The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-07-26
Copyright. 1921, by

had called upon my friend, MT
 Sherlock Holmes, one day in tn,
 autumn Of last year, and found hin / in conversation with a very stout
 florid-faced, elderly gentleman, witE
 fiery red hair. With apology fol
 my intrusion, I was about to with
 draw, when Holmes pulled me ab.
 ruptly into the room and closed the
 door behind me.
 You could not possibly have come
 at better time, my dear Watson
 tI was afraid that you were en-
 gased.''
 .so I am. Very much SOL
 Then l can wait in the next
 room.'
 ''Not at all. This gentleman. MT
 Wilson, has been my partner and
 helper in many of my most success fuI cases, and I have no doubt that
 ne Will be of the utmost use to me in yours a1so.'
 The stout gentleman haff-rose rom his chair, and gave a bob of greeting, with quick little, ques- llonlng glance from his small, fat
 Try the settee," said Holmes. re- lapslng into his armchair and put tlng his ffnger-tips together, as was
 know my dear Watson. that won share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and nun H1umdTum routine of everyday life.
 
 by the enthusiasm which has prom nt- ed you to chronicle, and. if you- will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish many of my own Iitt1e adventures
 Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me-" I ob-
 You will remember that I re- marked the other day, just before we went into the very simple nrob- lem presented by Miss Mary Suth- eriand' that for strange effects and eNtraord1nary combinations we must go to life itself, which is always lar lar more daring than any effort of the imagina :ion."
 A proposition which took +be liberty of doubt:ng"
 You did, doctor, but none the less you must come round to my view. f TOT otherwise I shall keep on piling Tact upon fact on you, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to he right. Now. MT Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me tbis which promises to be one of tbe most singular which I have listened NO TOT some time. You have heard most unique things are very often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes; and occs .sn'I Sionaliy, indeed; where there is room TOT doubt whether any positive crime has been committed As far as heve heard it is innossih1a For me to say whether the present case | Ine course of events is certainly | among the most singular that have ever listened to.
 Perhaps MT. Wilson, you would nave the great kindness to recom- imence your narrative. I ask vo11 nn+ i'1lereIy because my friend Dr. Watson mas not heard the opening part. h1It ,aLso because the peculiar nature of mo every possible detail from your fins AS a rule, when have heard some slight indication of the course of 6w Iyeh's th am able to guide myself eases which occur to my memory Tn me I present instance I am forced to of my belief. unique"
 The .portly client puffed ont bis SneSt with an appearance of some httle pride, and pulled a dirty and @ WrlnkIed newspaper from the inside pocket of his great-coat As he. glanced down the advertisement co1- umn with his head thrust forward ana the paper flattened out upon his hnee' l took a good look at the man, and endeavored after the fashion of my companion, to read the indica- tons which might be presented bv ms dress Or appearance.
 aid not gain very much, how ever, by my inspection. Our visitor bore every mark of being an aver age commonplace British trades man, obese, pompous, and slow, | He wore rather baggy, gray shep- herds checks trousers, a not over clean black frock-coat, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain, and : Hing down as an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wrinkled velvet collar lay up on chair beside him. Altogether, f sI remarkable about the man save his , blazing red head and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features
 Sherlock HolmeSs quick eve took : in my occupation, and he shook his head with a smile as he noticed my z giances. Beyond the 2 obvious facts that he has at some : time done manual labor that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, 7 that he has been in China, and that , he has done a considerable amount ' of writing lately, I can deduce noth- ' ing elSe.'' ! MT. Jabez Wilson started up in ! his chair, with his forefinger upon z the paper, but his eyes upon my ( < How, in the name of good-fortune . lid you know that, MT. Holmes?" he asked How did you know, for ex- I rue as gospel, for began as a ships | Your hands, my dear sir Your . tight hand is quite a size larger than | n Lour left You have worked with I t and the muscles are more deveIon- ', ,d-" W " :, Well, the snuff, then. and the r II ''I won't insult your inteIIigence bv h cling you how I read that, especially fl IS rather against the strict rules of " 'our order, you use an arc-and-com- VI pass breaastpin.'' VI "A of cOIJrSo he writing?"
 What else can be indicated by V nat right cluff so very shiny for five h nches. and the left one with the s, mooth patch near the elbow where 1y -ou rest it upon your desk' f, Well, but China ?" -
 The fish that you have tattooed s nmediately above your right wrist a .OUl0 OrllN hc,n Ei -