The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-09-13
The Return OF Sherlock Holmes
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
Copyright 1905. 81 Copyright 1895.
BY A. Conan Doyle and Golfers Weekly #. BY Mcclure Phillips q c.
BY A. CONAN Y
Copyright. 1905.
by McClurs. Phillips % &c.

they would naturally be anxious to ge
rid of it."
But why should such an idea eros
your mind?"
We'll, I thought it was possible
When they came out through th'
with one tempting little hole in TIKI
ice, right in front Of their noses. Coulo
there be a better hiding place.
All, a hiding ~place-that is better
cried Stanley Hopkins. Yes, yes,
see it all know. 1t was early, there
were folks upon the roads, they were
afraid or being seen with the silver
so they sank it in the pond, intending
to return for it when the coast wa:
clear. Excellent, Mr.. Holmes-tllat i!
better than your idea of Il Blind ,
quite so, you have got an admirable
theory. I have no doubt but that my
oWn ideas were quite wild, but yOl
must admit that they have ended il
discovering the silver"
Yes, sir-yes. 1t was all your doing
But I have had q bad setback"
"a setback?"
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. The Randall gang
were arrested in New York this morn
ing"
Dear me. Hopkins! That is certain.
ly rather against your theory, that they
committed a murder in Kent last
night"
1T is fatal, Mr.. Holmes-absolutely
fatal. Still, there are other gangs OF
three besides the Randalls, or it may
be some new gang Of which the police
have never heard"
Quite so, it is perfectly possible.
What, are you off,"
Yes. Mr.. Holmes, there is no rest
for me lntil l have got to the bottom
of the business. I suppose you nave no
hin to give me?"
~ have given you one"
We'll, I suggested a blind"
But why, Mr.. Holmes, why?"
"Ah, that's the question, of course.
You might possibly find that there was
something in it. You won't stop for
dinner? Well, good by, and let US
know how you get on"
Dinner was over, n the table
cleared before Holmes alluded to the
matter again. He had lit his pipe and
held his slippered feet to the cheerful
blaze Of the fire. Suddenly he looked
at his watch.
Il expect developments, Watson"
"When?"
say you thought I acted rather badly
to Stanley Hopkins just now?"
Il trust your Judgment"
"a very sensible reply. Watson. You
must 0 at it this way: what I know
is unofficial, what he knows is official.
I have the right to private judgment,
but he has lone. He must disclose all,
or he is a traitor to his service. In a
doubtful case I would not put him in
so painful a position, and so I reserve
information until my w mind is
clear upon the matter"
But when will that be?"
1.-THE time has come. You will now
be present at the last scene Of a re-
little drama"
There was a sound Upon the stairs,
and our door was opened to admit as
fine a specimen of manhood as ever
passed through it. He was a very tall
young man, golden m~oustached, blue
eyed, with a skin which had been
burned by tropical suns, and a
springy step, which showed that
the huge frame was as active
as it was strong. He closed the door be-
hind him, and then he stood with clenched
hands and heaving breast, choking down
overmastering emotion.
Sit down, Captain Croker. You got
my telegram"
from one to the other of us with
questioning eyes.
Il got your telegram, and I came at
the hour you said. I heard that you had
been down to the office. There was no
getting away from you. Let's hear the
worst. What are you going to do with
me? Arrest me? Speak out, man! You
can't sit there and play with me like q
with a mouse
Give him a cigar" said Holmes. 'Bite
on that, Captain Croker, and don't let
your nerves run away with you. I Should
sit here smoking with you if I thought
you were a common criminal, you
be sure Of that. Be frank with me
and we may do some good. Play tricks
with me, and Til crush you
What do you wish me to dog"
TO give me a true account of all that
happened at the Abbey Grange last night
added and nothing taken off. 1 know so
much already that If YOU go one inch
eff the straight, I'll blow this police whis-
tie from my window and the affair goes
out of my and forever"
The sailor thought for a little. Their he
struck his leg with a great ]sun-burned
hand.
are a maj Of your word, and a white man,
and III tell you the whole story. But one
thing l will say first. So far as l am
concerned, I regret nothing and I fear
nothing, Inc 1 would do it all again, and
proud of the job. Damn the beast, If
he had as many lives as a cat, he would
owe them all to me! But it's the lady.
Mary-Mary Fraser-for never Will 1 cali
her by that accused name. When l think
of getting h.. into trouble, l who would
give my life just to bring one smile to
her dear face, it's that that turns my SOU
into water. And yet-and yet-what less
could l do? Ill tell you my story, gentle
men, and then I'll ask you, as man tc
man, what less could l do.
i must go back a bit. You seem stc
know everything, SO l expect that you
know that / met her when she was 6
passenger inc / was first officer of the
Rock Of Gibraltar. From the first day
| met her. she was the only woman to me
Every day of that voyage I loved hel
more. and many a time since have ]
kneeled down in the darkness of the nigh
watch and kissed the deck of that shir
because l knew her dear feet had troc
1t. She was never engaged to me-. She
treated ms as fairly as ever a woman
treated a man I ave no complaint t.
make. 1t was all love on my side, ant
all good ~comradeship and friendship OF
hers. When WI parted hewas a rTes
woman, but l could never again be s
free ma
Next time / came back from sea,
heard of her marriage. Well, why
shouldn't she marry whom she liked? Title
and money-whc4cculd carry them better
than she? She was born for all tina I.
beautifill and dainty V T. d;dn ~ oriavo o~a,