The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-16

~ 1'Sa 1psive Of to E aS1ss dis,
peculiar powers for which my friend
was famous. AS turn over the pages, L
see my notes upon the repulsive story
of the red leech and the terrible death
of Crosby, the banker Here also l
Hhd an account of the Addiction trag-
edy, and the singular contents of the
ancient British barrow. The famous
Smith Mortimer succession case comes
also within this period, and so does
the tracking and arrest of Huret, the
Boulevard asSassin-an exploit which
won for Holmes an autograph letter
of thanks from the French President
and the Order of the Legion of Hon
our. Each of these would furnish
narrative. but on the whole I am of
opinion that none of them unites so
many singular points of interest as
the episode OF Yoxley Old Pace, which
includes not only the lamentable death
of young Willoughby Smith but also
those subsequent developments which
threw so curious q light upon the
causes OF the crime.
1t was wild, temptestuous night
towards the close of November.
Holmes and l sat together in silence
all the evening" he engaged with
powerful lens deciphering the remains
of the original inscription upon a pail
nnpSeSt, | deep in a recent trea eS
upon surgery. Outside the wind howled
down Baker Street, while the rain beat
fiercely against the windows. 1t was
strange there. in the very depths of the
town, with ten miles OF mans handi-
work on every side of us, to feel the
iron grip OF Nature, and to be con-
scious that to the huge elemental forces
all London was no more than the MOLE
bills that dot the fields / walked to
the window, and looked out on the
deserted street. The occasional lamps
cleaned on the expanse of muddy.
road and shining pavement. A single
cab was splashing its way from the
Oxford Street end.
Well. Watson, it's as we'll we have
not to turn out tonight" said Holmes,
laying aside his lens and rolling up
the palimpsest. "I've done enough for
one sitting. 1t is trying work for the
eyes. So far as [ can make out ii Is
nothing more exciting than an Alb
beys accounts dating from the second
half of the fifteenth century. Halloai
halloa! haIloa! What's this?'
Amid the droning of the wind there
had come the stamping of a horses
hoofs. and the long grind of wheel
as it rasped against the curb. The
cab which 1 had seen had pulled up
at our door.
What can he want?" / CALCULATED,
as a man stepped out of it.
Want? He wants us. And we, my
poor Watson, want overcoats and era
watts and goloshes, and every aid that
man ever invented to fight the wealth
er. Wait bit, though. There's the
cab off again! There's hope yet. He'd
have kept it if he had wanted us to
come. Rur down, my dear fellow,
and open the door, for all virtuous
folk have been long in bed.
When the light of the hall lamp fell
upon our midnight visitor, l had no
difficulty III recognising him. 1t was
young Stanley Hopkins a promising
detective in whose career Holmes had
several times shown very practical
interest.
Is he in?" ne asked, eagerly.
Come up, my dear sir" said
Holmes voice from above. Il hope
you have no designs upon us such
night as this
.Fhe detective mounted the stairs,
and lamp cleaned upon his shining
waterproof. | helped him out of it,
while Holmes Knocked blaze out of
the logs in the CRATE.
Now, my dear Hopkins, draw up
and warm your toes" said he. Here's
cigar, and the doctor has a prescrip-
tion containing hot water and a lemon,
which is good medicine on night like
this. 1t must be something important
NIL AesS oiou5Al you ouI III SuOlA u
gale"
1T is indeed, Mr.. Holmes. I've had
bustling afternoon, / promise you.
Did you see anything of the Yoxley
case in the latest editions?''
i've seen nothing later than the |
fifteenth century today.
well, it was only paragraph, and
all wrong at that, so you have not
missed anything. | haven't let the
grass grow under my feet. It's down
in Kent. seven miles from Chatham
and three from the railway line.
was wired for at three-fifteen, reached
Yoxley Old Place at five, conducted my
investigation, was back at Charing
cross by the last train, and straight to
you by cab"
which means. / suppose, that you
are not quite clear about your case 2?
st means that [ can make neither
head nor tail of it. So far as l can
see, it is just as tangled a business as
ever | handled, and yet at first, it
seemed SO simple that one couldn't go
wrong. There's no motive, Mr. Holmes.
IT is what bothers mel can't put
nls hand on a motive Here's a man
dead-there's no denying that-but, SO
far as | can see, no reason on earth
why any one should wish him harm
Holmes lit his cigar and leaned back
in his chair.
Let us hear about it," said he.
i've got my facts pretty clear" said
Stanley Hopkins. tAIl | want now is
to know what they all mean The
story SO far as / can make it out, is
like this. Some years ago this country