The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-21

It was some time before the health of my friend, MT. Sherlock Holmes, recovered from the strain caused by his immense eXeruonS in the spring Of 'S7. The whole question of the Netherlands Company and of the colossal schemes of Baron Mau- pertuiS are too recent in the minds of the public, and are too intimately concerned with politics and finance ito be fitting subjects for this series of sketches. They led, however, in an idirect fashion to a singular and com pIex problem which gave my friend an opportunity of demonstrating the value of a fresh weapon among the many with which he waged his life long battle against crime
 On referring to my notes see that it was upon the 14th of April that which informed me that Holmes was lying i'll in the Hotel Dulong- Within 2f hours l was in his Sickroon, ana was relieved to find that there was nothing formidable in his symptoms. Even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain or an investigation which had extended over two months, during which perlod he had never worked less than fifteen hours a day, and had more than once, as he assured me, kept to hlS task Tor five days at stretch. Even the trl- unphant issue of his laborS could not save him from reaction after so terri ble an exertion, and at time when Europe was ringing with his name
  kIe-leep with 'congratulatory te!e- grams I found him 0 prey to the blackeSt depression. EveT the know eldge that he had succeeded where and that he had out-nanoeuvred at every point the most accomplished swindter of Europe, was insufficient to rouse him from his nervous pros tration.
 Three days later we were back in ! Baker Street together: but it was evl- dent that my friend would be much the better for change, and the thought of a week of spring time in the country was full of attraction to me aLso. My old friend, Colonel Hay ter, who had come under my profes- SicnaI care in AfghaniStan, had now taken a. house near Reigate in Surrey, and had frequently asked me to come down to him upon a visit on the last occasion he had remarked that if my friend would only come with me he would be glad to extend his hospitality to him also. A little diplo- macy was needed, but when Holmes understood that the esstab4lshment was a bachelor one, and that he would 1 be altfowed the fullest freedom, he ; fell in with my plans and a. week at- ter our return from Lyons we were under the CofoneIS roof Hayter was a fine old soldier who had seen much I of the world. and fre soon found, as had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common
 On The evenine. of our arrival we
  were sitting in the Co1onefs gunroom after dinner, Holmes stretched upon the sofa, while Hayter and l looked over his little armory of Eastern weapons
 trBy the way,s' said he suddenly, "E i think I'll take one of these pistols upstairs with me in case we have an 1 alarm.''
 stAn alarm." said I.
 l 'tYes. we've had a scare in this part i lately. Old Acton, who is one of our i county magnates, had his house 1 broken into last Monday No great | damage done. but the fellows are
 ''No clue2'' asked Holmes, cooking his eye at the Colonel
 ! ''NJone as yet But the affair is a i petty one, one of our little country | crimes. which must seem too small ! for your attention, MT. Holmes, after ] this great international affair.". Holmes waved away the comph- i ment. though his smile showed that it l had pleased him.
 est?"
 i sacked the library and got very little for their pains The whole place i was turned upsided own, drawers . burst open. and presses ransacked, i with the result that an odd volume ! of Pope's Homer two plated candle i sticks, an ivory 1etterweight, a small  ! are all that have vanished"
 seWhat an extraordinary assort- i ment," I exclaimed. 1 'sOh, the fellows evidently grabbed i hold of everything they could get" Holmes grunted from the sofa.
 .sThe county police ought to make 1 something of that" said he; why, ii ! is surely obvious that-
 But held up a warning finger; fal1 Heavens L ! started on a new problem when your /: nerves are all in shreds." , Holmes shrugged his shoulders with rlance of comic resignation toward ! tbe Colonel and the talk drifted away : into less dangerous channels. It was destined however, that all : my professional caution should De [ wasted. for next morning the pronler , obtruded itself upon us in such way , which neither of us could have an , ticipated. We were at breakfast Wher and our country visit took a turr that it was impossible to ignore 1t the Co1oneI's butler rushed in witt all his propriety shaken out of him Have you heard the news sir? ht gaspeod At the Cunningham s l siri" - his coffee-cup in mid-alr
 Murder!
 The Colonel whistled. By Jove!' said he. 'sWho's killed, then? Tn J. F. or his son?"
 "Neither, sir. It was William, tn
 coachman. Shot through the heart
 sir, and never spoke again.
 '~who shot him, then?''
 'rThe burglar, sir. He was off lik'
 a shot and got clean away. He'd Jus
 broke in at the pantry window Whe1
 William came on him and met his ent
 in saving his masters property"
 "'what time?"
 "It was last night, sir, somewher'
 about twelve"
 "Ah, then, we'll step over after
 wards said the Colonel coolly set
 ting down to his breakfast again
 Its bad-dish business" he added
 when the butler had gone; Ines ou
 leading man about here, is old Gun
 ningham, and a very decent fellow
 toe. Ee'll be cut up over this, fo
 the man has been in his service fo
 years and was a good servant. It
 evidently the same villains who brok
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