The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-02
PART ON z.

work for the year 1894. I confess thar
it is very difficult for me. out of such
wealth of material to select the
cases which are most interesting in
themselves, and at the same time most
conducive to a display of those pecu-
liar powers for which my friend was
famous. AS l turn over the pages,
see NY notes upon the repulsive story
of the red leech and the terrible death
of Crosby, the banker. Here, also, l
find an account of the Addiction TRACE
dy, and the singular contents of the
ancient British barrow. The famous
Smith Mortimer succession case comes
also within this period, and so does
the tracking and arrest of Huret, the
Boulevard aSsaSsin-an exploit which
won for Holmes an autograph letter
of thanks from the French President
and the Order of the Legion of Honor.
Each of these would furnish a nara
tive. but on the whole, | am of the
opinion that none of them unites so
many singular points of interest as
the episode of Yoxley Old Place, which
includes not only the lamentable death
of young Willoughby Smith, but also
! the subsequent developments which
threw so curious a light upon the
! causes of the crime.
1t was wild tempestuous night,
towards the close of Nov ember.
Holmes and l san. together in silence
all the evening, he engaged with
powerful lens deciphering the remains
of the original inscription upon
palimpsest, I deep in treatise upon
surgery. Outside, the wind howled
down Baker street, while the rain beat
| fiercely against the windows. 1t was
strange there, in the very depths OF
the town, with ten miles of mans
handiwork on every side of US, to feel
/ the iron grip of Nature, and to be
conscious that to the huge elemental
forces al London was no more than
the molehills that dot the fields. l
walked to the window, and looked out
on the deserted street. The occas'
ional lamps cleaned on the expanse
of muddy road and shining pavement
A single cab was splashing it's way
from the Oxford street end.
We'll, Watson, it's as well we have
+ not to turn out tonight" said Holmes,
laying aside his lens and rolling UP
the palimpsest. I've done enough for
one sitting. 1t is trying work for the
eyes. So far as l can make out, it is
nothing more exciting than an Abbey S
accounts dating from the second half
of the fifteenth century. Halloa! hal
loa, halloa!\ What's this?"
Amid the droning of the wind, there
had come the stamping of a horses
hoofs,and the long grind of wheel
as it rasped against the curb. The
cab which | had seen had pulled up
at our door.
What can he want? ! calculated
as man stepped out of it.
Want? He wants us. And we. my
poor Watson, want overcoats and era
watts and goloshes, and every aid that
man ever invented to fight the wealth
er. Wait a bit though. Here is the
cab of again! There's hope yet. He'd
have kept it if he had wanted US tc
come Run down, my dear fellow, and
open the door, for all virtuous folk
have been long in bed
When the light of the hall lamp fel!
upon our midnight visitor. l had nc
difficulty in recognizing him. 1t was
young Stanley Hopkins, 4 promising
detective in whose career Holmes
had several times shown a very prac
teal interest.
rs he in?" he asked eagerly.
Come up, my dear sir" said
Holmes voice from above. Il hope you
have no designs upon us such a night
as this"
The detective mounted the stairs
and our lamp cleaned upon his shin
ing waterproof. | helped him out OF
it, while Holmes knocked blaze Out
Of the logs in the CRATE.
Now, my dear Hopkins, draw III
and warm your toes said he. Here's
a cigar, and the doctor has prescrip
; ton containing hot water and lemon
which is good medicine on night like
this. 1t must be something important
which has brought you out in such q
, gale
1T is, indeed, Mr. Holmes. I've
had a busting afternoon, | promise
you Did you see anything of the
: Yoxley case in the latest editions?'
| I've seen nothing later than tn:
{ fifteenth century today"
/ Well it was only a paragraph, ant
all wrong, at that, so you have no
: missed anything. l haven't let tn,
grass grow under my feet. 1t is dowr
f in Kent, seven miles from Chatham
and three from the railway line. I wa:
wired for at three-fift cen. reached
5 YoXley place at five, conducted M.
: investigation. was back at Charins
10 you by cab"
} (which means, | suppose, that you
are not quite clear about the caSe?'
: 1T means that l can make neithe
head nor tail out of it. So far as
can see. it is just as tangled a bust
ness rs l ever handled, and vet a
first, it seemed SO simple that on,
couldn't go wrong. There's no mo
tive, Mr.. Holmes. That's what both
! ers mel can't put my hand on
motive. Here's a man dead-there'
no denying that-but so far as | cal
see, there's no reason on earth VIII.
any one should wish him harm"
Holmes lit his cigar and leaned bac,
in his chair.
Let's hear about it," said he.
I've got my facts pretty clear.
: said Stanley Hopkins. IAN I want t
know now is what they all mean. Tn
story. SO far as | can make out, i
like this. Some years ago this coun
try house. Yoxley Old Place, was takel
by an elderly man, who gave the nam
of Professor Coram. He was an in
valid. keeping his bed half the time
and the other half hobbling round tn
houce with a stick Or hejpp puSha