Evening journal., 1922-08-08

shot Robert particularly SINCE every
one knew that Mark learned viii
disgust and annoyance OF Roberto
return from his l5-year stay IN Aus
- tralia.
terious. The shot was heard TWO
minutes after Roberts arrival and
ANTONY GILLINGHAM, a gentleman
adventurer. entered the house 10 visi
Marks guest
.BILL BEVERLEY he found
MATT CAYLEY. Marks constant COM
panion. pounding on the locked door
and demanding admfrtance. The two
men entered through a window and
found the body. How could Mark
have locked the door II the keys were
on the outside puzzled Antony. He
discusses some Of the mysterious
clues with Bill Beverley.
Antony smoked thoughtfplly for a
stue. Then he took his pipe out of
his mouth and turned to his friend.
Are you prepared to be the com
piete Watson?" he asked.
'watson?"
"Do-you-follow-m me- Watson; that
one. Are you prepared to have quite
obvious things explained 10 you. to
ask futile questions. TO give me
chances of scoring of you. Because
it all helps"
MY dear Tony" said Bill delight
edly. "need you ask ?" Antony said
nothing and Bill went on happily
to himself, II perceive from the
strawberry-mark on your shirt-front
that you had Strawberries for des-.
sert. Holmes. you astonish me.
Tut, tut, you know my methods.
Where is the tobacco? The tobacco
is in the Persian clipper. Can I
leave my practice for a week7 !
can"
Antony smiled and went on smok-
ing. After waiting hopefully for a
minute or two, Bill said in a Arm
voice:
Well then, Holmes. I feel bound
TO ask you II you have deduced any
thing. Also whom do you suspect7' |
Antony began 70 talk.
DO you remember" he said, "one |
Of Holmes little scores over Watson
about the number OF steps up TO the
Baker Street lodging? Poor old
Watson had been UP and down
them a thousand times. but he had
never thought of counting them,
whereas Holmes had counted them
as a matter OF course. and knew
that there were seventeen. And
that was supposed to be the diff
ference between observation and
non-observation. Watson was
crushed again. and Holmes appear
ed TO him more amazing than ever.
Now, 81 always seemed TO me that in
that in that matter Holmes was
the ass, and Watson the sensible
person. What on earth is the point
OF keeping IN your head an unnec-
essary faot like that? II you really
want 20 know az any time the num-
Der OF steps TO your lodging. you
can ring up your Iandlady and ask ,
her. i've been up and down the
steps OF the club a thousand times,
but {, you asked me 10 tell you at
This moment how many steps there .,
are I couldn't do st. Could you p
II certainly couldn't" said Bill %
But II you really wanted TO M
know" said Antony casually. with al
sudden change OF voice. Il could ~
ena out for you without even both =,
ering 70 ring up the hall-porter W
Bin was puzzled as 20 why they sa
we're talking about the club steps
hu. he felt It his duty 70 say that
he ala want 10 know how many "
there were. lie
aRight,~ said Antony. "rn ind '
out,- tc
He closed his eyes Is,
sT.rn walking up St. James
street . he said slowly. NOW I've I,
con,. 70 the club and Tn going past
40 annokingroom windows-one- =
--.l,ree-four. Now I'm az the
stems. turn IN and begin gong Ut
+her One-two-three-io Z
ss~ tben a broad step; six-seven c
ascnt-nine. another broad step; 7
Eleven-lm m IN {
-ssa Good morning. Rogers. me
49, sratn.' with a little start ne I
.ns,ed his eyes and came oeek u !
!. - nresent surroundings. he turn
ID 10 Bill with a smile. +,-,e ]
,e said. cout them tne n I
- there. Eleven--and no" I
one shall forget II egaln'
ps,l was distincly interested
That's rather hot ne sAi'' I
,ound." 4. whether .
- sor,, 81 hing IN the acluai -
atr1,0 IN the brain, or what'
,,,t have got rather an uncaphS
,es,. ~ recording things uncon- Il
.ciops1, You know that game where il
vo, look AZ tray full Of small oo- n
3ects for three minutes. and tnen N
turn away and try to make a nst d.
Of them. Il means a devil or lot pi
Of concentration for the ordinary do
person. II he wants to get his list tn
complete, but IN some odd way
manage to do It without concentra-
ton az all"
L should think that's rather NJ
useful gift for an amateur detective. -
lou ought to have gone into the
1 profession before &C.,
eWell. II is rather useful It's
rather surprising you konw. TO
stranger. Let's surprise cayley with 90
4. shall we?" R'
fHow""
well. let's ask him" ANTONY
stopped and looked at Bill comicauv r,
lets ask him what he's going To- -
do with the key OF the Office" ~ ~
For a moment Bill did not under =,
stand
key Of the Officer" he said vague :,
ly. "You don't mean-Tony? What !,
do you mean? Good Godl do you "
mean that Cayley-But what abou.
Mark?" q
II don't know where Mark is-
that's another thing / want to know =