The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-03-01

Again Holmes raved in the air. Why did you come to nne?" he said; and, above all, why did you not come at once?"
 that spoke to Major Prendergast about my troubles. and was advised by him to come to you" Tt is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted be- fore this. You have no further evil dence, suppose, than that which you have placed before uS-no suggestive detail which might help us?'' There is one thing said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat pocket, and drawing out a piece of discolored, blue-tinted paper, he laid 1t out upon the table. "I have some day when my uncle burned the papers observed that the small, unburned margafns which lay amid the ashes were of this particular color. I found this single sheet upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, futtered out from among the others, and in that way have escaped destruction. Beyond the mention of pipS, I do not see that it helps us much. I think myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is undoubtedly my unc1e's."
 Holmes moved the lamp, and we
 
 which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a book. It was headed, March, 1S69." and beneath were the following enigmat-
 "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform.
 ''7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore and John Swain, of St. Augustine.
 ''9th. McCauley cleared.
 10th. John Swain cleared.
 '12th. Visited Paramore. All well.''
 Thank youi" said Holmes, folding up the paper. and returning it to our visitor. And now you must on no account lose another instant. We can not spare time even to discuss what you have told me. You must get home instantly and act.'
 What shall I dc?'
 "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once- You must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass box which you have described. You must also put in a, note to say that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that this is the only one which remains You must assert that in such words as will carry conviction must at once put the box out upon the sundial, asc directed. Do you un- derstand 2"
 Entirely
 
 thing of the sort, at present. think we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the guilty par ties.''
 q thank you," said the young man, rising, and pulling on his over coat You have given me fresh life and hope. l shall certainly do as you advise.''
 above all, take care of yourself in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that you are threatened by a very real and immin-
 By train from Waterloo"
 ''It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you may be in safety. And yet you can not guard yourself too closely"
 "'I am armed"
 "That is well. Tomorrow I shall set to work upon your case.
 'I shall see you at Horsham, then?'
 No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek it.''
 ''Then I shall call upon you in day, or in two days, with news as to the box and the papers. shall take your advice in every paicular." He shook hands with us, and took his leave. Outside the wind still screamed, and the rain splashed and battered against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to us from amid the mad ele- ments-blown in upon us like sheet of sea-weed in ga1e-and now to have been reapsorbed by them once more.
 Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling.
 ''I think, Watson,'' he remarked at last. that of all our cases we nave had none more fanastic than this John Openshaw seems to me to be walking amid great perils,
 But have you" I asked. 'forme ed any definite conception as to what these perils are? ?'
 '.There can be no question as to their nature,'' he answered.
 ''Then what are they? Who IS this K K. K, and why does he pursue this unhappy family?"
 Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips to- gether. "The ideal reasoner.' he re- marked, would, when he had once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all it. but also all the results which would follow from it. As Cuvier could cor rectly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly und erstood one link ine a series of in cidents should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baf- fled all those who have sought a so- l lution by the aid of their senses To | carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the req soner should be able to utilize all the facts which have come to his knowl- edge; and this in itself implies, as YOU will readily see a possession of all Knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclo- ] paedies, is a somewhat rare accom- l pIishment. 1t is not so impossible, | however, that a man should possess l alI l.1nnz-ledsa which is likely to be