The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-21
n Thrilling Detective Story.

down the street there
q is a madman coming
along 1t seems rather
sad that his relatives should allow
him to come out alone.
MY friend rose lazily from his arm
chair and stood with his hands IN the
pockets of his dresSing-gOWn, looking
over my shoulder 1t was a bright,
crisp February morning and the snow
of the day before still lay deep upon
the ground, shimmering brightly ia
the Wintry sun. Down the center OF
Baker street it had been plOughed into
q brown crumbly band by the trathc'
but al either side and on the heapeo-
up edges of the fo0tpaths it still lay as
white as when it fell. The gray pave
ment had been cleaned and scrapeu'
but was still dangerously slippery. 50
that there We're fewer passengers than
usual. Indeed. from the direction of
the metropolitan station no one was
coming save the single gentleman
W hose eccentric conduct had drawn
my attention.
He was a man of about fifty, tall
portly and imposing. with massive
strongly marked face and a command
ing figure. He was dressed I'm a SOM
bre yet rich style in black frock coat.
shining hat neat brown CATERS ana
Well-cut pearl-gray trousers leu ms
actions were in absurd contrast 10 the
dignity of his dress and features, 1ol
he was running hard, with Occdsional
little springs such as a weary man
gives who is little accustomed to set
any tax upon his legs. As he ran ne
jerked his hands up and down. WaS-
gled his head and Writhed his race
into the most extraordinary contor-
lions.
"What on earth can be the matter
with him ~ I asked HE IS looking
UP at the numbers of the houses
81 believe that he is coming here
said Holmes. rubbing his hands,
'Here27
yes; I rather think he is coming to
consult me professionally. i think thaJ
I recognize the symptoms Ha! Did
I not tell you ?" AS he spoke the
man, putting and Blowing. rushed at
our door and pulled at our bell until
the whole house resounded with the
changing.
few moments later he was i'm our
room. still putting. still gesticulating-
but with so fixed a look of grief and
despair i'm his eyes that our smiles
were turned i'm an instant to horror and
pity For while he could not get his
words out but sWdyed his body and
Dlucked at his hair like one who has
been driven to the extreme limits of
his reason Then, suddenly spr1nglng
to his feet he beat his head against
the wall with such force that we both
rushed upon him and tore him away
to the centre of the room. sherlock
Holmes rushed him down into an easy
chair, and. sitting beside him, patted
his hands and chatted with him i'm the
easy. soothing tones which he knew
so we'll how to employ.
'You have come to me to tell your
story have YOU not2" said he. you
are fatigued with your haste. Pray
wait until you have recovered yourself
and then I SHAH be most happy to look
into any little problem which you may
submit to me-
The man sat for a minute or more
with a heaving chest. fighting against
his emotion. Then he passed his
handkerchief over his brow. set his
lips tight and turned his face toward
NO doubt you think me mad?" said
he
IT see you have had some great
trouble responded Holmes.
"God knows I havel-a trouble
which is enough to unseat my reason,
so sudden and so terrible is it. Pub
lie disgrace I might have faced, all
though I am man whose character
has never vet borne a stain. Private
affection also is the lot of every man;
but the two coming together and in
so frightful d form have been enough
to shake my very soul. Besides it is
not I alone. The very nOblest in the
land may suffer unless some way be
found out of this horrible affair"
pray compose yourself, sir" said
Holmes. and let me have a clear ae-
count of who YOU are and what it is
that has befallen you"
z
probably familiar to your ears. I am
Alexander Holder, of the banking firm
of Holder & Stevenson, of Thread
needle street"
The name was indeed we'll known to
us as belonging to the senior partner
I'm the second largest private banking
concern in the city of London. What
could have happened, then to bring
one of the foremost citizens of London
to this most pitiable pass2 We waited
rT1TinGffV until with Ha4 Or.f
he braced himself to tell his story
IT feel that time is of value" said
he. that's why I fastened here when
the police inspector suggested that
should secure your cooperation
came to Baker street by the Under
ground. and hurried from there ON
foot, for the cabs go slowly through
the snow. That is why I was so out
of breath. for I am a man who takes
very little exercise I feel better now,
and I will put the facts before YOU
as shortly and yet as clearly as [ can.
ut is of course. well known to YOU
that in a successful banking business
as much depends upon our being able
to find remunerative investments for
our funds as upon our increasing our
connection and the number of our de-
posters. one of the most lucrative
means of laying out money is i'm the
shape of loans where the security is
uufmpea enable. We have done a good
deal in this direction, during the last
few years, and there are many noble
families to whom we have advanced
large sums upon the security of their
pictures, libraries or plate.
Yesterday morning I was seated in
my office at the bank when q card was
brought in to me by one of the clerks
i started when I saw the name. for #
was that of none other than-weu. per
haps even to you / had better saw nc
more than that il was a name which is
a household word all over the earth
one of the highest, noblest, most ex-
allied names in England. I was over
Whelmed by the honor, and attempte5
when he entered, to say so. but he
plunged at once into business with
the air OF a man who wishes to HURRY
quickly through a disagreeable task.
Mr.. Holder said he. Z have beer
Informal that NoI are in The h Lii =.