The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-17

 Efrom whom I purchased it,had aoone time an excellent general practice; Ebut his age, and an affHction of the natn,e of ra st. Vit1s,s aa dance arS a,snh froI, Ethinned it. The public not unnat- k urally goes on the principle that he who would heal others must himself B be whole, and looks askance at the Ecurative powers of the man whose B own case is beyond the reach of his B drugs. Thus as my predecessor weakened his practice declined. until ! when purchased it from him it had t sunk from twelve hundred to little [ more than three hundred a year. ] Eh had confidence, however. in my own k youth and energy. and was conv1nceo that in a very few years the concern would be as f1ouriShing as ever. For three mo dnths after taking over the practice I was kept very closely { at work, and saw little of my friend Sherlock Holmes, for was too busy to visit Baker Street and he seldom 7 went anywhere himself save upon i professional business I was sur prised, therefore, when, one morn ; ing in June, as I sat reading the Brit ish Medical Journal after breakfast, IT heard a ring at the bell, followed 1 by the high, somewhat strldent tones of my old companions voice. i "Ah, my dear Watson said he, 1 striding into the room, 'I am very delighted to see you. I trust that Mrs. Watson is we'll"
  we'll" said I, shaking him warmly by the hand.
 And I hope. also," he continued, sitting down in the rocklng-chalr, i have not entirely obliterated the in terest which you used to take in our 1 little detective problems"
 "On the contrary I answered, 'lt was only last night that l was look l ing over my old notes, and classify ing some of our past results
 'tI trust that you don't consider your collection closed"
 Mot at all. I should wish noth- ing better than to have some more of such experiences"
 stToday, for example,?
 'Yes, today, if you like" "And as far off as Birmingham ?''
 Certainly, if you wish ii" "And the practice?"
 'I do my neighbours when he goes. He is always ready to work off the 1 debt"
 "Ha. nothing could be better" ssaid Holmes, leaning back in his chair Eand looking keenly at me from under ahis half-closed lids. I perceive sthat you have been unwell lately s Summer colds are always a little try ing"
 severe chill for three days last week fl I thought, however, that had cast off every trace of it
 "So you have,,-- You look remark ably robust
 "How. then. did you know of it?'"'
 .'My dear fellow, you know my i methods
 "You deduced it, then " - 'Certainly.'
 n And from what?''
 etFrom your slippers. glanced down at the new patent feathers which I was wearing. HOW i on earth-'' I began, but Holmes an swered my question before 1t was asked.
 
 t.You could not have had them more fthan few weeks The soleS which you are at this moment presenting : to me are slightly scorched. For a moment I thought they might have got wet and been burned in the dry ing But near the instep there is a small circular wafer of paper with 1.-the shopman's hieroglyphics upon 1t. ed 1his. You had, then, been sitting with your feet outstretched to the ! fire, which man would hardly do , even in so wet a June as this if he were in his full health" -~ Like all Holiness reasoning the thing seemed simplicity itself when it was once explained. He read the thought upon my features and his smile had a tinge of bitterness.
 "I am afraid that I rather give myself away when I explain said he. Results without causes are much more impressive. You are ;ready to come to Birmingham, then ''
 .'CertainIy What is the case
 "You shall hear it all in the train My client is outside in a four-wheel- CT. Can you come at once?"
 '1n an instant I scrubbed mate q to my neighbor. rushed upstairs tC { explain the matter to my wife, and
 "You neighbor is doctor,' said ] he, nodding at the brass plate. ''Yes; he bought a practice as ii did"
 ' ssA, ola fa sb;ope5 o0a9r,
 "Just the same as mine Botf have been ever since the houses were
 'Ahl then you got hold of the bes'
 q slaiak did. But how do you know?'
 :. eBy the steps. my boy. Yours arc worn three inches deeper than his ! But this gentleman in the cab is m1 client, MT. Hall Pycroft. Allow me to introduce you to him. Whip youl just time to catch our train.' The man whom I found myself tfacing was a wel1-built, fresh-com !.pIexioned young fellow, with a frank low moustache. He wore a yer! shiny top hat and a neat suit of so Eber black, which made him look wha he was-a smart young City man; O i cockneys, but who give us our cracl volunteer regiments. and who tur1 out more fine athletes and sports men than any body of men in thes islands. His round, ruddy face wa naturally full of cheeriness, but tn corners of his mouth seemed to m to be pulled down in. a half-comica distress It was not, however, un til we were all in a frst-class car riage and we'll started upon ou Journey to Birmingham that I wa able to learn what the trouble wa which had driven him to Sherlocl Holmes.
 sn .sWe have a clear run here of sev enty minutes" Holmes remarked. '' want you, MT. Hall Pycroft, to tel my friend your very interesting ex perience exactly as you have told to me- or with more detail if possible