Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-11
~ sIR ARrHUE CONAN poYLs

When l glance over my notes and
records Of the Sherlock Holmes cases
between the years 50 and 90. j am
faced by 50 many which present strange
and interesting features that IT Is no
easy matter TO know which TO choose
and which To leave. SoIse, however,
have already gained publicity through
the papers, and>othcrs have not offered
tcld FOR those peculiar qualities which
my friend possessed in so high degree.
and which Il is tho object Of these papers
10 illustrate. Some. too, have bafiicd
10 analytical skill. and would bc, as
in.a,,vcs. I've cummings without an end
inc, while Others have been but partially
cleared up. and have their plana-
tons founded rather upon conjecture
and surmisc than on that absolute logical
proof which was 81 dear TO him. There
Is. however. one oi these last which was
- remarkable in its details and so
startling IN its results that | am tempted
to give some account of it, in spite of
the fact that there are points IN conncc-
ton with il which never have been and
probably never will be, cntirly cleared
an.
The wear 81 furnished us with long
series ~, eases oi greater or less interests,
oi which retain the records. Among
] my headings under this one twelve
months find an account OF the advcn-
turc OF the Paradol Chamber, Of the
Amateur Mcnd,cant Society, who held
q luxurious club in the lower vault OF n
furniture warehouse, OF the facts con-
ncctcd with the loss Of the British bark
~ophy Anderson, of the singular advcn-
lures of the Gree Patersons in the
ISLAND 81 Uha. and finally Of the Gambler
wen poisoning case. In the latter, as
may he remembered. Sherlock Holmes
wa. able. by winding up the dead man.
watch 90 prove that it had been wound
up two hours before. and that therefore
the deceased had gone 10 bed within
iha, timc--a deduction which was OF
the greatest importance IN clearing
up the case. All these | NAV sketch
out ~ some future date. but none oi
them yrcscn, such singular features n
the strange tram of circumstances wheel
have now taken UP my pen 10 describe
twas in the latter DAYS OF September
and the caunoctial gales had SC, in with
.,ccp,ional violence All day the vino
had screamed and tho rain had heater
against the windows ~ that even her,
IA the hear, of great. handmade Lon
don We were forced 10 raise our mlnd
Tor the instant from the routine OF life
and 10 recognize the presence OF thoS'
great elemental forces which shriel
~ mankind through the bars OF hi
civilization. like untamcd beasts IN
cage. " evening drew IN, the storm
grew higher and louder, and the wine
cricd and sobhcd like child IN tn,
chimney sherlock Holmes sat mOodilN
~ one SIDE OF the fireplace croSS-indcNini
ms records OF crimc. while AZ tho othe
was deep IN one az Clark RusSell'S hn'
~ea-storie-, until the howl of the gall
from without seemed 10 blend with tn,
text. and the splash of the rain I,
lencihcn ont into the long swash of tn
.ca waves. Ny wife Was on a visit 10 he
mothers. and for few DAYS was
,wcllcr once more IN my old quarters a
Baker street.
WHY" sad I. glancing up al m,
companion. that was surely the he'll
Who could come tonight? Some frien
of YOURS perhaps
Except Yourself have none h
answered. Il do not encourage visitors.
\ client. them
III 20, u u a serious case. Nothin
los would bring q man out on such
day and II such an hour. But tax
10 that IL j. more likely TO I've som
Crony of the lsndlsdy'S"
sherlock Holmes was wrong IN hi
oniccturc. however. for there came
step IN the passage and a tapping :
the door Tie stretched out his long arl
Co turn the lamp away from himse
and towards the vacant chair upo
which the newcomer must 1T. Con
m said he.
The man who entered was Young
some two-and-tventy At the Outsid,
rcll-crcomed and trinity clad. wit
something Of refinement and dehcac
m his bearing The streaming umbrell
which he held in his hand. and his Ion
Singing waterproof told OF the ficr,
weather through which he had com
He looked shout hIm anNlouslv IN n
glare Of the lamp. and ] could see thu
he face was pale and hi ewes heav,
hkc those OF a man who i wcighC
down with some great anxiety.
Il owe YOU YOU an aplogy.' he SAT-
raising his golden pIncenez TO his eve
Il trus, that sm not IntrudlnC. ] ie.
that ] have brought some traces OF u
storm and rain into your snug chan
bar"
Give me- your coat and umbrella
said Holmes. They msy rest here {
she hook. and will he dry present.
You have come up from the sOuthwe.
! sce
Yes from Horsham
That clay and chalk mixture whit
go upon your toe-oaps u quite di
tlnCtIve
4 have come for advice
That u easily go:
And help
That l. not always so easy"
i have heard Of Won. Mr.. Holmes
heard from Mslor pfendergast how y,
saved HIM IN the Tsnkerville CT
scan dial
All. Of course He was wrongful
sccused Of cheating az cards"
He said that YOU could solve an
thing
-sS. sTt~. IN GOING on