The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-30
OF oESHERL LOCK HOLMES
- THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP
BY Arthur Conan Doyle.

NOW, watson, SdlQ 11OlUleS, DIS d
tall dog-cart dashed up through the
gloom throwing out two golden tun-
nels of yellow light from its side
lanterns. You'll come with me. won't
you?"
'If l can be of use"
"Oh, a trusty comrade is always of
use; and \ chronicler still more so.
My room at The Cedars is double
bedded one"
yes; that is Mr. st. Clair's house.
I am staying there while l conduct
the inquiry"
Where is it, then ?"
Near Lee in Kent. We have a
seven mile drive before us"
but l am all in the dark"
"Of course you are. You'll know
all about it presently. Jump up here.
All right, John; we shall not need
you. Here's half crown. Look out
for me tomorrow, about eleven. Give
her her head So long, then!"
He flicked the horse with his whip,
and we dashed away through the end
less succession of sombre and de<ert-
ed streets, which widened gradually.
until we were flying across a broad
balustraded bridge, with the murky
river flowing sluggishly beneath us.
Beyond lay another dull wilderness of
only by the heavy, regular football of
the policeman, or the songs and shouts
of some belated party of revellers. A
dull wrack was drifting slowly across
the sky, and a star or two tWinkled
dimly here and there through the riffs
of the clouds Holmes drove in si-
Ience. with his head sunk upon his
breast and the air of man who is
lost in thought, while | sat beside him,
curious to learn what this new quest
might be which seemed to tax his pow
ers so sorely, and yeJ afraid to break
in upon the current of his thoughts.
We had driven several miles, and were
beginning TO get to the fringe OF the
ocat of surburban villas when he
shook himself shrugged his should
ers, and lit up his pipe with the air of
man who has satisfied himself that
he is acting for the best.
You have a grand gift of silence
| Watson" said he. "It makes you quite
invaluable as a companion. Pom my
word it is great thing for me to
! have some one to talk to, for my own
thoughts are not over pleasant 1 was
| wondering what | should say to this
dear little woman tonight when she
meets me at the door,"
"You forget that / know nothing
about it,"
I shall just have time to tell you
| the facts of the case before get get to
| Lee. 1t seems absurdly simple. ana
yet. somehow, l can get nothing to go
| upon. There's plenty of thread, no
doubt. but can't get the end of it in
to my hand Now, II state the case
clearly and concisely to you, Watson
and maybe you can see spark where
! all is dark to me-"
Proceed, then"
Some years ago-to be definite, in
May. 1SS4,-there came to Lee a gen
tleman, Neville st. Clair by name, laid
out the grounds very nicely, and lived
| generally in good style. BY degrees he
made friends in the neighborhood
and in 1887 he married the daughter
of a local brewer by whom he now
| has two children. He had no occupa-
| ton, but was interested in several
companies, and went into town as a
| rule in the morning. returning by the
| STA from Cannon Street every night.
Mr.. st. Clair is now thirty-seven years
of age, is man of temperate habits,
a good husband, a very affectionate
father, and a man who is popular with
| all who know him. ! may add that his
whole debts at the present moment, ss
| far as be have been able to ascertain
amount to fS8 los, while he has t22O
standing to his credit in the Capital
and Counties Bank. There is no rea
troubles have been weighing upon his
mind.
Last Monday Mr. Neville st. Clair
went down town rather earlier than
usual, remarking before he started
that he had two important commits
sions to perform. and that he would
bring his little boy home box of
bricks. Now, by the merest chance,
his wife received telegram upon
-; oh flXy a ffot-
his departure, to the effect that a
small parcel of considerable value
which she had been expecting was
waiting for her at the offices of the
Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now,
if you are we'll up in your London,
you will know that the offices of the
company is in Fresno Street, which
branches out of Upper Swandam Lane.
where you found me tonight. Mrs.
St Clair had her lunch, started for
the city, did some shopping, proceed
ed to the company's office. got her
packet. and found herself at exactly
ABS walking through Swandam Lane
on her way back to the station. Have
you followed me so far?"
1T is very clear.
eff you remember, Monday was an
exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. ST.
Clair walked slowly, glancing about
III the nope OF seeing a CdD dS Sne uid
not like the neighborhood in which
she found herself. While she was
walking in this way down Swandam
Lane, she suddenly heard an ejacu-
lation or cry, and was struck cold to
see her husband looking down at her,
and, as it seemed to her, beckoning to
her from a second floor window The
window was open, and she distinctly
saw his face. which she describes as
being terribly agitated. He waved
his hands frantically to her, and then
vanished from the window so sudden
ly that it seemed to her that he had
been pIucked back by some irresistible
force from behind. One singular
point which struck her quick feminine
eye was that, although he wore some
dark coat, such as he had started 10
town in, he had on neither collar nor
necktie.
Convinced that something was
amiss with him, she rushed down the
steps-for the house was none other
Continued on second page.)