The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-12
TODAY'S ENT


 TODAY'S INSTAL4MENT A professional case of great gray ity was engaging my own attention at the time, and the whole of the next day I was busy at the bedside of the suffere. It was not until close upon 6 o'clock that I found myself free, and was able to spring into a hanson and drive to Baker street, half afraid that might be too late little mystery. I found Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell of hydrochloric acid, told me that he. had spent his day in the chemical work which was so dear Well, have you solved it D ask ed as I entered.
 "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta.''
 NO, no, the mystery" I cried.
 "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. There was never any mystery in the mat ter, though, as said yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback is that there is no law that touch the scoundrel." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Suther- land?"
 The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet opened his lips to reply. when we heard heavy footfa11 in the passage and a tap at the door.
 This is the girls stepfather, MT. James Windibank,' said Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at 6. Come imp
 The man who entered was sturdy. middle-sized fellow, some 30 years of clean ShaVen. with a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of woderfully sharp and penetrating gray eyes. He shot a ques- tioning glance at each of us, placed his shiny top hat upon the sideboard and with a slight blow sidled down in the nearest chair.
 Good evening, Mr. James 19s Windi. i. this typewriter letter is from you, in which you made an appointment with me for 6 o'clock"
 "Yes, sir. am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland has troubled you about this little matter. for I think it is far better not to wash lin of the sort in public. It was quite against my wishes that she came, but she is avery exciteable, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed and she is not easily controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course I did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the official police, but it is not pleas this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless expense for how could. you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?"
 ''On the contrary" said Holmes, quietly, "I have every reason to be- lieve that I will succeed in discov- ering MT. Hosmer Angel"
 MT. Windibank gave a violent start, and dropped his gloves. q am de- lighted to hear it, he said.
 "It is a curious thing" remarked Holmes, that a typewriter has really quite much Individuality as a mans handwriting. Unless they are quite new. no two of them write. exactly alike. Some letter get more worn than others and some wear only on one side. Now. you remark in this note of yours, MT. Windibank. that in every case there is some little slurrins over of the. e. and slight defect in the tail of the IT. There are four teen other characteristics, but those are the more obvious.
 "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office. and nc doubt it is a litte1 worn," our visitor answered, glancing keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes.
 And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, MT Windibank, Holmes continued. - think of writing another little mono graph some of these days on the type
  is a subject to which I have devoted some little attention. I have her' four letters which purport to com' from the missing man. They are al typewriter. In each case, not on1, are the 'es sIurred and the IT'S tail less, but you will observe, if you car' to use my magnifying lens, that tn fourteen other characteristics t, which I have alluded are there a we'll"
 MT Windibank sprang out of hi chair and picked up his hat. I can not waste. time over this sort of fan tastic talk, Mrs. Holmes.' he said. "I you can catch the man, catch him and let me know when you hay done it."
 .'Certainly," said Holmes, steppin over and turning the key in the dooi 'I let you know, then, that I hay caught him!"
 What! where?" shouted Mr. Win dibank, turning white to his lips, an glancing about him like a rat in trap.
 "Oh, it won't do-rea1ly it won't said Holmes, suavly. There is n possible getting out of it, Mir. Wind bank. 'It is quite too transparent, an 1t was very bad compliment whe you said that it was impossible fo naA to solve to simple a question