The Washington times., 1905-05-28


50 Copyright 1894 by Harper & Bros)
H~ HE July which Immediately sue
"a ceeded my marriage was made
memorable by three cases of IN
IS. terest, IN which had the privi-
Iege of being associated with Sherlock
Hoimes and of studying his methods.
der the headings of THE. Adventure OF
the Second Stain,' 1.-The Adventure Of
the Naval Treaty" and THE Adven-
ture of the Tired Captain The first
OF these. however, deals with interests
OF such importance and duplicates so
many Of the first families in the king
dem that for many years it will be
impossible to make IT public. No case,
however. in which Holmes was en-
gagged has ever illustrated the value of
his analytical methods so clearly or
has impressed those who were asso-
GLAZED with him so deeply. / still re-
tain an almost verbatim report of the
fnlerview in which he demonstrated the
true facts of the case to Monsieur Du-
hugue, of the Paris police; and Fritz
Yen Waldbaur1, the welI-known special
istsof Dantzig, both cf whom had vast
edAtheir energies upon what proved to
Be side issues. The new century will
have come. however, before the story
can be safely told. Meanwhile [ pass
onto the second on my list, which pronax
isea also at one time to be of national
Importance. and was marked by several
Incidents which give it a quite unique
character.
EHlring my school days I had been
Intimately associated with a lad named
Percy Phelps, who was of much the
same age as myself, though he was two
classes ahead of me. He was a very
brilliant boy. and carried away every
prize which the school had TO offer,
aaishing his exploits by winning a
scholarship which sent him on 10 CON
tIlsae his triumphant career at Cam
bridge. He was. I remember, extremely
vel connected. and even when we were
sIl little boys together we knew ths.
his mothers brother was Lord Hold
hurst, the great conservative politician.
This gaudy relationship did him little
eoud at school. On the contrary, It
seemed rather piquant thing TO us TO
eases'y him about the playground and
hit him over the shins with a wicket.
Hut IT was another thing when he came
ous into the world. I heard vaguely
that his abilities and the influences
which he commanded had won him
gaod position at the foreign office, and
then he passed completely out Of my
r.I.ld until the following letter recalled
Ifszexistence:
'Briarbrae, Woking.
ss1fy Dear Watson: have no doubt
that you can remember 'Tadpole' Phelps.
wn0 was in the fifth form when you
were in the third. It Is possible even
that you may have heard that through
NY uncle's influence I obtained a good
asspointment at the foreign office. and
that I was In a situation Of trust and
horor until a horrible misfortune came
suddenly to blast my career.
ssIshere is no use writing the details
OF that dreadful event In the event Of
yoszr accading to my request it is prob
able that I shall have to narrate them
tosou. I have only just recovered from
nine weeks of brain-feyer, and am still
esceedingly weak. Do you think that
you could bring your friend Mr.. Holmes
doxn TO see me2 should like to have
his opinion Of the case, though the au-
tllsrities assure me that nothing more
can BE- done. Do try to bring him down.
and as soon as possible. Every minute
seems an hour while I live in this state
az horrible suspense. Assure him that
til have not asked his advice sooner
sE 8as not because I did not appreciate
his talents, but because I have been off
ms head ever since the blow fell. Now
lam clear again, though I dare not
think of It too much for fear OF a re-
lapse. I am still so weak that I have
10 write. as you see, by debating. Do
Try 70 bring him.
your old school-feliow.
PERCY PHELPS
There was something that touched me-
asJ read this letter, something pitiable
ia the reiterated appeals to bring
Holmes So moved was that even had
& I SI7O hon
1rsad it, but, OF course 1 knew wen that
Holmes loved his art. so that he was
evew as ready TO bring his aid as his client
could be to receive it. My wife agreed
svlth me that not a moment should bel
last in laying the matter before him,
and so within an hour of breakfast-time
Ifound myself back once more in the|
aid rooms in Baker street.
Holmes was seated at his side-tableI
clad In his dressing-gown. and working
hand over chemical investigation. A
large curved retort was boiling furious
Is n the blush fame Of Bunsen
anssaer, and the distilled drops were
eosllensing into a twe-litre measure.
KY friend hardly glanced UP as l en-
tered, and I, seeing that his investiga-
tI8n must be Of Importance. seated my
naysen in an armchair and waited, lie
a5ppeu INTO tIis pottie OF mat al q WIS
cut a few drops OF each with his glass
ulpette. and finally brought a test-tube
aoataining a solution over TO the table.
In his right hand iae held a slip Of
Htmus-p paper.
ssYou come at a crisis, Watson" said
he IF this paper remains blue, all Is
vel If it turns red. it means d mans
l.ges' He dipped it into the test-tube |
and IT flushed at once into "a dun, dirty
crszason Hum. I thought as muchs' |
he cried '1 will be at your service in
an Instant, Watson. You will find to-