Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-05-24

vices. So unworlaIs was he-or so
capricious-that he frequently refused
his help to the powerful and wealthy
where the problem made no appeal to
his sympathies, while he would devote
weeks of most intense application to
the affairs of some humble client whose
case presented those strange and dra-
matte qualities which appealed to his
Imagination and challenged his i'm
genuity.
In this memorable year 80. n curious
and homogeneous succession of cases
had engaged his attention. ranging
from his famous investigation of the
sudden death of Cardinal 1osca-an In
quiry which was carried out by him
at the express desire of His Holiness
the Ioope--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
Woodman's 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 weak of July. my
friend had been absent 40 often
and so long from our lodgings that
knew that he had something
on hand. The fact that sew
eral rough looking men called during
that time and inquired for Captain
Bash made me understand that Holmes
was working somewhere under one the
numerous DISCUSSES and names with
with which he concealed his own for
mida BILE Identity He had at least five
small refugees i'm different parts of Lon
don. in which he was able to change his
| Y 4, l,;.,
business to me. and it was not my habit
to force a confidence. The FIRST posi-
tive sign which he gave me of the direc-
| tion which his Investigation Mas talk
ing was an extraordinary one. He had
gone out before breakfast. and l had
sat down to mime when he strobe into
the room. his hat upon his head and q
huge barb-headed spear tucked like n.
umbrella under his arm
Good gracious Holiness" cried
''You don't mean to say that you have
been walking about London With that
| thing?"
~ drove To the Suchers ana oac. .
''J'he butchers,''
And ] return with an excellent APP
petite. There can be no question. my
| dear Watson, of the value of exercis.
to bet that you will not guess the form
| that my exercise has taken"
II will not attempt it,
He chucked as he poured our the
] coffee.
"If you could have looked into Altar
| dyce's back shop. you would have sea-;
a dead pig swung from q hook in Tbs
ceiling. and a gentleman in his shir
sleeves furiously stabbing al ii with this
weapon. was that energetic person
and / have satisfied myself that by
no exertion of my strength can trans
fix the pig with a single blow. Perhaps
/ yCsl would care to try"
'sNot for worlds. But why We're yo,
doing this"
Because ii seemed to me to have al
indirect bearing upon the mystery o
Moodman's Lee. All. Hopkins. 1 go
your wire last night. and have beel
expecting you. Come and join us
Our visitor was an exceedingly aler
man. thirty years of age. dressed in
quiet tweed suit. but retaining the cree
bearing of one who was accustome
to official uniform. ] recognized hin
at once as Stanley Hopkins. a youn
police Inspector for whose futur
Holmes had high hopes, while he Il
turn protested the admiration and re
spect of a pupil for the scientific meth
DDS of the famous amateur Hopkins
brow was clouded. and he sat dow
with an air of deep detection.
NO. thank you. sir. ! breakfaste
before / came round. | spent the nigh
in town. for ! came up yesterday t
report
"And what had you TO report ."
''Faiure sir absolute failura"
'You have made no progress''
'None"
"Dear me, must have a look at tn
matter"
81 wish to heavens that YOU would
Mr.. Holmes. It's my first big chance
and ! ann at my wits end. For good
ness sake come down and lend me
hand"
We'll. we'll it just happens that
have already read all the available ev
dence, including the report of the il
quest, with some care. by the wa,
what do you make of that tohacc
pouch. found on the scene of the crime
Is there no clew there"
Hopkins looked surprised.
1T was the mans ow-n pouch. 81
His initials We're inside it. And it va
OF sealskin-and he was AN old sealer
but he had no pipe"
mo, sir, we could find no pipe. II
deed he smoked very little. and y.
he might have kept some tobacco IL
his friends.
NO doubt only mention 1t becaus
If ] had been handling the case
should have been inclined to make tn;
he starting point of my investigation
However. my friend. DIR. Watso
knows nothing of this matter, and
should be none the worse for hearir
the sequence of events once more. Ju
give us some short sketches of the e
sentialS.
Stanley Hopkins drew a slip of pap
from his pocket.
II have a few dates here which w
give you the career of the dead ma