The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-26
Ill

hours in silence with his long, thin
back curved over a chemical vessel
i'm which he was brewing a particular
ly malodorous product. His head was
sunk upon his breast, and he looked
from my point of view like a strange,
lank bird, with dull grey plumage and
a black top-lSnot.
so. Watson said he. suddenly,
you 10 not propose TO invest in South
African securities 2"
] gave q start of astonishment. Ac-
customed as / was to Holmes curious
faculties, this sudden intrusion into
my most intimate thoughts was utter
ly inexplicable.
How on earth do you know that"
! asked.
He wheeled round upon his stool,
with n steaming test-tube in his hand,
and a CLEAN Of amusement in his
deep-set eyes.
Now, Watson. confess yourself ut
terly taken aback.'' said he.
Il am.
II ought to make you sign paper
10 that effect
WHY"
because in five minutes you will
cay that II is all so absurdly simple"
Il am sure that / shall say nothing
OF tho kind"
You see, my dear WatSon''-he
propped his test tube in the rack, and
began TO lecture with the air of a
professor addressing his clas$-'it IS
not really difficult to construct a series
of differences. each dependent upon
its predecessor and each simple in
itself. If, after doing so, one simply
knocks out all the central differences
and presents ones audience with the
starting point and the conclusion, one
may produce Il startling, though pos
sibly a meretricious. effect. Now, it
was not really difficult, by an inspec-
tion of the groove between your left
forefnger and thumb. to feel sure
that you did not propose TO invest
your small sapital in the goldfieids."
II see no connection.
Very likely not; but / can quickly
show you q close connection. Here
are the missing links OF the very sim
pie chain: /. You had chalk be
tween your left finger and thumb
when you returned frorr tNa "i'1'7-'"st
night. >. You put chalk there when
you play bllI.arus ~ -@-
3. You never play billiards except
with Thurston. 4. You told me, four
weeks ago, that Thurst0n had an op-
tion on some South African property
which would expire in a month, and
which lie desired you to share with
him. 3. Your cheque-book is lock-
cd in my drawer, and you, have not
asked for the key. s. You do not
manner" t..
How absurdly simple!" 1 cried.
quite sol" said he, little nettled.
Every problem becomes very childish
: when once it is explained to you. Here
is an unexplained one. See what you
can make of that. friend Watson He
tossed a sheet of paper upon the
table. and turned o.lce more to his
chemical analysis.
| looked with amaZement at the
absurd hieroglyphics upon the paper.
why, Holmes, 1t is a chiid's draw
ing" l cried
"Oh, that's your ideai
What else should it be-"
That is what Mr.. Hilton Subitt.
of Riding Thorpe Manor. Norfolk, is
very anxious to know. This little
conundrum came by the first post,
and he was to follow by the next train.
There's ring at the bell, Watson
/ should not be very much surprised
if this were he."
A heavy step was heard upon the
stairs, and an instant later there en-
tered n tall, ruddy, clean-shaven gem
tleman, whose clear eyes and fforld
cheeks told of q life led far from
the fogs of Baker street. He seemed
TO bring whif of his strong, fresh
bracing east-coast air with him as
he entered. Having shaken hands
with each of us, he was about to Si'
down. when his eye rested upon the
paper with the curious markings
which I had just examined and left
upon the table.
We'll, Mr. Holmes, what do you
make of these?' he cried. They
told me that you were fond of queer
mysteries, and / don't think you car
find queerer one than that. / sent
the paper on ahead, SO that you might
have time 10 study il before l came.
ir tai itoIN
production. said Holmes. AT first
sight it would appear TO be some
childish prank. Tt consists of num-
Der of absurd little figures dancing
across the paper upon which they are
drawn. Why should you attribute
any importance to so groteSque an
ohject?"
II never should Mr.. Holmes. But
my wife does. 1t is frightening heI
to death. She says nothing. but
can see terror i'll her eyes. That's why
! want to sift the matter To the bot
tom"
Holmes held up the paper so that
the sunlight shone full upon it. II
vas a page torn from a note book
The markings were done in pencil
and ran in this way:
Here he exhibited the paper
Holmes examined it for some time
and then, folding it carefully up, he
placed it in his pocketbook.
This promises to be a most inter
esting and unusual case said he
You gave me a few particulars in
your letter. Mr.. Hilton Subitt, but ]
should be very much obliged if you
would kindly go over it all again for
the benefit of my friend, DR.. Wat
son.
I'm not much of a story-teller
said our visitor. nervously claspine
and unclasping his great, strong
hands. You'll just ask me anything
that l don't make clear. I'll begir
at the time of my marriage last year
but | want to say first of all that
though I'm not a rich man. my peo.
pie have been at Riding Thorpe FOL
matter of fiye centuries, and there
Is no better known family in the coun
fY of Norfolk Last wear / came LII