Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-19

e. n PROFESSIONAL case or great
gravity was engaging my own atten-
ton at the time. and the whole of the
next day l was busy at tho bedside
of the sufferer. II was not until close
upon six o'clock that l found myself
free, and was able TO spring into a han
som and drive 10 Baker street. half
afraid that l might be too late to as
slst at the denouement OF the little
mystery. I found Sherlock Holmes,
alone, however, half asleep, with his
long. thin form curled up in the re-
cesses OF his armchair. A formidable
array OF bottles and test-tubes. with
the pungent clearly smell OF hydro
chloric acid. told me that he had spent
his day in the chemical work which
WAS So dear TO him.
We'll. have you solved tip asked,
as entered.
Yes. 1t was the b,sulphate Of
baryta.'
mo, no. the mystery" cried.
''Oh, that, I thought OF the salt
that have been working upon. There
was never any mystery in tho matter,
though. az 1 said yesterday, some of
the details are OF interest. The only
drawback II that there is no law, /
fear. that can touch the scoundrel."
who was he, then, and what was
his object IN deserving Miss Suther-
,and?"
The question was hardly out OF my
mouth, and Holmes had not vet open
ed his lips TO reply, when We heard
heavy football in the passage, and
cap at the door.
This is the girls stepfather. Mr..
James Windibank," said Holmsa- He
has written to mo TO say that he
would be here at six. Cuzne In"
The man who entered WAS q sturdy,
tniddle-sixed fellow. some thirty years
Of age, clean eheven, and sallow skin
ned, with bland, insinuating manner,
ana a pair OF wonderfully sharp and
penetrating gray eyes. He shot a
Questioning glance at each OF us,
placed his shiny top hat upon the side
board. and with a slight bow sided
down into the nearest chair.
Good evening, Mr.. James Windl-
bank said Holmes. II think that this
typewritten letter IS from you. in
which you made an appointment with
me for six o'clock"
i.,,le late. but / am not quite my own
master. you know. ! am sorry That
Miss Sutherland has troubled you
about this little matter, for l think II
r. far better not 10 wash linen of the
sort IN public. 1t was quito against
my wishes that she came. but she is
4 very excitable. impulsive srl as you
may have noticed, and she Is not
easily controlled when she has made
up her mind on a point OF course,
did not mind you 70 much, as you are
not connected with the official police
but II In not pleasant 10 have family
misfortune ike this noised abroad. Be
sides, IL 10 a useless expense. for how
could you possibly find this Hosmer
Angelo"
''On the contrary" said Holmes
quietly; II have every reason TO be-
i,eve that will succeed In discovering
Mr.. Hosmer Angel"
Mr.. Windibank gave a violent start
and dropped his gloves. II am de-
lighted to hear it," he said.
1T 10 a curious thing" remarked
Holmes, that a typewriter has really
quite a. much individuality as a mans
handwriting. Unless they are quite
new, no two OF them write exactly
alike. Some letters get more worn
than others. and some wear only or
one side. Now you remark in this
note OF yours. Mr.. Windibank, that ir
every case there IL some little slurrine
over the e. and slight defect in the
tall OF the r. There are fourteen
p;her characteristics. but those are the
more obvious"
I'VE do all our correspondence with
this machine at the Office, and M
coub, II 10 q little worn" our visitor
answered. glancing keenly at Holme.