Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17

into. The unusual salary, the curious con-
a,S, Inc mSna o4 4h an pointed e
or a plot. or whether the man were a phil
anthropist villain, It was quite beyond
my powers to determine. AS to Holmes. I
observed that he sat frequently for half an
hour on end. with knitted brows and an alb
stracted air, but he swept the matter away
with a wave of his hand when mentioned
tiently. Il can't make bricks without clay"
And yet he would always wind up by NUT
tering that no sister of his should ever have
accepted such situation.
The telegram which we eventually re-
ceived came late one night. just as / was
thinking of turning in and Holmes was set
Ting down to one of those all-night chem
ical researches which he frequently in
dulged In, when l would leave him STOPPING
over a retort and test tube at night and
find him in the same position when I came
down to breakfast In the morning. He
opened the yellow envelope. and then.
glancing at the missive, threw 1t across to
me-
Just look up the trains in Bradshaw"
said he, and turned back to his chemical
studies.
The summons was a brief and urgent
one:
please be at the Black Swan Hotel at
Winchester at midday tomorrow, 1t said
DO come. / am at my wits end
HUNTER
will you come with me?' asked Holmes.
glancing up.
Il should wish to-
Just look it up, then:
There is a train at half-past nine. said
I.-glancing over my Bradshaw. 1T Is due
at Winchester at IL 30
THAT will do very nicely. Then perhaps
I had better postpone my analysis or the
acetones, as we may need to be at our
best IN the morning..
By II o'clock the next day we were wen
upon our way to the old English capltal.
Holmes had been buried in the morning
papers all the way down, but after We nao
passed the Hampshire border he threw
them down and began to admire the seen
cry. 1t was ideal spring day, iignt-
blue sky fiecked with little heecy "hite
clouds drifting across from west to east.
The sun was shining very brightly, and YET
there was an celebrating nip In the ali
which set an edge to mans energy. An
over the countryside away to the rolling
hills around Aldershot. the little red ana
gray roofs of the farm-stendings peeped
out from amid the light green OF the new
foliage.
Are they not fresh and beautiful" I
cried with all the enthusiasm of man
fresh from the fogs Of Baker street.
But Holmes shook his head gravely.
do you know. Watson" said he. that
1t is one of the curses of a mind with
turn like mine that / must look at every
thing with reference to my own special
subject. You look at these scattered houses
and you are impressed by their beauty.
look at them, and the only thought whicn
comes to me is feeling of isolation and
of the IMMUNITY with which crime may be
committed there
Good heavens." cried. WHO would as
ISOLATE crime with these dear old home
steadsT'
"They always fill me with a certain hor-
ror. 1t Is my belief, Watson, founded upon
my experience, that the lowest and vilest
alleys In London do not present q more
dreadful record Of sin than does the smiling
and beautiful countryside"
You horrify met
But the reason Is very obvious. The
pressure OF public opinion can do In the
town what the law cannot accomplish.
There is no lane so vile that the scream
of tortured child or the thud OF a drunk
ards blow does not beget sympathy and In
dignation among the neighbors, and then
close that word Of complaint can set 1t
going, and there Is but a step between the
crime and the dock. But look at these
lonely houses, each In Its own fields, filled
for the most part with poor, ignorant folk
who know little OF the law. Think of the
deeds OF hellish cruelty, the hidden wicked
ness which may go on, year in, year out,
In such places, and none the wiser. Had
this lady who appeals to us for help gone
to live In Winchester should never have
had fear for her Il IL the Ave miles OF
!. ssn. sI:sf that she Is not personally threat
mo. Il she can come 70 Winchester to
meet us she can get awaH
"Quite So She has her freedom
"What can pe tho matter, then? Can
you guggsst n1 explanattonfs r.
81 have deYised qevsn psparate expIana-
tions. sach Of Fhlch would cover the facts
- tar - 10 know thstd But which q