The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-31

Sherlock Holmes. one day in the
autumn Of last year, and found him
in deep conversation with a very
stout. florid-faced, elderly gentleman,
with fiery red hair. With an apology
for my intrusion. I was about to
withdraw, when Holmes pulled me
abruptly into the room and closed
the door behind me.
you could not possibly have come
at a better time, my dear Watson"
he said cordially.
Il was afraid that you were en-
gagged"
80 [ am. Very much So"
Then [ can wait in the next
ROOM
Not at all. This gentleman, Mr..
Wilson, has been my partner and
helper in many of my most success
full cases, and [ have no doubt that
he will be Of the utmost use TO me
in ours also
The stout gentleman half-rose
from his chair and gave a bob of
greeting, with a quick, little. ques-
tioning glance from his small, fat
encircled eyes.
Try the ~settee,' said Holmes, re-
Iapsing into his armchair and put
ting his finger-tips together. as was
his custom when in judicial moods.
Il know, my dear Watson, that you
share my love Of all that is bizarre
and outside the conventions and hum
druin routine Of everyday life. You
have shown your relish for it by the
enthusiasm which has prompted you
to chronicle, and. if you will ex-
cuse my saying so, somewhat to en-
beilish so many of my WI little ad-
ventures
Your cases have indeed been Of
the greatest interest to me- [ OBJ
served.
You will remember that I re-
marked the other day, just before me
went into the very simple problem
presented by Miss Mary Sutherland.
that for strange effects n extraOr-
binary combinations we must go to
life itself, which is always far more
daring than any effort. Of the imagin-
alton"
"A proposition which I took the
liberty Of doubling"
you did, doctor, but one the less
you must come round to my view, for
otherwise 1 shall keep on piling fact
uDOn fact on you, until your reason
breaks down under them and &C
kn~owiedges me to be right. now, Mr.;
Jabez Wilson here has been good
enough to call upon me this morn
ing, and to begin a narrative which
promises to be n of the most sin
gular which I haye listened to for
some time. You have heard me re-
mark that the ~strangest and most
unique things are very often con-
nected not with the larger but with
the smaller crimes, and occasionally,
indeed, where there is room for
been committed. AS far as l have
heard it is impossible for me to say
whether the present case is an IN
stance of crime or not, Dut the
course Of events is certainly among
the most singular that l have ever
listened to. Perhaps, Mr.. Wilson, you
would have the great ndn TO
your narrative. ASK
you, not merely because my friend
DR.. Watson has not heard the open
ing part, but also because the pc
culiar nature of the story makes me
anxious to have every possible detail
from your lips. AS a rule, Wnen |
have heard some slight indication OF
the course of events, 1 am able TO
guide myself by the thousands OF
other similar cases which occur TO
my memory. In h present instance
[ am forced to admit that the facts
are. to the best of my belief, unique
The portly client puffed out his
chest with an of some
little pride, and pulled a dirty and
wrinkled newspaper from the inside
pocket Of his great-coat. AS he
glanced down the advertisement col
umn, with his head thrust orWard
and the paper f1attened out upon his
knee. L took a good look at the man,
and e~ndeavored, after, the fashion OF
my companion, to e the 1ndlca-
lions which might be presented by ms
dress or appearance.
/ did not gain very much, now
ever, by my inspection. Our visitor
bore every mark of being an average
commonplace British tradesman,
obese, pompous, and slow. He wore
rather baggy gray shepherds chech
trousers, a not OVer-clean black
frock-coat, unbuttoned in the 'front.',
and a drab waistcoat with a heavy
braSsy Albert chain, and q square
piarced hit Of metal ngli down
as an ornament. A frayed top-hat
and a faded brown overcoat With a
wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a
chair beside him. Altogether, look
as | would. there was nothing re
m~arkable about the man save his
blazing red head, and h expression
Of extreme chagr:n and ~dlscontent
upon his features.