Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-09-11


covered from the strain caused by his
immense cxdrtions in tho spring OF ~.
The whole question of the Nethcrland-
eunatra Co. and Of the colossal schemes
Of Baron Maupertuis nrc too recent
in the m,nda Of the public, and arc too
intimately concerncd with politics and
finance TO be fitting subjects for this
series Of sketches. They led. however,
In an indirect fa~hion to singular and
complex problem which gave my friend
an opportunity Of demonstrating the
vAl,r III fresh weapon among the many
with which he wagcdhis lifelong battle
agAinat crime.
On referring to my notes l zee that
& WAS upon the l4th Of April that |
received . telegram from Lyons which
informed me that Holmes was lying I'll
In the Hotel Dulong. Within "a hours
! WAS in his sickroom and was relieved
TO find that there WAS nothing formidable
in his symptoms. Even his iron con-
stltution, however, had broken down
under the strain Of an investigation
which had extended over two months,
during which period he had never
worked leSs than Ia houys day, and
had more than once, ss he assured me,
kept To his task for five days at a stretch
Even the triumphant issue of his labors
could no. save him from reaction after
go terrible an excrtion, and At time
when Europe WAS ringing with his name
and when his room WAS literally ankle
deep with congrstulatory kilograms |
found him prey TO the blacklist de-
PRECISION. Even the knowledge that he
had succeeded where the police of three
countries had failed, and that he had
Ui,-msnocuvrcd At every point the most
accomplished swindler in Europe, WAS
insufficient, 10 rouse him from his nervous
prostrstion.
Three DAYS later we were back in
Baker street together; but IT WAS evl-
dent that my friends would be much the
better for a change and the thought OF
week of spring time in the country
was full of attraction to me also. My
Old friend, Colonel Hayter, who had
come under my professional care IN
Aivhsnistan, had now taken q house
near Reigatc in Surrey, and had fire.
ouently asked me To come down to him
upon a visit. On the last occasion he
had remarked that If my friend would
only come with me he would be glad 10
rxterd his hospitality to HIM also. A
little diplomacy was needed, but wher
Holmes understood that the establish
m~nt WAS a bachelor one, and that h,
would bc allowed the fullest freedom
he fell in with my plans and weel
after our return from Lyons We wer,
under the Colonies roof. Haytcr was
a fine old soldier who had seen mucl
OF the world. and he soon found, az
had expcctcd. that Holmes and he ha,
much in common.
On the evening of our arrival W,
were sitting in the colonies g,'nroon
after dinner. Holmes stretched upor
the sofa. while Hayter and ! looked
over his little armory Of eastern weapons
'Bv the way." said he suddenly, -
think I'll take one Of these pistols up
stairs with mo in case we have m
alarm
An alarmr said |.
"les. we've had a scare in this par
ls,.sy. Old Acton, who ~ ono of on
county magnates, had his house broker
into last Monday. No great damsg
done. but the fellows are still At large.
mo clue" asked Holmes, cocNn,
Ri. eve at the colonel.
"Nonc ss Vet. But'thc affair is
petty one. ono Of our little corntr
crimes. which must seem too mall fc
YOUR attention. MIR. Holmes, after tn
yrcst international affair.
Holmes waved away the compliment
though his smile showed that i; hs'
pleased HIM.
Was there any feature of interest?
Il fancy not The thicvsS ransacke
che library and got very little for the
Cains. The whole place was turne
UPSIDE down, drawers burst open, an
presses ranssckcd, with the result tbs
an odd volume of Pope's Homer, tw
pated candlcsticks, an ivory lettel
weight a small oak barometer, and
bali of twinc are all that have vanished
What an extraordinary assortment
exclaimed.
"Oh. the fellows evidently grabb'
hold of everything they could got
Holmes grlnted from the sofa.
"Tbc county police ought 20 max
some.hing of that" said he; why,
j. surely obvious that"
But l held up warning finger.
You are here for rest, my dc
Yellow. For Heavens sake don't g
started on n new problem when yo
nerves are all in shreds."
HOLMES shrugged his shoulders vii
glance of comic resignation towa
che colone, and the talk drifted avn
into less dangerous channels.
IL WAS destined, however, that a
oy professional caution should
wasted. for next morning the probe
obfruded itself upon us IN such n VS.
that il was impossible TO ignore II, M
xxb
neither OF us could have anticipate
Nc were at breakfast when the colonel
sutlcr rushed in with all his prophet
shskeu out Of him.
Have YOU heard the news sirp" !
Rnsped. AT the Cunningham's, sir
Burglary cried the colonel, vii
bis cohce-cup in mid-air.
Murder"
The colonel whis,led by jove
said he. who's killed, them III
j. y. or his SOM"
Neither. SIR. II was William, Il
eoachman. Shot through the hear
CIR. and never spoke again"
Who shot him, them
"Thc burglar. sir. He was of like
shot and got clean away. He'd ia
broke in ut the pantry window VIII,
William came on HIM and met his er
an saving has masters property"
What time"
1T WAS last night, sir, somewhe
about twelve"
All. then, veil step over afterwards
tad the colonel, coolly settling dow
60 his breakfast again. It's q bad-di
business" he added when the butt
had gone; he's our leading man abo'
here, is old Cunningham, and We
decent fellow too. He'll be cut up ov