Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-30

l have never known my friend to
be in better form, both mental and
physical, than in the year '95. His in
creasing fame had brought with it an
immense practice, and should be guilty
of an indiscretion if were even to hint
at the identity of some of the illustrious
clients who crossed our humble threshold
in Baker Street. Holmes, however,
like all great artists, lived for his arts
sake, and, save in the case of the Duke
of Holdernesse, have seldom known
him to claim any large reward for his
inestimable services. So unworldly was
he-or so capricious-that he frequently
refused his help to the powerful and
wealthy where the problem made no
appeal to his sympathies, while he would
devote weeks OF most intense applica-
ton to the affairs of some humble client
whose case presented those strange and
dramatic qualities which appealed to his
imagination and challenged his ingen-
nuity.
In this memorable year '95, curious
and lncongruous succession OF cases
had engaged his attention, ranging
den death of Cardinal Tpsca-an in
quiry which was carried out by him
at the express desire of His Holiness the
Pope down to his arrest of Wilson, the
notorious canary-trainer, which removed
a plague-spot from the East End OF
London. Close on the heels of these two
famous cases came the tragedy of Wood
mans Lee, and the very obscure cir
cumstances which surrounded the death
OF Captain Peter Carey. No record OF the
doings of Mr.. Sherlock Holmes would
he complete which did not include
some account Of this very unusual affair.
During the first week Of July, my
friend had been absent so often aud
so long from our lodgings that | knew
he had something on hand The fact
that several rough-looking men called
during that time and inquired for Car'
tain Basil made me understand that
Holmes was working somewhere under
one of the numerous disgulses and
names with which he concealed his own
formidable identity. He had at least
hve small refugees in different parts OF
London, in which he was able to change
his personality. He said nothing OF his
business to me, and it was not my habit
10 force confidence. The first positive
sign which he gave me of the direction
which his investigation was taking Wa
an extraordinary one. He had gone out
before breakfast, and | had sat dowr
10 mine when ne strobe into the room
his hat upon his head and huge barbed
headed spear tucked like an umbrells
under his arm.
Good gracious, Holiness | cried
You don't mean to say that yot
have been walking about London Will
that thing?"
II drove to the butchers and back.
The butcher's?"
And l return with an excellent appe
tite. There can be no question, my dear
Watson, of the value of exercise before
breakfast. But l am prepared to bet
that YOU will not guess the form that
my exercise has taken
Il will not attempt it."
He chuckled as he poured out the
coffee.
IF you could have looked into
Allardyce's back shop you would have
seen dead pig swung from a hook
In the ceiling, and a gentleman IN HI:
shirt sleeves furiously stabblng at i
with this weapon. | was that energetic
person, and ! have satisfied myself tha
by no exertion of my strength can
transfx the pig with a single blow. Per
haps YOU would care to try"
Not for worlds. But why were yol
doing this?"
Because it seemed to me to hav,
an indirect bearing upon the mys
terry of Woodman's Lee. All, Hopkins
got your wire last night and hav
been expecting you. Come and ioil
US"
Our visitor was an exceedingly aler
man, thirty years Of age, dressed in
quiet tweed suit, but retaining the erec
bearing of one who was accustomed 1