Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-14

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the f,re IN his lodgings at Baker street.
thing which tho mind OF man could
invent. We would not dare to conceive
the things which are really mere
commonplace OF existence. II we
could ny out OF that window hand in
hand, hover over this great city,
gently remove the roofs. and peep
in at tho queer things which arc go
Ing on, the strange condolences. the
piannings, the cross-purposes, the
wonderful chains OF events, working
through generations, and leading TO
the most outre results, II would make
all fiction with Its conventionalities and
foreseen conclusions most stale and
improbable.
And yet am not convinced OF It,"
I answered. Tho cases which como TO
light In the papers are, as n rule. bald
enough and vulgar enough. We have
in our police reports realism pushed TO
its extreme limits, and yet the result
IL. Il must be confessed, neither fas-
cinating nor artistic"
"a certain selection and discretion
must DO used In producing q realistic
effect" remarked Holmes. This Is
wanting In the police report. where
more stress is laid. perhaps, upon the
platitudes OF the magistrate than
upon tho details, which to an OBJ
server contain the Vital essence OF
tho whole matter. Depend upon 1t
there is nothing so unnatural ms the
commonplace"
I smiled and shook my head. II can
quite understand you thinking So" 1
said. "Of course, In your position OF
unofficial adviser and helper to every
body who is absolutely puzzled,
throughout three continents, you are
brought in contact with all that Is
strange and bizarre. But here
picked up the morning paper from the
ground-"let us put it TO a practical
test. Here is the first heading upon
which 1 come. A husbands cruelty to
his wife There Is half n column OF
print. but / know without reading II
that Il is all perfectly familiar 20 me
There is, OF course. the other woman
the drink, the push. the blow. tbs
bruise, the sympathetic sister or land
lady. The crudest Of writer's coult
. invent nothing more crude"
Indeed, your example Is an unfor
tunate one for your argument" sait
> Holmes. taking the paper and glanc
u ing his eye down it. This is tn
y Dundas separation case, and. as !
!, happens. ] was engaged I'm clearinI
u up some small points in connection
Q with It. The husband was tee
} ftotaler. there was no other woman
and the conduct complained OF wa
!, that he had drifted into the habit Q
" winding up every meal by taking on
y his false teeth and hurting them .
~ his wife, which. you Will allow.
u, not an action likely to occur TO tn
II imagination OF the average story
= teller. Take a pinch OF snun, docto
~ and acknowledge that I have score
- over you in your example"
- He held out his snuffbox OF old gol
~ with a great amethyst In the centre I
:" the lid. It's splcndor was in such col
=. trast TO his homely ways and sinp
!" life that could not help commentin
"a upon It.
- "Ah." said he. "I forgot that I ha
20 not seen you for some weeks. 1t is
Il little souvenir from the King OF 81
hernia in return for my assistance
r. the case OF the Irene Adler papers"
an And the ring?" | asked, giancir
~ at a remarkable brilliant which sparl
20 led upon his finger.
no Never mind" said Holmes, laugl
NJ ing; at is my business TO know thing
IL Perhaps 1 have trained myself to g
III what others overlook. If not, WI
- should you come TO consult me?"
no IT came TO you, sir, because hea
m OF you from Mrs. Etherege, whose hu
Ell band you found so easy when the p
to lice and every one had given him
mr. for dead. Oh. Mr.. Holmes, l wish y
ed would do as much for me. I'm
We rich, but still 1 have hundred a We
in my own right, besides the III
is that L make by the machine. and
ed would give It all TO know what h
us become OF Mr.. Hosmer Angel"
nd why did you come away to consl
ed me in such a hurry?" asked Sherlo
Is Holmes, with his ingr-tips togeth
on and his eyes to the ceiling.
ne Again a startled look come over I
~ somewhat vacuous face Of Miss Ma
IN. Sutherland. Yes. 1 did bang out
y, the house." she said, "for 1t made
~ angry to see the easy way in viii
~, Mr.. Windibank-that is. my father
~ took 1t all. He would not go to
-. police, and he would not go to you. a
so. at last, as he would do nothil
and kept on saying that there was
roo harm done, It made me mad. and
h.s just on with my things and came ri
& away to YOU"
non your father" said Holmes. "yt
In step-father. surely since the name
eef different"
ne Yes. my step-father. I call !
No father, though It sounds funny.
the for he is only five years and
the months older than myself"
odd And your mother Is alive?"
led '"Oh yes. mother is alive and wei
rec wasn't best pleased. Mr.. Holmes. WI
ck. she married again so soon after IA
tire ers death, and a man who was nea
-er, fifteen years younger than hers
Iost Father was a plumber in the Tott
YEA ham Court Road, and he left |
add business behind him. which mot
me- carried on with Mr.. Hardy, the Il
{. man; but when Mr.. Windibank &C
he made her sell the business, for