The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-15

coat was outtoned rlght up III Iron1 lank wrists protruded from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a slow staccato care, and gave the impression gen era.lly of 8 man of learning and let trs who had had iIl-usage at the hands of fortune
 some days said Holns, because we expected to see an a,dvertisenant from you giving your address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not
 Our visitor gave another shame faced laugh. ''Shi1ings have not been ] SS1,,,I so pienIlful se s with me as they oncs GeuSt thst he tba san oe arh had wo no assaulted me had carried off both my | hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a hopeless at tempt at recovering thena.''
 Very naturally. Byltlhe-way, about the bird, we were compelled to eat from his chair in hfs excitement
 ''Yes, 1t would haze been of no use to any one had we not done so. But l presume that this other. goose upon weight and perfectly fresh, will an- l swer your purpose equally well ?''
 "Oh, certainly, certainly, answered MT. Baker, with g, sigh of relief. oI COuTSS, we fSI1tE nave the I0dLn- ers legs, crop, and so on of your own bird, so if you wish" | The man burst into a hearty laugh. ''They might be useful to me as rel lcs of my adventure" said he. Out use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are going to, be to me ] No, sir, think that, with your per mission, I will confine my attentions CeiVe upon the SidebOard." | Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply
 across at me with a slight shrug of
 his shoulders
 your hsfs ssa is yoa sa hat hs then and there would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one from? I am something of fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a better grown goose"
 Certainly. sir,'' said Baker. who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm. There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha Inn,' near the Museum we are to be found in the Museum building during the day, you under stand; M1a d o.o T This year our good host,
 Windigatn Wind ate by name instituted | tIon of some few pence every week, we were each to receive bird at
 Christmas. My pence were duly i paid, and the rest is familair to you
 I am much indebted to you, sir, for Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my
 years nor my gravity With a. com
 ical pomposity of manner he bowed | solemnly to both of us and Strode off
 upon his way.
 ''So much for MT. Henry Baker,
 said Holmes, when he had closed the
 door. behind him. ''It. is quite cer-
 tain that he knows nothing whatever
 about the matter. Are you hungry, | Watson ?''
 Not particular1y''
 Then I suggest that we turn our
 dinner into a supper, and follow up
 this clew while it is still hot l By all means.''
 It was bitter night, so we drew
 on our ulsters and wrapped cravats
 about our tihroats Outside, the stars sky, and the breath of the passers-
 by blew out into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our foofalls rang out
 crisp1y and loudly as We swung pole Street, Harley Street, and so , through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn" which is a small public-housse , at the corner of one of the streets which runs down into Holborn Holmes pushed upon the door of the } private bar, and ordered two glasses
 of beer from the ruddy-faced, white aproned landlord.
 Your beer should be excellent ii f it is as good your geese,' said he
 My geese!'' The man seemed , surprisd. 'Yes. I was speaking only half ar hour ago to MT. Henry Baker, whe was a member of your goose club"
 ''Ah, yes, see. But you. see, sir ' them's mot our geese.' Indeed! Whose, then ?'' 5 $ Well, l got the two dozen from 2 7 7 salesman sefsra in CoTent Garden" v Which was slt?'' n ''Breckinridge is his name.'
 "Ah! I don't know him. We'll
 here's good health, landlord, ane t prosperity to your house. Good = night?"
 .'Now for MT. Breckinridge,' h, y continued, buttoning up his coat, a. - we came out into the frosty air t .'emember, Watson, that though ", s have so homely a. thing as goose a 1t one end of this chain, we have at tn = other a man who will certainly ge V seven years penal servitude un1es 1T we can establish his innocence. It i
 possible that our inquiry may bu il confirm his guilt: but, in any case
 we have a little line of investigatio,
 which has been missed by the police " and which singular chance ha placed in our hands. Let us folio, e it out to the bitter end. Faces to tn n south, then, and quick march, U We passed across Holborn, dow l. Endell Street, and so through a zig
 gag of slums to Covent Garden Mar U llet- One of the largest stalls bor e. the name of Breckinridge upon i r. and the proprietor, horsey-Eookin s. man, with a sharp face and trir
 side-whiskers, was heipin a boy t it put up the shutters.
 I ''CHood-evening. It's a cold night t, ;e said Holmes.
 I The salesman nodded, and shot ct questioning glance at my companion ID ''Sold out the geese, I see," contir le led Holmes, pointing at the bar -, slabs of marble. q Let you have 800 tomorrow morn re ing"
 y, That's no good.''
 i5 Well, there are some on the sta ~ ~ with the gas f1are.''
 i. "Ah, but I was recommended I tI tI you"
 u t'Who by?''
 oy t'The landlord of the Alpha It, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple IS dozen.'
 or Fine birds they were, too. No