Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-28
The Man With
the Twisted Lip
Part Six
nv SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLo
With
S'''''"' Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Part Six
= SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLS

heard my story. My father was school
master in Chesterfield, where | received
an excellent education. travelled in my
youth, took to the stage, and finally
became n reporter on an evening paper
in London. One day my editor wished to
have series of articles upon begging
in the metropolis, and | volunteered to
supply them. There was the point from
which all my adventures started, 1t
was only by trying begging as an
amateur that could get the facts upon
which to base my articles. When an
actor | had, of course, learned all the
secrets of making up, and had been
famous in the grcenroom for my skill
took advantage now of my attanments
| painted my face, and to make myself
as pitiable rs possible made good
scar and fixed one side of my hip in
twist by the aid of a small slip Of
fesh-colored plaster. Then with a red
head of hair, and an appropriate dress,
took my station in the busiest part
of the city, ostcnsibly ms a matchseller
but really as n beggar.
'T wrote my articles. and thought
little more of the matter until, some
time later. backed n bill for friend,
and had writ served upon mel for
25 pounds. was at my wits end where
to get the money, but n sudden idea
came to me. | begged fortnlght's grace
from the creditor, asked for holiday
from my employers, and spent the time
in begging in the city under my dis
g,lise. In ten days had the money, and
had paid the debt.
"Well, YOU can imagine how hard II
was to settle down TO arduous work nj
> pounds week when | knew that
could earn as much III day by smearlnG
my face with n little paint, laying my
cap on the ground, and sitting still. II
was long fight between my pride and
| tho money, but the dollars won at last
| and | threw up reporting, and sat day
| after day in the corner which ] had first
chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastl,
face, and filling my pockets with copper
| Only one man knew my secret. lie wa
! the keeper of low den in which iuse'
To lodge in Swandam Lane, where
could every morning emerge NJ squah'
beggar. and III the evenings transtUrr
myself into wcll-dresscd man abou
town. This fellow, Lascar, was we
paid hv me for his rooms, so that | kne
that my secret was safe in his possession
"Wcll, very soon found that
was saving considerable sums Of none!
| do not mean Mat any beggar in III
streets of London could earn 700 pounc
a wear WHICH is less than my avcrsg
takingS-but ! had exceptional adval
tagcs in my power Of making mp, and ais
in n facility of rcpartee, which improve
by practice. and made me quite rccOi
nizcd character III the city. All day
stream of pennies, varied by silve
poured in upon me, and II was a veI
bad day in which | failed to take
pounds.
AS | grew richer | grew more M
bilious, took house in the country, Al
eventually married, without any on
having q suspicion ~ 10 my real occup
ton. My dear wife knew that hf
business in the city. She little kne
what.
Last Monday | had finished {
the day, and WAS dressing in my roo
above the opium den, when looked o
of my window and saw, to my horror nj
,, astonshment, that my wife was stsndil
! in the street, with her eyes fixed full ups
me gave cry of surprise. threw up n
arms to cover my face, and, rushing
my contdant, the Lascar, entreated hi
TO prevent any one from coming up
me. | heard her voice downstairs, but
' knew that she could not ascend. Swift
| threw off my clothes, pulled on those
beggar, and put ON my pigments ar
: wig Even wifes eyes could not pier
so complete disguise. But then
.; occurred to me that there might bc
search in the room, and that the cloth
E might betray me, | threw open t
! window, reopening by my violence of
small cut which / had inflicted up,
= myself in the bedroom that mornir
\ Then seized my coat, which was weigh
cd by the coppers which | had iu
transferred 20 il from the leather b
in which l carried my takings. hurl