The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-12

" as we swung thro the doctors guar.
tiers, Wimpole street, Harley street and
SO thro Wigmore street into Oxford
street. In quarter Of an hour we were
in Bloomsbury at the Alpha inn, which
is small public-house at the corner OF
one of the streets which runs down into
Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door
OF the private bar and ordered two
glasses Of beer from the ruddy faced,
wLite-aproned landlord.
our beer should be excellent It 1t
is I. as y good as your t geese, said !. he;
Yes. I was speaking only half an
hour ago to Henry Baker, who was
member Of your goose club
All! yes, I see. But you see, sir,
them s not our geese.'
Indeed! Whose, thena'
well, 4 got the two dozen from
salesman in Coyent Garden
Which was it9'
S"Ahl I don't know him. Well,
here's your good health, landlord, and
prosperity to your house. Good night ~
Now for Mr.. Breckenridge, he
continued, buttoninng up his coat, as we
came out into the frosty air. "Remem-
UOA, " oCoOA, ChoC CuO VIC AdFC oO AOl1iC
ly thing as goose at one end Of this
chain, we have at the other man who
will certainly get seven years penal
servitude unless we can establish his
innocence. It is possible that our in
quiry may but confirm his guilt; but,
in any case, we have a line of investi
cation which has been missed by the
placed in our hands. Let us follow it
out to the bitter end. Faces to the
south, then,, and quick march,"
We passed across Holborn, down En-
dell street, and so thro zigzag of
slums to Covent Garden market. One
Of the largest stalls bore the name Of
Breckenridge upon it, and the proprie-
face and trim whiskers, was help
ing boy to put up the shutters.
GOOD evening. It's cold night, -
said Holmes.
The salesman nodded, and shot a
questioning glance at my companion.
sold out Of geese, see,' continued
Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs Of
marble. sr -s
"Let you have 500 tomorrow morn
ing; - HIP.
"That's no good" -. -: +
MWell, there are some on the stall
'sAh, but l was recommended to
you:1m
"The landlord Of the Alpha"
HOhy,, yes; | sent him couple of
,''Fine birds they, were, too: Now
where did you get them from7'
To my surprise the question provoked
a burst Of anger from the salesman
Now, then, mister said he, with
his head cooked and his arms akimbo
.'what are you driving at7 Let's have
| it straight, now.'
cit is straight enough. I should like
to know who sold you the geese which
| you supplied to the Alpha -
| "Well, then. sha n It tell you. Sc
now!' h..
tQh, it is a matter Of no Importance
| but I don It know why you should be
so warm over such trifle.''
| Warm You ID be as warm, maybe
if you were as pestered as I am. Wher
pay good money for good article
but it's Where are the geeseq' anc
who did you sell the geese tor anG
What will you take for the geese7
One would think they were the only
geese in the world, to hear the fuss that
is made over them"
"Well, | have no connection with
any other people who have been making
inquiries,' said Holmes, carelessly. "I1
you won It tell us the bet is off, that i:
| opinion on a matter of fowls, and
have flyer on it that the bird I ate i.
country bred. -
"Well, then, you've lost your flyer
for it g town bred, snapped the sales
| man. ..s..,.
TITS nothing of the kind"
II say it is,
| 1oy, ho1;oro 81.
ed you think you know more about
fowls than I, who have handled then
ever since | was nipper9 | tell you
all those birds that when to the Aiph;
were town bred.''
"You II never persuade me to be
lieve that" #
"Will you bet, thenq'
Its Its t merely taking your money, 70
a sovereign on with you, just to teacl
you not to be obstinate. >,
The salesman chuckled grimly
"Bring me the books, Bill,'' said he
The small boy brought round small
thin volume and great greasy-backec
one, laying them out together beneath
ING HN Ss1e' t6en aa@ Mr cocksure, said tn
salesman, III thought that / was ou
Of gees e,but before I finish you II fin,
that there is still one left in my shop
Yoq see this little books'
| That's the list Of the folk from
whom | buy. D'you see7 Well, then
here on this page are the country folk
and the numbers after their names ar
where their accounts are in the bi
Eledger. Now, then! You see this othe
page in red inks Well, that is a lis
of my town suppliers. Now, look a
that third name. Just read it out t
me.
I "Mrs. Oakshott, 1T, Brixton roa
-g49,' read Holmes.
Quite so. Now turn that up in tn
ledge"
| Holmes turned to the page indicated
Here you are, Mrs Oakshott, IL
Brixton road, egg and poultry sur
Now, then, what's the last entry9'
| . Dec. %. Twenty-four geese at
6d.'''
Quite 5, There you are. And ur
sold to Mr.. Windigate of the A,
pha, at Us. -
NWhat have you to say now7''
Sherlock Holmes looked deeply cha
grined. He drew sovereign from hi
pocket and threw it down upon tn
slab, turning away with the air of
man whose disgust is! too deep fo
der lamp post. and laughed in tn
hearty, noiseless fashion which was pt
culiar to him.
!, When you see man with whisl
ers of that cut and the pink 'un prt
truding out of his pocket, you can a
! ways draw him by a bet,'' said he. g
dare say that if / had put f1O0 dow