The farmer and mechanic., 1911-07-11

uerstand. put why print? Printing is
a clumsy process. Why not write?
What would it suggest, Watson -
That he desired to conceal his
hand writing
But why? What can it matter to
him that his landlady have a word Of
his writing? Still. it may be as you
say. Then, again, why such laconic
m me4SSageS %
Il cannot imagine.
1t opens pleasing field for intelli-
gent speculation. The words are writ
ten with a broad pointed violet-tinted
pencil Of not unusual pattern. You
Will observe that the paper is torn
away at the side here after the print
ing was done. SO that the :" or SOAP
is partly gone. Suggestive. Watson,
is it not ?"
''Of caution, :.
Exactly There was evident some
mark, some thumb-print something
which might give a clue to the per
sons Identity Now. Mrs. Warren, you
say that the man was Of middle size,
dark, and bearded. What age would
he be-
'tYoungish sir-not over thirty.
We'll, can you give me no further
Indications? p
He spoke good English sir. and
yet thought he Was a foreigner by his
accent"
And he was we'll dressed ??
Very smartly dressed. sir-qute
the gentleman. Dark ciotheS-noth
ing you would note
He gave no name?"
No, sir
''And has had no letters or callers2''
None
But surely you or the girl enter
his room Of a morning
No. sir; he looks after himself en-
tirely.
Deer me, that IS certainly remark
able What about his luggage
He had one big brown bag with
him-nOthing else
We'll, We don't seem to have much
materia1 to help us. Do you say moth
ing has come out Of that room-abso-
Iuteiy nOthing?"
The landlady drew an envelope from
! her bag: from it she shook out two
burnt matches and a cigarette end
upon the table.
They were on his table this morning.
| brought them because | had heard
/, that you could read great things out
| of small ones.
Holmes shrugged his shoulders
<'There is nothing here. said he
'"The matches have. Of course, been
used to light cigarettes. That is OBJ
j viOus from the shortness Of the burnt
/ end Half the match is consumed in
/ lighting a pipe or cigar. But dear
me, this cigarette stub is certainly
rema rka BILE. The gentleman was beard
| ed and moustached, you say
YES sir"
Il don't understand that. I should
say that only a clean-shaved mar
could have smoked this. Why. Wat
SON even your modest moustache
would have been sinSed.
"A holder?" I suggested
NO. no: the end is matted. | sup
pose there could not be two people II
Your rooms, Mrs. Warren
NO. sir He eats so little that I of
ten wonder it can keep life in one
"Well. I think we must wait for {
little more material. After all. 70,
have nothing to complain OF. Yo,
| have received your rent and he is no
troublesome lOdger. though he l.
certainly an unusual one. He pay
YOU we'll and if he chooses to lie con
cealed it is no direct business of yours
We have no excuse for an Intrusion
upon his privacy until we have som'
reason to think that there is a guilt.
reason for it. I've taken UP the mat
ter and l won't lose sight Of It. Re
port to me if anything fresh occurs
and rely upon my assistance IL !
should be needed.
s.There are certainly some points o
interest in this case. Watson. he re
marked when the landlady had lei
IFS II may Of course. be trlNlal-indi
vidual eccentricity: or it may be Yer
much deeper than appears on the sur
face The first one that strikes one |
the obvious possibility that the pefsol
NOW in the rooms may be entirely dli
ferent from the one VINO engage
, them.
'.Why should YOU think so
We'll. apart from this cigarette en-
was it not suggestive that the ON
time the lOdeer went out was lfnmedi
atelx after his taking the rooms? II
1ame back-Or some one came back
when all witnesses were out OF tn
way, We have no proof that the per
: SON who came back was the perSo
! who went out. Then again the MAJ
who took the rooms spoke Ensiis
-~ll This other however, print