The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-04-19

Rf1wuEJ PIiySlcal, tllln III the year
HG@lMSAAV %. His increasing fame
SsWoEH had brought with it an
immense practice and I
SHOULD be guilty Of an indiscretion if I
We're even to hint at the identity of
some of the illustrious clients who
crossed our humble threshold in Baker
street. Holmes, however, like all great
artists, lived for his arts sake, and,
save in the case Of the Duke of Holder
nesse. l have seldom known him claim
any large reward for his inestmable
services. So unworldly was he-or so
capricious-that he frequently refused
his help to the powerful and wealthy
Wnere 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 inge-
nuity.
In this memorable year '95 a curious
and homogeneous succession of cases
had engaged his attention, ranging
from his famous investigation of the
sudden death of Cardinal Tosca-an
lnqNiry Which was carried out by him
at the express desire of his holiness the
Dope-down to his arrest Of Wilson, the
notorious canary trainer which remoy-
ed plague spot from the east end of
London. Close on the heels of these
two famous cases came the tragedy Of
Woodmans Lee and the very obscure
circumstances which surrounded the
death of Captain Peter Carey. No rec
ord of to Goings Of Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes would lie complete which did
not include some account of this very
unusual affair.
During the first week of July my
friend had becn absent so often and so
long from our lodgings that | knew he
had something OF hand The fact that
several rough looking men called DUR
ing that tine an! inquired fer Captain
Basil made me understand that Holmes
was working somewhere under one of
The numerous DISCUSSES and names with
Which he concealed his own formi-
dablc identity. He had at least five
small refCgaj in different parts of
change his personality. He said moth
ing of his business to ne, and it was
not my haait to force Il confidence.
The first positive sign which he gave
me OF the direction which his investi-
CATION wa taking was an eXtraordi
nary one. He had gone out before
breakfast. and l had sat down to.
mine when he strobe into the room,
his hat upon his head and huge
barb headed spear tucked like an UNI
brclla under his arm.
Good gracious, Holiness" I cried,
you don't mean to say that you have
been walking about London with that
thing
81 drove 70 the butchers and back"
The butcher's?''
''.And l return with an excellent ap-
petite. There can he no question, my
dear Watson, of the value of exercise
before breakfast. But am prepared;
to bet that You will not guess the form
that mn exercise has taken"
II will not attempt it,"
He chnck!ed as lie poured out the cot
fee.
eff you could have looked into AL
larayce's back shop you would have
seen Il dead pig swung from hook in
the ceiling and q gentleman in his
shirt sleeves furiously stabbing at it
with this weapon. l was that ener-
getic person, and l have satisfied my
self that by no eNertion of my strength
can l transliN the pig with a single
blow. Perhaps you would care to
try?"
"Not for worlds. But why We're you
doing this?"
because it seemed to me to hnve an
indirect bearing upon the mystery of
Woodman's Lee. All, Hopkins, | got
your wire last night, and l have been
expecting you. Come and join us.
Our visitor was an exceedingly alert
man, thirty years of age, dressed in Il
quiet tweed suit, but retaining the
erect bearing of one who was accus-
toned to official uniform. l recognized
him at once as Stanley Hopkins. q
young police inspector. for whose flu
ture Holmes had high hopes, while he
in turn professed the admiration and
respect of pupil for the scientific
methods of the famous amateur. Hop
kins' brow was clouded, and he sat
down With an air of deep detection.
mo, thank YOU, sir. l breakfastea
before came round. spent the night
in town, for came UP yesterday to re-
port
".And what had you to report?"
A'Failure, sir; absolute failure"
"'You have made no prosress:'
"Nene'
,@Dcar me! mrst have a look at
Ethe matter"
81 wish to heavens that you won j.
Mr.. Holmes. It's Ely fist big chance,
and / am at my wits enl. For COOL
ness sake, come down and lend me
hand
"Well, we'll. it jnst happens that have
already read all the available evidence.
including the report Of the inquest,
with some care. BY the way, what do