The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-03-15
llI-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
DANCING MAN.

Holmes had been seated for some
hours in silence with his long, hin
back curved over a chemical vessel IN
which he was brewing a particularly
malodorous product. His head was
sunk upon his breast, and he looked
from my point Of view like a strange,
lank bird, with a dull grey plumage and
a black top-knot.
80, Watson" said he, suddenly. you
do not propose to invest In South Afrt-
car securities?'
I gave a start of establishment. Ac-
customed as l was to Holmes curious
faculties, this sudden intrusion into my
most intimate thoughts was utterly in
applicable.
"How on earth do you know that?"
l asked.
He wheeled around upon his stool.
with a steaming test tube in his hand,
and a CLEAN of amusement in his deep
set eyes.
Now. Watson. confess yourself ut
terly taken aback," said he.
81 am"
Il ought to make you sign a paper to
thai effect
'Why?"
Because in five minutes you will say
that 1t Is all so absurdly simple"
II am sure that l shall say nothing Of
the kind"
"You see, my dear Watson'-he
propped his test tube In the rack, and
began to lecture with the air of a pro-
fessor addressing his class-'it is not
really difficult to construct a series or
differences, each dependent upon its
predecessor and each simple IN itself.
If. after doing SO, one simply knocks
out all the central differences and pre-
sents ones audience with the startling
point and the conclusion. one may pro-
duce a startling, though possibly a
gporatricicnS affprt Now If was not
really difficult, b. an inspection of the
groove betWeen your left foretinger and
thumb, to feel sure that you did not
propose to invest your small capital in
the gold fields
Il see no connection
VERY likely not; but ] can quickly
show you a close connection. Here
are the missing links Of the very simple
chain: l. You had chalk between your
left finger and thumb when you re-
turned from the club last night. 2.
You put chalk there when you play bill
lizards to steady the cue. 3. o eve
play billiards except with Thurston.
4. You told me, four weeks ago, that
Thurston had an option on some South
African property which would expire
in Il month, and which he desired you
to share with him. 5. Your check
boob is locked in my drawer. and you
have not asked for the key. 6. You do
~ NStoS' ~ SSNA hi'4i%J "a
this
How absurdly simple!" cried.
quite So said he, a little nettled,
every problem becomes very childish
when once 1t is explained to you. Here
Is an unexplained one. See what you
can make Of that, friend Watson He
tossed a sheet of paper upon the table
and turned once more to his chemical
analysis.
I looked with amazement at the abb
surd hieroglyphics upo the paper.
why, Holmes, it is q child's draw
ng," I cried.
ooh, that's your ideal"
what else should it be-"
THAT is what MI. Hilton Cubitt. OF
Riding Thorpe Manor. Norfolk. Is very
anxious to know. This little conun-
drum came by the first post. and he
was to follow by the next train. There's
q ring at the bell. Watson. | should
not be very much surprised if this
were he"
A heavy step was heard upon the
, stairs, and an instant later there en-
tered a tall. ruddy. clean shaven gen
sleman, whose clear eyes and forid
I checks told of a life led far from the
fogs of Baker street. He seemed tc
bring a Whit of his strong. fresh, brac-
Ing, east coast air with him as he en-
: tered. Having shaken hands with each
Of us, he was about to sit down, wher
his eye rested upon the paper with the
curious markings, which 1 had just ex.
, amlned and left Upon the table.
| We'll, Mr.. Holmes. what do yo,
! make of these?" he cried. "They TOLD
, me that you We're fond Of queer mys
%teries, and 1 don't him you can fin
4 queerer one than that. I sent tn,
paper on ahead, SO that you might hav,
' time to study 1t before I came"
r 1T is certainly rather a curious pro,
iuctiOn." said Holmes.
4 A first sight 1t would appear to b,
!, some childish prank. 1t consists of
number of absurd little figures dancin;
across the paper upon which they ar
drawn. Why would you attribute an,
Importance to SO grotesque an OBJ
iect?"
Il never should. Mr.. Holmes. Blu
my wife does. 1t is frightening he
y to death. She says nothing, but l ca
see terror in her eyes. That's why
want to sift the matter to the bottom.
Holmes held up the paper SO that tn
sunlight shone full upon it. 1t was
9 page torn from a note book. The mark
d lngs We're done in pencil, n ran thi
u way: