The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-09-12
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ADVENTURE
OF TIE
RED CIRCLE

Well. Mrs. Warren, I cannot see
that you have any particular cause
for uneasiness, nor do l understand
why !, whose time is Of some value,
should interfere in the matter. l real
ly have other things to engage me-"
So spoke Sherlock Holmes, and turned
back to the great scrapbook in which
he was arranging and indexing some
Of his recent material.
But the landlady had the pertinac.
ity, and also the cunning Of her sex
She held her ground firmly.
"You arranged an affair for a ledger
Of mine last year." she said--"Mr.
Fairdale Hobbs"
"Ah, yes--a simple matter"
But he would never cease talking
of it-your kindness, sir, and the way
in which you brought light into the
darkness. / remembered his words
when l was in doubt and darkness
myself. l know you could If you only
would"
Holmes was accessible upon the
side Of flattery, and also, to do him
justice, upon the side Of kindness.
The two forces made him lay down
his gum-brush with a sigh Of resigna-
ton and push back his chair.
WELL, we'll, Mrs. Warren, let us
hear about it, then. You don't object
to tobacco, l take 1t? Thank you,
Watson-the matches! You are I'M
easy, as l understand, because your
new lodger remains in his room and
you cannot see him. Why, bless you,
Mrs. Warren, IL l were your ledger
you often would not see me for weeks
on end"
mo doubt, sir; but this is different.
1t frightens me, Mr.. Holmes. l can
sleep for fright. To hear his quick
step moving here and moving there
from early morning to late at night,
and yet never to catch SO much as a
glimpse Of limits more than / can
stand. My husband is as nervous over
it as l am, but he is out at his work
adj day, while l get no rest from it.
What is he hiding for? What has he
! done? Except for the girl, l am all
alone in the house with him, and it's
more than my nerves can stand"
Holmes leaned forward and laid his
long, thin fingers upon the woman's
shoulder. He had an almost hypnotic
power of soothing when he wished.
The scared look faded from her eyes,
and her agitated features smoothed
into their usual commonplace. She
sat down In the chair which he had
indicated.
"If l take 1t up I must understand
every detail" said he. Take time to
consider. The smallest point may be
the most essential. You say that the
man came ten days ago, and paid you
for a fortnight's board and lodging?"
"He asked my terms, sir. l said
fifty shillings a week. There is a
small sitting-room and bedroom, and
all complete, at the top Of the house."
"Well?"
"He said, I'll pay you five pounds a
week If l can have it or my own
terms I'm a poor woman, sir, and
Mr.. Warren earns little, and the mon
ey meant much to me. He took out
a ten-pound note, and he held 1t out
to me then and there. You can have
the same every fortnight for a long
time to come if you keep the TERMS
he said. If not, I'll save no more to
do with you"
What were the terms?"
"Well, sir, they were that he was
to have a key of the house. That was
all right. Lodgers often have them.
Also, that he was to be left entirely
to himself, and never. upon n ex-
cuse, to be disturbed"
Nothing very wonderful in that,
surely?"
mot in reason, sir. But this Is out
Of all reason. He has been there for
ten days, and neither Mr.. Warren nor
/ mol the girl has once get eyes upon
him. We can hear that quick step
Of his pacing up and down, up and
down, night, morning and noon; but
except on that first night he has never
once gone out Of the house"
ooh, he went out the first night,
did he?"
Yes, sir, and returned very late
after we were all in bed. He told me
after he had taken the rooms that he
would do so, and asked me not to
bar the door. l heard him come up
the stair after midnight"
but his meals?"
1T was his particular direction that
we should always, when he rang.
leave his meal upon a chair outside
his door. Then he rings again when
he has finished, and we take it
down from the same chair. II he
wants anything else he prints 1t on
a slip Of paper and leaves it."
prints it?"
"Yes, sir; prints 1t in pencil. Just
the word, nothing more Here's one
l brought to show you-SOAP. Here's
another-MATCH. This Is one hA