The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-07

professional round. But / shall come
back in the evening at the hour you
have mentioned, for / should like to
ness"
Very glad to see you. dine al
seven. There Is woodcock, | believe.
By-the-way. in view of recent occur
rences, perhaps l ought to ask Mrs.
Hudson to examine its crop"
had been delayed at a case. and it
was a little after half-past six when |
found myself in Baker Street once
more. AS l approached the house l
saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet
with a coat which was buttoned up to
his chin, waiting outside in the bright
semicircle which was thrown from the
fanlight- Just as l arrived, the door
was opened, and we were shown up
together to Holiness room.
"Mr. Henry Baker, l believe" said
he, rising from his armchair, and
greeting his visitor with the easy air
of geniality which he could SO readily
assume. pray take this chair by the
fire, Mr.. Baker. 1t is a cold night, and
| observe that your circulation is more
adapted for summer than for winter.
All, Watson, you have just come at
the right time. Is that your hat, Mr..
Baker,"
yes, sir; that is undoubtedly my
hat"
He was large man, with rounded
shoulders, a massive head. and a
broad, intelligent face, sloping down
to pointed beard of grizZled brown
A touch of red in nose and cheeks
with a slight tremor of his extended
hand, recalled Holiness surmise as to
| his habits. His rusty black frock-coat
was buttoned right up in front, with
| the collar turned up, and his lanI
wrists protruded from his sleeves with
| out sign or cuff or shirt He spoke
| in a slow staccato fashion, choosing
! his words with care, and gave the i'm
/ preston generally of a man of learn
| ing and letters who had ill-usage al
| the hands of fortune
I'VE have retained these things fol
some days" said Holmes, because we
| expected to see an advertisement from
| you giving your address. | am at 6
loss to know now why you did not
| advertise"
Our visitor gave rather shame
/ faced laugh. "Shillings have not beer
so plentiful with me as they once
were" he remarked Il had no doub
that the gang of roughs who assaulted
me had carried off both my hat ant
the bird. did not care to spend more
money in hopeless attempt at recov
ering them"
/ Very naturally. By-the-way, abou
the bird, we were compelled to eat It.
ITO eat it," Our visitor half ross
from his chair in his excitement.
Yes; it would have been of no US,
to any one had we not done so. Blu
l presume that this other goose upol
the sideboard, which is the sam
weight and perfectly fresh, will ans
wer your purpose equally well?"
"Oh. certainly. certainly" answered
Mr.. Baker, with a sigh of relief.
"Of course, we still have the featt
ers, legs. crop, and so on of your owl
: bird, SO if you wish
The man burst into a hearty laugh
They might be useful to me as relic
of my adventure said he, but be
, yond that | can hardly see what us
the disjecta membra of my late az
Il quaintance are going to be to me. NJ
. sir, think that, with your permission
| will conflne my attention to the e.
cellent bird which perceive upon tn
, sideboard.'
Sherlock Holmes glanced sharpl
, across at me with slight shrug of hi
shoulders.
There is your hat, then, and ther
your bird" said he. 'By-thewa.
would it bore you to tell me wher
: you got the other one from? l al