Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-05-25

- claim any large
~ reward for his
inestimable SER
vices. SO unworluIy was he-or so
capricious-that he frequently refused
his help 10 the powerful and wealthy
where the problem made no appeal to
his synpathles. while he would devote
weeks Of most intense application to
the affairs of some humble client whose
case presented those -trange and dra-
matte qualities which appealed TO his
Imagination and challenged his in
genuity.
In this memorable year '95. n curious
n homogeneous succession OF cases
a engaged his attention. ranging
from his famous Investigation of the
sudden death of Cardinal Tosca-an in
quiry which was carried out by him
at the express desire OF His Holiness
the Pope-down to the arrest of Wilson,
the notorious canary trainer, which re-
moved a plague plot from the East End
OF London. Close on the heels of these
two famous cases came the tragedy OF
Woodlands Lee. and the very obscure
circumstances which surrounded the
death OF Captain Peter Carey. No rec
ord OF the doings OF Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes would be complete which did
not include SOME account of this very
unusual affair.
During the first week of July, my
friend had been absent so often
and so long from our Lodgings that
L knew that he had something
eral rough looking men called during
thai time and inquired for Captain
Basil made me understand chat Holmes
was working somewhere under one the
numerous DISCUSSES and names with
with which he concealed his own for
Hnidable identity. lie had at least five
small refugees IN different parts of Lon
don, in which he was able to change his
personality. He said nothing OF his
business to me, md it was not WY habit
10 force n confidence. THE FIRST Dosi-
tive sign which he gave me Of the direc-
ton which his Investigation wpe tax
Ing was an extraordinary one. He bod
gone out before breakfast. and ! bad
sat down TO mine when he strobe info
the room. his hat upoC bis head ard q
huge barb-headed spear lacked like M
umbrella under Ills arm,
Good gracious. Holiness cried.
you don't mean to say that you have
been walking about London with that
thing?'
II drove to the bucher's AMI back"
The butcher's?"
And / return with an cXCeilent ap-
petite. There can be no question. my
dear Watson, of the value OF exercise
before breakfast. But I am prepared
to bet that you viii not guess the form
that my exercise has taken
II viii not attempt it,"
He chuckled as he poured out the
coffee.
~If you could have looked into Altar
tdyce's back shop. you would have seen
u dead pig swung from n look In the
ceiling, and "A gentleman In his shirt
sleeves furiously stabbing at II with this
weapon I was that energetic person,
and I have satisfied myself that by
no exertion Of my strength can I trans
Yix the pig with a single blow. Perhaps
you would care to try?"
Not for worlds. IN why were you
.doing this?"
because ii seemed to me to have an
Indirect bearing upon the mystery OF
woodman's Lee. All, Hopkins. ] got
your vine iast night. and have been
expecting you. Come and join us"
GU visitor was an exceedingly alert
man, thirty years of age, dressed In a
quiet tweed suit, but retaining the erect
bearing of one VINO was accustomed
40 official uniform. / recognized him
at once as Stanley Hopkins. a young
police inspector. for whose future
Holmes had high hopes. while he in
turn professed the admiration and re-
&pec4 OF n pupil for the scientific meth
ODDS of the famous amateur. Hopkins
brow was clouded, and he sat down
4rish an air Of deep detection.
mo, thank ~ sir. / breakfasted
hsiure I came round. / spent the night
m town. for / came up yesterday &c
report
And what had you to report p"
Failure. sir. absolute failure.
You have made no progress"
None
..Dear me! I must have a look at the
matter"
II wish TO heavens that you would
Mar. Holmes It's my first big chance
ard | am at my wits end. For good,
ness sake. come down and lend me 9
hand"
well well. II just happens that
Eave already read all the available evi
esence, including the report OF the in
what do YOU make of that tobacc,
pouch, found OF the scene OF the crime
IL there no clew there?"
Hopkins looked surprised.
r1t was the mans own porch. sir
Ills initials were inside II. And II wa
nf sealskin-and he was an old sealer.'
But he a no pipe
mo. sir. we could find no pipe. In
sseed. he smoked very little, and we
Dc might have kept some tobacco 10
HiH friends"
No doubt. only mention II because
5ft had been handling the case.
should have been inclined TO make tina
xtsa starting point OF my investigation
weve my friend. DIR. W4tsor
Nxlpwr notning OF his matter. n
a<snuld be none the worse for hearin
<i3e sequence or events once more. Jus
xfkc us some short sketches Of the cs
nentials.