Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-02

From the point of view Of the criminal
expert said Mr.. Sherlock Holmes,
London has become a singalsrly unin-
terestinr city since the death OF tho late
lamcntcd Professor Moriarty." :.
II can hardly think that you would
And many decent citizens to agree
with you,' ! answered.
"Well. well, l must not he selfish. =
said he, with smile, rs he pushed
back his chair from the, breakfast
table. ''The community is certainly the
gamer and no one the loser, save the
moor out-of-work specialist, whose occu-
nation has gone. With that man in
the field. ones morning paper presented
infinite possibilities. Often it was only
the smallest trace Watson, the faintcst
indication, and vet il was enough
to tell me that the great malignant brain
was there, as the gentlcst trcmors OF the
edges of the web remind one of the foul
spidcr which turks in the center Petty
thcfts, wanton assaults, purposelcss
outraye--to the man who held the clue
all could be worked into one connected
whole. To the scientific student of the
higher criminal world, no capital in
Europe offered the advantages which
London then possessed. But now"
He shrugged his shoulders in humorous
dcprccation of the state OF things
which he had himself done so much
to produce.
At the time of which ] speak, Holmes
had been back for some months, and
at his request had sold my. practice ano
returned to share the old quarters II
Baker Street. A young doctor, named
Werner, had purchased my small Ken
sington practice, and given with aston
ishingly little demur the highest price
that / yentured to ask-an incident
which only explained itself some years
later. when | found that Werner was ;
distant relation of Holmes, and that i
was nv friend who had really found tn,
money.
Our months of partnership had mo-
been so uneyentful as he had stated
for | find. on looking over my notes
that this period includes the case o
the papers of ex-President Murillo, ane
also the shocking affair OF the Dutch
steamship Friesland, which so nearly
cost us both our lives. His cold anC
proud nature was always averse, how
ever, from anything IN the shape o
public applause, and he bound M
in the most stringent terms to say M
further word of himself, his methods
or hi. successes-a prohibition which
as | have explained, has only now beer
removed.
= Mr.. Sherlock Holmes was leaning
ack in his chair after his whimsical
= protect, and was unfolding his morn
ing paper III leisurely fashion, wheI
our attention was arrested by a tire
menlous ring at the bell followed i'm
mediatelv by hollow drnmmin,
sound. as il someone were behting OF
the outer door with his fist. As !
oprued there came tumultuous rusi
into the hail. rapid ieet clattered NJ
the stair. and an instant later wild
4 eyed and frantic Young man, pale, dis
hcvelled, and palpitsting burst int
the room. lie looked from one to tn
other of us, and under our gaze of IN
curry he became conscious that SOM
apology was needed for this uncere
monious entry.
I'm sorry. Mr.. Holmes" he cried
'Iou mustn't Dlsme me. | am neari
mad. Mr.. Holmes | am the unhapp.
John Hector McFarlsne,'
He made the announcement az II tn
name alone would explain both hi
visit and it's Manner, but l could SEE
hy my companicns unresponsive iac'
that il meant no more TO HIM than I
me.
Have cigarette, Mr.. McFarlane,
= said he, pushing his case across.
am sure that with your symptoms, m
friend, Dr. Watson, here would pr
scribe a sedative. The weather h,
been so very warm these last few day
Now, if YOU feel little more con
posed. l should be glad if YOU woal
sit down in that chair, and tell lis yer
slowly and quietly who You are, an
what it is that you want. You mel
toned your name, as II | should reco,
nize it, but assure you that, beyon
the obvious facts that you are bach
lor, a solicitor, Freemason, and a
asthmatic, / know nothing whatev'
about yeu."
Familiar as I was with my friend
methods, it WAS not difficult for me
follow his deductions, and to obeer,
the untidiness of attire, the sheaf
legal papers, the watch-chaTm, ar
the breathing which hs.i prompts
them Odr client, however, stared
amaxement.
YES, l am all that Mr.. Holme
and. in addition, am the most unto
innate man at this moment in Londo
For Heavens sake, don't abandon m
Mr.. Holmesl II they come to ARE
me before l have finished my stor
make them give me time, so that
may tel, YOU The whole truth, ] cou
60 to Jail happy if knew that you we
working for me outside"
Arrest you" said Holmes. "This
really most grati-most interesting. {
what charge do you expect to be a
rested?"
Upon the charge OF numbering NJ
jonas Oldscre, of Lower Norwood
My companions expressive ia
showed sympathy which wa. not.
am afraid, entirely unmixed with sati
faction