The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-28

sof interest in which I had the privilege of
Icing associated with Sherlock Holmes and of
studying his methods. find them recorded in
my notes under the headings of THE Adventure
of the Second STAIN" 1.-The Adventure of the
Naval Treaty" and '"The Adventure of the
Tired Captain. The first of Thesis. however,
deals with interests OF such Importance and i'm
tplicates many OF the first families in the
skingdom that TO-" many years it will be i'm
POSSIBLE to make it public. No case however,
in which Holmes was engaged has ever illus
Strated the value of his analytical methods so
CLEARLY has impressed those who
sociated with him so deeply. still retain an
almost verbatim report Of the interview in which
he demonstrated the true facts of the to
Monsieur Dubuque of the Paris police, and Fritz
Won Waldbaum the well-known specialist of
sDantzig both of whom had wasted their ener-
gies upon what proved to be side-issues The
new century Will have come, however, before the
story can be safely told. Meanwhile 1 pass on
to the second my list, which promised also
at time to be of national Importance, and
was marked by several incidents which gave
it a quite unique character.
During my sehooldays 1 had been intimately
associated with lad named Percy Phelps who
was Of much the same age as myself, tho he was
two classes ahead of me- He was a very bril-
the school had to offer, finishing his exploits BY
winning scholarship which sent him on to
He was, l remember, extremely we'll connected
and even when we were all little boys together
Hodhurst, the great conservative politician This
gaudy rela tionship did him little good school.
thing to us to chevy him about the playground
ana hit him over the shins with wicket. But
1t vas another thing when he came ont into the
The Influences which he commanded had Won him
he passed completely out of my mind until the
following letter recalled his existence:
'Briarbrae. Woking.
Ny Dear Watson-I have doubt that You
can remember 'Tadpole' Phelps, who was in the
fifth form when You in the third. 1t is
my unce nanca af o osxs nfard f 5oS5
appointment at the foreign office and that I
was in situation of trust and honor until
horrible misfortune came suddenly to blast my
career.
There is no use writing the details of that
to my it to J P5oDabe n that shall haze
covered from nine weeks of brain fever, and am
still exceedingly weak. Do you think that You
could bring your friend, Mr.. Holmes, down to
or the case tho the authorities me that
nothing more can be done. Do try to bring
him down and as soon as possible Every min
assms an hour While line thl this r state as Of
| did not appreciate his talents, but because
! have been off my head ever since the blow
fe N HoW am 1n,< clear again tho dare not
am still SO weak that l have to write as you
see, by Debating. Dc try to bring him. Your
OLD schoolfellow, Percy Phelps.''
: There was something that touched me as
read this letter. something pitiable in the re-
eE aPpenls to bring Holmes So moved
j should have tried it, but, of course I knew
well that Holmes loved his art so that he Was
receive orS My 1 wife as agn ns e MiS
me ne that not moment should be lost in laying
Of breakfast time found nd so w1fh hac an hour
more in the old rooms in Baker street.
, Holmes was seated at his side table clad
In his dressing-sown, and working hard over
q chemical investigation. A large curved re-
tort was boiling furously in the blush fame
Fpf Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops
swere condensing into a two-Itre measure. NV
HR IS sntsrea e OF pd
waited He dipped into this bottle 'il or that
af draw no out few drops Of each with his
containing solution over to the table. In
his right hand he held slip of litmus paper
IF this paper remains blue all is we'll If
1t lit, turns red, it means mans life He
o eeeed init into au The trtv a9a it
thought as much,' he cried. II will be at
yGpr as serTiee in an instant Watson You
turned to his desk and scrubbed off several
teegrams, Which were handed over to the
Page cb bo{ Then he threw himself down into
until his fingers clasped round his long, thin
shins.
ne You've got something better, I fancy "
4ou are the stormy petrol Of crime, Watson
i, I handed him the letter, Which he read with
the most concentrated attention.
1T does not tell us very much does itp"
ne re, remarked, as he handed it back to me.
. "kna yet yet the Writing is Of interest
"a mans surely I cried.
mo, womans. and woman of rare
cQafQcCer. You at the IF
an Investigation it is something to know that
your client is in close. contact with someone
Ny is ALREADY s an awafened IN
ne or Wo y0a are and Teaa ID: will start at
who is in such evil case, and the lady to
whom he dictates his letters.'
train at Waterloo and in little under an hour
we found ourselves among the fir woods and the
heather Of Working. Briarbrae proved to be a
grounds within a few minutes walk Of the
station On sending, in cards we were
where we Joined in few minutes By a
Father stout man who received us with much
fhan 80 but Lis cheeks were 80 raddy and h1s
eyes 50 merry that he, still conveyed the i'm.
preston of plump and mischievous boy.
II glad that you have come, said he.
shaking our hands with efrusicn. Percy has
been inaui5ing for you all morning An POOR
and his mother asked me to see YOU. for the
mere mention Of the subject isavery painful to
1--WE have had no details yet" observed
M9mes ~ perceive f civ that you are not
Our acquaintance looked surprised, and then
changing .1%t gso down, he began to laugh.
my locket' said he s'For a moment thought
you had done something clever. Joseph Harrison
Is and sba At sSs i to
marriage. You will find my sister in his room
for she has nursed him hahd-and- foot this two
once for how Impatient Sf he IS in
The chamber in which We were shown wal
on. the same floor as the drawingroom It was
furnished partly as sitting and partly as !
bedroom. with flowers arranged daintily in every
nook and corner young man, very pale and
sfndow thru c Came te rich Scent 1e OF 'P pe
garden and the balmy summer air. A woman
vas sitting beside him. who rose as we entered
t.Shall leave, Percy?' she asked. I:
He clutched her hand to detain her. "I4ov
are you, Watson?'' said he cordially. 81 shout.
never have known you under that mustache
and dare say you would not be prepared tt
swear to me- This, | presume, is your cele
brated friend, Sherlock Holmes ~
Ell introduced him in few words and we botl
sat down. The stout young man had left us
= but his sister still remained with her hand IL
that of the invalid. She was a striking looking
but with beautiful olive complexion. large
dark Italian eyes and wealth Of deep blacl
hair. Her rich tints made the white face o
her companion the more worn and haggard b,
the contrast.
"I won't waste your time said he, raising
himself upon the sofa. ELL plunge into TIL
matter with further preamble. was happ,
and successful man. Mr. Holmes, and on th
eve Of being married, when sudden and dread
full misfortune wrecked all my prospects in life
the foreign office. and thru the influence of nj
uncle Lord Holdhurst, j rose rapidly to a re