Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

l WITH an air Oh a man WHOSE QlSEuSl Is tOo
| deep for words. A few yards on he stopped
| upder a lamp-post and laughed in thu
hearty, noiseless fashion which was pecv
| liar to him
when you see man with whiskers OF
| that cut and the pink 'un' protruding out
| OF his pocket you can always draw him oy
bet" said he. Il dare say that IL l had
put f109 down in front of him, that man
would not have given me such complete
4 Information drawn from him by the
idea that he was doing me on a wager. Well
Watson, we are, / fancy, nearing the END
| of our quest. and the only point which re-
mains to be determined is whether we
| should go on to this Mrs Oakshott tonight
or whether we should reserve 1t for tomor-
| row. 1t Is clear from what that suriy fell
| low said that there are others besides our
selves who are anxious about the matter,
| and should"
His remarks were suddenly cut short by
4 a loud hubbub which broke out from the
| stall which we had just left Turning round
we little rat-faced fellow standing
| in the center of the circle Of yellow light
| which was thrown by the swinging lamp
while Breckenridge, the salesman, framed
| in the door of his STALL was shaking his
| fists fiercely at the cringing figure.
| I've had enough of you and your geese,
] he shouted. Il wish you were all at the
| devil together. If you Come Fostering me
any more with your silly talk III set the
dog al you. You bring Mrs. Oakshott here
| and III answer her, but what have you to
| do with IT? Did l buy the geese of your?
mo. but one of them was mine, all the
| same, Wh1ned the little man.
| Well. then, ask Mrs OakShott for it
| She told me to ask you
! We'll. you can ask the King of Proosia,
| for all l care. I've had enough of it. Get
out of this,' He rushed hercely forward,
and the inquirer fitted away into the dark
| ness.
''Ha, this may visit to Brixton
| road whispered Holmes. Come with me
and we will see what is to be made of this
| fellow. Stridng through the scattered
| knots of people who lounged round the far
| ing stalls, my companion speedily overlook
| the little man and touched him upon the
shoulder. He sprang around, and l could
| see in the gasLght that every vestige or
| color had been driven from his face.
| Who are you, then? What do you want?"
! he asked in quavering voice.
| You will excuse me-" said Holmes bland
| ly, but / could not help overhearing the
questions which you put to the salesman
| just now. think that l could be of as
sistance to you
You? Who are you? How could you
| know anything of this matter?''
MY name is Sherlock Holmes. 1t Is my
| business to know what other people don't
| know"
But you can know nothing of this
EXCUSE me, know everything of Ii. You
| are endeavoring to trace some geese which
1 were sold by Mrs. Oakshott of BriXton road
/ to a salesman named Breckenridge, by him
l in turn to Mr.. Windigate of the Alpha and
by him to his club. of which Mr. Henry
Baker is a member"
| "Oh. SIR, you are the very man whom 1
| have longed to meet" cried the little fellow.
| with outstretched hands and quivering fin
gers. II can hardly explain to you how in
| terested am in this matter"
| Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler
| which was passing. I'm that case we had
| better discuss it in coy room rather than
| in this windswept market place" said he
| But. pray tell me. before We go further
who it is that 1 have the pleasure of as
| sisting."
The man hesitated for an instant MY
1 n rpp lie Jn1 Pnhi ha ara5 nit
| sidelong glance.
mo, no: the real NAME" said Holmes
| sweetly. 1T is always awkward doing
| business with an alias"
A flush sprang to the white cheeks OF
the stranger.
| well: then said he. my real name is
1 James Ryder
| Precisely so. Head attendant at the
| Hotel Cosmopolitan Pray step into the
| cab, and l shall soon be able to tell you
| everything which you would wish to know"
| The little man stood CHANGING from one
to the other of us with half-frightened
| half-hopeful eyes, one who is not sure
whether he is on the verge of a Windfall or
| of catastrophe. Then he stepped into the
| cab, and IN half an hour we We're back in
| the sitting room at Baker street Nothing
had been said during our drive. but the
| hlgh thin breathing of our new companion
| and the claSpings and unclaSpings of his
| hands spoke of the nervous tension within
| him.
Here we are" said Holmes. cheerily. as
we filed into the room. The fire looks very
| seasonable in this weather. You look cold
| MIR. Ryder. Pray take the basket chair L
| will just put my slippers before we set
| tie this little matter of yours. Now. then!
| You want to know what became of those
| geese?"
| Yes, SIR"
| "Or, rather, I fancy. of that goose. 1t
| was one bird 1 agine, in which you were
| interested-white with a black bar across
| the tail.
Ryder quivered with emotion. ooh, sir"
| he cried can you tell me where it went
| to-"
1T came here"
| "Here?"
Yes; and a most remarkable bird it
proved. don't wonder that you should
| take an interest in it. 1t laid an egg after
! it was dead-the bonniest, brightest little
blue egg that ever was seen. have it here
! in my museum"
Our visitor staggered to his feet and
| clutched the mantelpiece with his right
| hand. Holmes unlocked his strong box and
! held up the blue carbuncle, which shone out
! like star, with a cold. brilliant, many
| pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with
| Drawn face. uncertain whether to claim
| or to disown 1t.
THE games up. Ryder" said Holmes,
| quietly. Hold up, man, or you'll be into
! the IRE! Give him an arm back to his
| chair, Watson. He's not got blood enough
to go in for felony with impunity. Give
him dash of brandy. Sol Now he looks
| to be surev'
For a moment he had staggered and
| nearly fallen, but the brandy brought
| tnge of color into his cheeks, and he sat
| staring with frightened eyes at his ac-
| cuser
Il have almost every link in my hands
| and all the proofs which l could possibly
1 need, SO there is little which you need tell
| me. Still. that little may as well be cleared
! up to make the case complete. You had
| heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the
| Countess of Morcars?'
| ut was Catherine Cusack who told me
| of it, said he. in cracking voice.
| Il see-her ladyships waiting maid Well
| the temptation of sudden wealth so easily
acquired was too much for you, as it has
F, been for better men before you but you
| We're not very scrupulous in the means you
I used 1t seems to me, Ryder, that there is
| the making of very pretty villain in you.
| You knew that this man Horner the plum
Der, had been concerned in some such mat
| ter before, and that suspicion would rest
| the more readily upon him. What did you
| do, then? You made some small job in my
| lady's room-you and your confederate Gu
| sack-and you managed that ne should be
| the man sent for. Then, when he had left
| you rfied the jewel case raised the alarm
and had this unfortunate man arrested.
You then"
| Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon