock Holmes. I had
| just time to get up to town by the
| night train to see him this morning, and
to. bring you both back with me to Biz
mingham.
brokers' clerk had concluded his sur
prising experience. Then Sherlock
Holmes cooked his eye at me, leaning
back on the cushions with pleased
and yet critical face, like connoisseur
who has just taken his first sip of a co
met vintage.
Rather fine, Watson, is it noteO
said he "There are points in it which
please me-. think that you will agree
Arthur Harry Primer in the temporary
offices of the Franco Midland Hardware
Company, Limited would be rather
interesting experience for both of us.
+" But how can we do it?'' I asked.
| 'IOh, easily enough said Hall Ply
croft, cheerily. You are two friends
| OF mine who are in want Of billet,
! and what could be more natural than
that | should bring you both round to
0Quite So. Of course said Holmes.
II should like to have a'look at the
gentleman, and see if I can make any
thing of his little game. What quail
ties have you, my friend, which would
! make your services so valuable? Or IS
it possible that He began biting his
nails and staring bllankly out Of the
word from him until we were in New
Street.
At seven O'Clock that evening we
were walking. the three Of us, down
Corporation Street to the company IS
offices.
cit is no use our being at all before
our time,' said our client. 80 He only
comes there to see me, apparently, for
the place is deserted up to the very
! hour he names.'' -.-.. b
"That is suggestive remarked
Holmes. s......-
"By Jove, told you so!'' cried the
clerk. 's.That g he walking ahead of
us, there
He pointed to smallish, dark, we'll
dressed man who was busting along the
| other side Of the road. AS we watched
him he looked across at a boy who was
! bawling out the latest edition of the
the cabs and buses, he bought one from
him. Then, clutching it in his hand, he
vanished thru a doorway. "
. -, he goes!' cried Hall Pycroft
"These are the company's offices into
which he has gone. Come with me and
III fix it up as easily as possible. -
Following. his lead. we assembled five
stories, until we found ourselves outside
a half.opened door, at which our, client
and we entered a bare, unfurnished
room, such as Hall Pycroft had de
scribed. At the single table sat the
| man whom we had seen in the street
with his evening paper spread out In
front of him, and as he looked up al
us it seemed to me that had never
looked upon face which bore sucl
yond grief-of horror such as come:
to few men in a lifetime. His brow
glistened with perspiration, his cheek:
:, were of the dull, dead white of fish ,:
belly, and his eyes were wild and star
!, ing. He look at his clerk as tho hi
failed to recognize him, and could Sc,
/ by the establishment depicted upon ou7
, conductors face that this was by NJ
: means the usual appearance of his EN-
) q You look i'll, Mr.. Pinner!" he ex
claimed.
Eyes, am not very well, y answere,
: the. other, making obvious efforts t.
pull himself together, and licking hi
dry lips before he spoke. ''Who ar
these gentlemen whom you hav
brought with you9'
! and. the other is Mr.. Price, Of thi
town. said our clerk glibly. "The,
are friends Of mine and gentlemen o
} experience, but they have been out @
place for some little time and the,
; hoped that perhaps you might find al
Z opening for them in the company's EN-
7 ployment.
cried Mr.. Primer with a CHASTITY smile
r able to do something for you. What i
your particular line, Mr.. Harris?''
II am an accountant said Holmes
v "Ah, yes, we shall want somethin,
/ of the sort. And you, Mr.. Price?'
: GA clerk" said /.
: "I have every hope that the compan.
, may accommodate you. [ will let yo
| know about. it as soon as we come, t
t any conclusion. And now I beg tina
E you will 20. For Gods sake leave M
!. to MYSELF
$ These last words were shot out of hin
: as tho the constraint which he was evi
IDENTIFY setting upon himself had sud
;. denly and utterly burst asunder. Holme
!; and glanced at each other, and Hal
+ Pycroft took a step towards the table.
e "You forget, Mr.: Primer, that / al
uclc Ny dppOluClllCuG w ACSClVC SOulC VI
$ rections from you,'' said he.
Certainly, Mr.. Pycroft, certainly,
G the other resumed in calmer tone
t "You may wait here a moment; an
. there is no reason why your friend
i should not wait with you. 7 will be er
a tirely at your service in three minute:
G if might trespass upon your patienc
0 SO far.o He rose with very courteou
y air, and, bowling to us, he passed GU
n thru a. door At the farther end Of th
! room, which he closed behind him.
v "What now?' whispered Holme
r els he giving us the slip9'
|, Impossible answered Pycroft.
:, "Why so9o
e "That door leads into an inne
room
i ftThere is no exit9''
l. "None.''
O stIs it furnished?'
e g It was empty yesterday
e "Then what on earth can he be d.