The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-28
PART ONE.

When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases i between the years 'S2 and go. I am
 faced by so many which present
 strange and interesting features that ! 1t is no easy matter to know which ;. to choose and which to leave. Some, ttsSowever. have already gained public etty through the papers, and others have not offered (. field for those pe- iculiar qualities which my friend pos- sessed in so high 0 degree, and which | 1t Is the object of these papers to H. Illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his analytical skill. and would be, as mar ratives, beginnings without an ending while others have been but partially 7; Cleared up, and have their expiana- iitions founded rather upon conjecture
 and surmise than on that absolute ' logical proof which was so dear to ] htn. There is, however, one of these ] last which was so remarkable in It's details and so startling in It's results that am tempted to give some ac- [ count of 1t in spite of the fact that ! there are points in connection with 1t i never will be. entirely cleared up.
 The year 'S7 furnished us with a llcng series Of cases Of greater or less .1nterest, of which retain the records. 2 Among my headings under this one twelve months I find an account of sthe adventure of the Pnradoi cham si Der, of the Amateur Mendicant So- :. ciety, who held G luxurious club in the flower vault of a furniture warehouse, Of the facts connected with the loss of , the British bark Sopf1y Andersen, of ! Patersons in the island of Uffa, and sfinaiiy of the CaTnberwell poisoning Lease. In tf1e latter, as may be renlem- Sbered, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead mans watch, to sproye that 1t had been wound up two hours before, and that therefore the deceased had gone which was or the Ereafest importance in clearing up | %1,e II sketch at some future date, but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances wh1ch [ have now taken up my pen to oe- scribe.
 t was in the latter days of Sep tennber, and the equinocua1 gales had set, in with exceptional violence. Al sday the wind had screamed and the ftaisi had beaten against the windows. I1o that even here in the heart or serxa1, Handmade London we were forced to raise our minds for the in stant from the routine Of life, and to ssscognize the presence of those great haemsnta1 forces which shriek at ln1hnk1nd through the bars Of his CIV iiizatior, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind icried and scbbed like a child in the ssc4cirney. Sherlock Holmes sat rnoon- lily at one side Of the fireplace cross iindexing his records of crime, while IT at the other WAS deep Tn one CT Clark Russeirs fine sea.stofies, 9nrit seem ed to blend with tt$e text, e3nd the splash of the raln to tengthen out into the long swEsh of the sea. waves. erss. and for few days I wss a dwelTer cnca more In my old quarters at Baker Street.
 '.Why." said I. Esancing up at ray ,co-npanion. "thet was surely the beiL Who could oonas tonight? Some friend of yours, per2apa
 rExcept yourself have none ne answered. '.I do not encourage vis- ators-'
 "A client, then?'
 "If so. It is a serious case Moth irg less would bring Q, man cut on such e day. and at such esn hour. But I take it that it is rlors likely to be some cronSr oe ths landledy's."
 Sherlock Holmes was wrong in f1s conjecture, however, fer there cane a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He stretched out ms long arm to turn the ls1ap- away rom himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must Sit- s.Ccu1e inI'' said he.
 The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the outsloe' weii-grooned and trimly ciac, Waon nls[l in his bearing. The streaming u1n- sbrella which he held in his hand, ana fis long shining waterproof told ot xhe ferce weather through which he had come. He looked about him sansiousIy in the glare of the lamp, land I could see that his face was Spale and his eyes heavy, like those of. a man who is we1sheo uo"h "a'h .sorne great anxiety.
 is IT owe you an epoloSy, he sald, sfadsing his golden plnCenez Io i,ls ifruding. I fear that I have brought ssrnrnr traces of the storm and ram 4nto your snug chamber.
 'tGive me your coat and umoreia' ,eaid Holmes. ''They may rest nete on the hook, and will be dry present ffy. You have come up irohi Ihe fsouthwest, I see.
 tsYes. from Horsham.
 .eThat clay and chalk mixture uufte distinctive
 srThat is easily got.
 @ "I have come for advice" ~That is easily got.
 ."That Is not always so easy
 ~"I have heard of you, Mir. Holmes. If heard from Major Prendergast nov nov tVou saved him in the TankerVlhe tClub Scandal" : fully accused of cheating at cards. .sHe said that you could solve any thing."
 s .sThat you are never beaten. s e'I have been beaten four umes- sthree times by. men, and once oy woman." ,,-;.I, 4he number of your successes?" SF ssIt is true that I have been Sener- skily successful"
 f ssThen you may be so with me
 "T beg that you will draw your schair up to the fire. and favor me Erxr;tT, some details as to your case.
 ssIt is no ordinary one.
 s.None of those which come to me
 am the last court of appeal"
 "And yet I question. sir, whether, lin all your experience, you have ever Nlistened to a. more mysterious and m favnJicabIe chain of events than those sSrhich have happened in my own fam lily" ...,, e.ia sHoznnes ''Pray give us the essential EF.e,+s f,-or,o the conmencement, and l sran afterwards question you as to f* *Josa d details which seem to me to be