The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21

kind-hearted. That was the pith OF the
information with which dimes left
the Office of the Adelaide Southampton
Company: Thence he. drove to Scot
land Yard but, instead .ofaentering.~h ~he
sat in his cab with his brows drawn
down, lost in profound thought. Finally
he drove round to the Charing. Cross
telegraph Office, sent off a n1essages and
then, at. last, we made for Baker street
once MORE -
mo, I couldn't do it. Watson" said
he, as we re-entered our room. "Once
that warrant was made out, no thing on
earth would save him. Once or twice
in my career feel that I have done
more real harm by my discovery of
the criminal than ever hes had done by
his crime have learned: caution now,
and had rather play tricks with. the
law of England than with nay own con-
science. Let us know a little more be-
fore we act.' -
Before evening we had a. visit from
Inspector Stanley Hopkins. Things
We're not going very we'll with him.
.s"I believe that you are a wizard. Mr..
Holmes, / really do sometimes think
that you have powers that are not
human. Now, how on earth could you
know that the stolen silver was at the
bottom of that pond?"
T.I didn't know II" So
But you told me to examine it."
"You got it, then?"
Yes, got 1t. -
81 am very glad If I have helped
you"
But, you haven't helped me. You
have made the affair far more diff
cult. What sort of burglars are they
who steal silver and then throw it into
the nearest pond?"-
1T was certainly rather eccentric be-
-havio-. I was merely going on the idea
that If the silver had been taken by per-
sons who did not want .it-who merely
took it'for a blind, as it were, then they
would naturally be anxious 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 the
French window there vas the pond
with one tempting little hole in the ice.
right In front Of their noses. Could
there be better hiding placer"
All, "a hiding place-that is better!
cried Stanley Hopkins. Yes, yes,
, see it all now!, 1t was early, there
afraid of being seen with the silver, so
they sank 1T in the pond, intending to
return for itewhen the coast was clear.
Excellent, Mr. Holmes-that is better
than your idea of blind.
Quite so; you have got an admirable
theory. I have no doubt that my own
ideas were quite wild, but you. must
admit that. they have ended in dis
covering the silver
Yes, sir-lyes. 1t was all your doing.
Butt have had a bad setback.
A setback"
i "Yes, Mr. Holmes The Randall
gang were arrested in New York this
morning 4
Dear me, Hopkins! That is GER
.tainly rather against your theory that
they. committed murder in Kent last
night
"It Is fatal, Mr.. Enthusiastically
fatal. seStiil, there ares other gangs of
{ three besides the Randalls or it may
be some new gang of which the police
have never heard"
: Quite so, it is perfectly possible
What, are you OFF,"
Yes,sMr. Holmes, there is no rest
for me; until have got to the bottom
of the business. suppose you have
no hint toi give me?"
It have given you one"
Which ?''
Well, suggested blind"
But why, Mr.. Holmes, why?"
All, that's the question, of course.
But I commend the idea to your mind.
E 4 on HlSHl POSSIBLY ma t1dt IneTe was
something in it. You won't stop for
dinner? Well, good-by. and let us
know how you get on.
Dinner was over, and the table
cleared before Holmes alluded to the
matter again. He had lit his pipe and
held his slippered feet to the cheerful
! blaze of the fire. Suddenly he looked at
his watch.
Il expect developments, Watson"
"When?'' Is.
+ ''Now-within few minutes. ] dare
say you thought I acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now?"
& Il trust your Judgment
A very sensible reply, Watson. You
must look at it this way: what, know
is unofficial, what he knows is official.
/ have the right to private Judgment,
but he has none. He must disclose all,
or he is a traitor to his service. In a
doubtful case / would not put him in
so painful position, and so reserve
my information until my own mind is
clear upon the matter"
but when will that be?''
THE time has come. You will now
be present at the last scene of a re-
,markable little drama"
There was a sound upon the stairs,