The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-24

between the years 81 and 80, L am
faced by so many which present
strange and interesting features that
it is no easy matter to know which
to choose and which to leave. Some,
however, have already gained publicly
through the papers, and others have
not offered a field for those peculiar
qualities which my friend possessed in
so high a degree, and which it is
the object of these papers to illus
trate. Some, too, have baffled his
analytical skill, and would be, as mar
ratives, beginnings without an ending,
while others have been but partially
cleared up, and have their eXplana-
tions founded rather upon conjecture
and surmise than on that absolute
logical proof which was so dear TO
him. There is, however, one of these
last which was SO remarkable in It's
details and so startling in its results
that l am tempted to give some ac-
counts of it, in spite of the fact that
there are points in connection with
it which never have been, and prob
ably never will be, entirely cleared
up.
The year 81 furnished US With d
long series of cases of greater or less
interest of which L retain the records.
Among my headings under this one
twelve months / find an account of
the adventure oil the Paradol Cham
Der, of the Amateur Mendicant So
ciety, who held a luxurious club in
the lower vault of a furniture ware
house. of the facts connected with the
loss of the British bark Sophy An
derson. of the singular adventures of
the Grice Patersons in the island of
Uffa, and finally of the Camberwell
poisoning case In, the latter, as may
be remembered, Sherlock Holmes was
able, bv winding up the dead man
watch, to prove that it had been wound
up two hours before, and that there
fore the deceased had gone to bed
within that time-a deduction which
was of the greatest Importance in
clearing up the case. All these | may
sketch out at some future date put
none of them present such singular
features as the strange train of cir
cumstances which ] have now taken
up my pen to describe.
1t was in the latter days of Septem-
Der, and the eQuinoctial gales had set
i'm with exceptional violence. All day
the wind had screamed and the rain
had beaten against +ho windows, so
that even here in the heart of great,
hand made London we were forced to
raise our minds for the instant from
the routine of life, and To recognize
the presence of those great elemental
forces which shrek at mankind
through the bars of his civilization,
like untamed beasts in cage. AS
evening drew in, the storm grew high
er and louder and the wind cried
and sobbed like a child in the CHM
ney Sherlock Holmes sat mOodily at
one side of the fireplace cross-indeXing
his records of crime, while | at the
other was deep in one Of Clark Rus
sells fine sea stories, until the howl
of the gale from without seemed to
blend with the text. and the splash
of the rain to lengthen out into the
long swash of the sea waves. My wife
was on visit to her mothers, and
for a few days l was a dweller once
more in my old quarters at Baker
street.
Why" said l. glancing up at my
companion that was surely the bell.
Who could come tonight? Some friend
of yours, perhaps?"
Except yourself l have none," he
answered. Il do not encourage visi-
tors"
"A client, then?"
"lf so, it is a serious case. Nothing
less would bring a man out on such
a day and at such an hour. But l take
it that it is more likely to be some
crony of the landlady's."
Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his
conjecture, however, for there came a
step in the passage and a tapping at
the door. He stretched out his long
arm to turn the lamp away from him
self and towards the vacant chair
upon which a newcomer must sit.
Come in" said he.
The man who entered was young,
some two-andrtwenty at the outside,
l-groomed and trinity clad, with
something of refinement and delicacy
in his bearing. The streaming Umbrella
which he held in his hand, and his
long shining waterproof told of the
fierce weather through which he had
come. He looked about him anXiously
in the glare of the lamp, and / could
see that his face was pale and his
eyes heavy like those of a man who
is weighed down with some great
anxiety
Il owe you an apology" he said
raising his golden pince nez to his
eyes. 81 trust that L am not intrud-
ing. | fear that l have brought some
traces of the storm and rain into your
snug chamber
"Give me your coat and umbrella" >"
on the hook, and will be dry pres
entity. You have come up from the
southwest, / see"
Yes, from Horsham.
THAT clay and chalk mixture which
| see upon your toe-caps is quite dis
tinctive."
II have come for advice
THAT is easily got.
"And help"
THAT is not always SO easy"
Il have heard of you, Mr.. Holmes.
/ heard from Major Prendergast how
you saved him in the TankerVllle club
Scandal
'Ah, of course. He was Wrongfully
accused of cheating at cards.
He said that you could solve any
thing"
He said too much
THAT you are never beaten"
ST have been beaten four times
three times by men, and once by
woman