Evening star., 1905-08-27

means OF introducing 10 MS HotlNe-'i''t VI
Mr. Hatherley's thumb and that of Col
Warhurtou's madness. of these the lat
Ter may have afforded a finer l.eld for an
acute and original observer. but the other
was 50 strange in its inception and so dra-
matte in It's details that 1t may be the
more worthy of being placed upon record.
even II 1t gave my friend fewer openings
for those deduCtIve methods of reasoning
10y which he achieved such remarkable re-
suits The story has, l believe been tod
more than once in the newspapers. but'
Ike all such narratives its effect Is much
less striking when set forth en- bloc in
single half-colunn OF print than when the
facts slowly evolve before your own eyes
and the mystery clears gradually away as
each new discovery furnishes a step Which
leads on to the complete truth. AT the
time the circumstances made deep I'M
preston upon me, and the lapse oi IVY
years has hardly served to weaken the el-
feet.
1t was in the summer of 80. not long
after my marriage. that the events occurred
which / am now about to summarize
had returned to civil practice. and had
finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker
street rooms. although | continually visited
him, and occasionally even persuaded MIN
to forcgo his bohemian habits so Tar as 10
come and visit US. My practice had stead
lily increased and as | happened 10 i've
at no great distance from Paddington sta
tiou. / got a few patients from among the
officials one ut these. whom l had cu'eu
of a painful and lingering disease. was
never weary of advertising my virtues, ana
of cnG-aVOIiug to send me on every sufferer
over whom he Nigh; have any influence
on. morning AT a little before . COCK,
/ was awakened 10y tho maid tapping at
the door. to announce that two men had
come from PaddlUE;uu. and were waiting
i'm tie consulting room. | dressed huT-
ricd.y. Tor j EEcw ly experience that rail-
way cases were seldom TRIVIAL and has
tened down stairs. As 1 descended my
old ally. the guard cane out of the room
and closed the door lightly behind him
I've sol him here Lr whispered. perk-
Ing his thumb oyer his shoulder, he all
7What is it, them l asked for his man
u,r suggested that ii was some strange
creature which lie had Gagged uo in my
rOe1u.
It's new patient" he whispered. Il
thought Id bring him around myself, then
h. couldn't sip away. There he IS. all safe
AMI sound. | must go row, doctor. have
my Gouuc-, just the same as YOU. And oil
lie went. this trUSty tout. withC~, even civ.
ing me time To thank hIm.
entered my consulting room and found
q gentleman S.ltrd at the table He was
quietly dressed in a suit OF heat tweed
witu a soft cloth cap. which Ee had laid
down upon my books. Round one OF his
hands he had a handkerchief which was
mCttlcd all over with blood stains. He was
young. not more than flVe-and-twenty, l
Should say, with strong. masculine face,
hut he was exceedingly pale. and gave me
the impression of a man who was suffering
uum some strong agitation, which 1t took
all his strength of mind TO control.
Il am sorry to knock you up so early,
Doctor" said he. but / have had a very
,rous accident during the night. l came
in by train this morning and on inquiring
at Paddinston rs to whore might find
doctor. a worthy elbow very kindly escort
cd mr here. gav. the maid card hut
! see that she has left 1t upon the side ia
uIc..
took It up and glanced at it. Mr.. Vic
To-! Hathcrley. hydraulic engineer, 1GA. Vic
toria street C3d tioOr)." That was the name,
style and abode of my morning visitor. Il
regret that l have kept you waiting" said
!. sitting down in my library chair. You
are fresh from a night journey. | under
stand, which III Itself Is mOnotonous oc-
cup1tion."
oh my night could not be called monot-
onous, said he. and laughed He laughed
very heartily. with n high, ringing note.
leaning back in his chair and shaking his
sides. All my medical instincts rose up
against that laugh.
stop it,' l cried pull yourself togeth-
err and l poured out some water from a
carafe.
1t was useless. however He was off in
one OF those hysteriCal outburts which come
upon a strong nature when some great cri-
sis is over and gone. Presently he came TO
himself once more. very weary and blushing
hotly.
he gasped
Not at all. Drink this" I dashed some
brandy into the water. and the color began
10 come back to his bloodless cheeks
That's BETTER said he. And now doc
tor. perhaps you would kindly attend to my
thumb or rather TO the place where my
thumb used to be"
He unwound the handkerchief and held
nerves a shudder to look al IT, There were
four protruding fingers and horrid red
spongy surface whore the thumb should
nave oeen- 1t had been hacked or torn
right out from the roots.
Good heavens" | cried This Is n tor
riple injury. 1t must have bled consider
YES. It did. tainted when il wa. don.
and think that must have been sense
.ess Tor a long time. When | came 70 7
iophd that II was still bleeding. so I tied
one ,hd OF my handkerchief very tightly
twig" uP Win
Excellent! You should have been sur
1T IS a question Of hydraulics you see,
ana came within my own province
This has been done" said I examining
The wound. by very heavy and sharp in
strUment" "
"A thing like a ceaver." said he.
An accident. | presume"
by no means"
What! a murderous attack?'
Very murderous. indeed"
You horrify me-
! sponged the wound cleaned It. dressed
II and finally covered il with cotton wad-
ding and carbolized bandages. He lay back
without wincing. though he bit his lip from
time to time.
How is THAR l asked when 1 had I'm
ished
Capital! Beteween your brandy and
and your bandage l feel a new man
was very weak. but have had a good deal
10 go through"
Perhaps you had better not speak OF the
matter 1t is evidently trying to your
nerves"
oh! no. not now. shall have to tell
my tale TO the police; but. between our
selves. II II were not for the convincing
evidence OF this wound OF mine | should
be surprised II they believed my statement; ;
for Il is very extraordinary one, and |
have not much in the way OF proof with
which to back 1t up; and even II they be-
lieve me. the clues which ! can give them
are SO vague that IT Is a question whether
justice win be done"
''Ha"' cried l. 'if II is anything In the
nature OF a problem which you desire
TO solved / should strongly recommend
you To my friend, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes, be
fore you go 10 the official police.