The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-23
The Adventures of the Mazarin Stone
New Sherlock Holmes Story
BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

=
1t was pleasant to DR.. Watson to
find himself once more in the untidy
room of the first floor in Baker Street
which had been the starting point of
so many remarkable adventures. He
looked round him at the scientific
charts upon the wall, the acid-charred
bench of chemicals, the violin-case
leaning in the corner the coal-scuttle,
which contained of old pipes and to-
bacco. Finally, his eyes came round
to the fresh and smiling face of Billy,
the young but very wise and tactful
page, who had helped a little TO fill
up the gap of loneliness and isolation
which surrounded the saturnine fig
ure of the great detective.
1T all seems very unchanged,
Billy. You don't change, either. II
hope the same can be of him."
Billy glanced, with some solicitude,
lat the closed door of the bedroom.
Il think he's in bed and asleep"
II was seven in the evening of a.
lovely summers day, but DIR. Wat
son was sufficiently familiar with the
irregularity of his old friends hours
TO feel no surprise at the idea.
THAT means a case, | suppose"
ayes, sir; he is very hard at it just
now. I'm frightened for his health.
He gets paIer and thinner, and he
eats nothing When will you be
pleased TO dine, Mr. Holmes" Mrs.
Hudson asked. 'Seven-thirty, the day
after tomorrow said he. You know
his way when he is keen on a case"
yes, Billy, / know.
J1Fc fo1I Vnafar-
day he was out as workman look
: ing for a job. Today he was an old
j woman. Fairly took me in, he did,
and | ought to know his way by
now" Billy pointed with grin to q
very baggy parasol which leaned
against the sofa.
That's part of the old woman's out
fit" he said.
But what is it all about Billy?"
Billy sank his voice, as one who
discusses great secrets of State. Il
aan't mind telling you, sir, but it
should go no farther. It's this case
of the Crown diamond"
What - the hundred thousand
pound burglary
Eyes, sir. They must get it back,
sir. Why, we had the Prime Min
lister and the Home Secretary both
sitting on that very sofa. Mr..
Holmes was very nice to them. He
soon put them at their ease and
promised he would do all he could.
Then there is Lord Cantlemere-"
"Ah!"
eyes, sir; you know what that
means. He's a stiff 'un. sir, if l may
say so. l can get along with the
Prime Minister. and I've nothing
In CGarafpr ny w
seemed a civil obliging sort of man
but l can't stand his lordship. Neither
can Mr.. Holmes. sir. You see, he
don't believe in Mr. Holmes, and he
was against employing him. He'd
rather he failed"
and Mr.. Holmes knows it?"
"Mr. Holmes always knows what.
ever there is to know"
well. We'll hope he won't fail and
that Lord Cantlemere will be con
founded But I say, Billy, what Is
that curtain for across the window!
''Mr. Holmes had it put up there
three days ago. We've got something
a funny behind it,"
Billy advanced and drew away the
drapery, which screened the alcoVt
of the bow window.
DR.. Watson could not restrain :
cry of amazement. There was ;
facsimile of his old friend, dresin.
gown and all the face turned three
quarters towards the window ant
downwards, as though reading al
invisible book, while the body wa
sunk deep in an armchair. Billy de
tached the head and held it in the air
I'VE put it at different angles, 81
that il NAV seem more life-like.
wouldn't dare touch it if the blin'
were not down. But when it's III
YOU can see this from across the way.
1--WE used something of the sor
once before
Before my time" said Billy H
drew the window curtains apart an
looked out into the street Their
are folk who watch us from owe
wonder. I can see a fellow now a
the window. Have look for your
SELF
Watson had taken a step forwar
when the bedroom door opened, an
the long, thin form of Holme
emerged, his face pale and drawn
but his step and bearing as active a
ever. With a single spring he wa
at the window, and had drawn tn
blind once more.
That will do, Billy" said he. ''Yo
were in danger or your lie theh' III
boy. and | can't do without you jus
yet. Well, Watson, it is good to Sc
YOU in your old quarters once agai1
You come at a critical moment"
$50 l gather"
- "You can go. Billy. That boy is
problem, Watson. How far am
Justified in allowing him to be
danger?"
Danger of what, Holiness"
"Of sudden death. I'm expectin
something this evening"
Expecting what?"
"To be murdered, Watson"
NO no; you are joking, Holmes!
Even my limited sense of humC
could evolve better joke than tina
But. we may be comfortable in II
meantime. may we not? Is alcoh
-nicrn,