The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-17

MS StOrIeS wrong emu foremost. PleaSe
arrange your thoughts and let me know
in their due sequence exactly what those
events are which have sent you out
unbrushed and unkempt, with dress
boots and waistcoat buttoned awry, in
search of advice and assistance"
our client looked down with a rueful
face at his own unconventional appear
ance.
I'm sure II must look very bad, Mr..
Holmes, and I am not aware that In
my whole life such thing has ever
happened ,efore But I will tell you
the whole queer business and when
| have done so you will admit. I am
sure. that there has been enough to
excuse me-"
But his narrative was nipped in the
bud. There was hustle outside and
Mrs. Hudson opened the door to usher
in two robust and official looking in
dividuals, one of whom was well known
to us as Inspector Gregson of Scotland
Yard. an energetic, gallant and. within
his limitations, a capable officer. He
shook hands with Holmes and intro
duced his comrade as Inspector Baynes
Of the Surrey constabulary.
I'VE are hunting together, Mr..
Holmes. and our trail lay in this direc-
ton" lie turned his bulldog eyes upon
our visitor: Are you Mr.. John Scott
IIccles Of Popham House, Lee?"
II am"
I'VE have been following you about
all the morning"
"You traced him through the tele-
gram. no doubt" said Holmes. .
Exactly. Mr.. Holmes. We picked up
the scent at Charng Cross post office
and came on here"
But why do you follow me? What
do you want?"
I'VE wish a statement. Mr.. Scott Ec-
cles. as to the events which led up to
the death last night of Aloysius Garcia
Of Wisteria Lodge, near Esher."
our client sat up with staring eyes
and every tinge of color struck from
his astonished face.
Dead? Did you say he was dead?"
Eyes. sir he is dead"
"But how? An accident"
Murder, II ever there was one upon
earth"
Good God, This Is awful, You
don't mean--you don't mean that / am
suspected?"
"A letter Of yours was found in the
dead mans pocket. and we know by it
that you had planned to pass last night
nj his house"
80 l did"
oh you did. did you?" Out came
the official notebook.
"Wait a bit, Gregson," said Sherlock
Holmes. "All you desire is plain state
ment, is it not?"
And it Is my duty to warn Mr.. Scott
Eccles that it may be used against
him.
Mr.. Eccles was about to tell us about
it when you entered the room. l think
| Watson, "A brandy and soda would dc
| him no harm. Now. sir. / suggest that
YOU take no notice of this addition IL
your audience and that you proceed with
your narrative exactly as you would
have done had you never been inter-
rupted."
Our visitor had gulped off the brandy
and the color had returned to his face
With a dubious glance at the inspector :
| notebook he plunged at once into his
| extraordinary statement.
II am n bachelor" said he, "and be-
| ing OF a sociable turn, cultivate large
| number of friends. Among these are
| the family of n retired brewer. called
Melville, living at Albemarle Mansion
kensington. 1t was at his table that
| met, some weeks ago. IA young fellow
| named Garcia. He was. l understood
Of Spanish descent and connected in
some way with the embassy. He spoke
perfect English, was pleasing in his
| manners and as good looking a man as
ever l saw in my life.
I'm some way we struck up quite a
| friendship, this young fellow and l. He
| seemed to take a fancy to me from the
| first. and within two days of our meet
| Ing he came to see me at Lee. One
thing led to another. and 1t ended in his
inviting me out to spend a few days al
his house, Wisteria Lodge. between
Esher and Oxshott. Yesterday evening
I went to Esher to fulfil this engage
ment.
He had described his household to me
before l went there. He lived with a
faithful servant. cOuntryman of his
own. who looked after all his meals
This fellow could speak English and did
| his housekeeping for him. Then there
was a wonderful cook, he said, half
breed. whom he had picked up in his
| travels. who could serve an excellent
dinner. remember that he remarked
| what a queer household ID was to find
| in the heart Of Surrey, and that / agreed