Evening star., 1925-03-22

anOtner man the penalties OIL the
law. Yet there was certainly an ele-
Jnent of comedy. Well, you shall
Judge for yourselves.
remember the date very well, for
fl was in the same month that Holmes
refused knighthood for services
which may perhaps some day be de-
Bcribed. I only refer to the matter in
passing, for in my position of part
rer and confidant I am obliged to be
particularly careful to avoid any in
discretion. I repeat. however, that
this enables me to fix the date, which
was the latter end of June. 1902,
shortly after the conclusion of the
South African War. Holmes had spent
several days in bed, as was his habit
from time TO time, but he emerged
that morning with a long foolscap
document in his hand and a twinkle
OF amusement in his austere gray
eyes.
There is a chance for you to make
some money, Watson" said he. Have
YOU ever heard the name OF Garri-
deb?"
I admitted that l had not.
We'll, If you can lay your hand upon
r. Garrideb. there's money IN it.
Why
"Ah. that's a long story--rather q
whimsical one. too. 1 don't think in
all our explorations of human COM
plexities we have ever come upon
anything more singular. The fellow
will be here presently for cross-ex-
animation, so 1 won't open the matter
UP till he comes. But meanwhile tnats
the name we want.
The telephone directory lay on the
table beside me, and l turned over the
pages IN a rather hopeless quest. But
to my amazement there was TINS
strange name in its due place. gave
d cry of triumph.
Here you are, Holmes! Here II is!
Holmes took the book from my
hand.
"Garrideb, NJ he read. "136 Little
RYDER Street, w. Sorry 10 disappoint
YOU, Watson, but this is the man HIM
self. That is the address upon his let
ter We want another TO match him.
Mrs. Hudson had come in with
card on a tray. 1 took it up ana
glanced at it.
why, here it is" l cried in amaze
nent. This is a different initial.
John Garrideb, Counselor r-at-Law'
MoorviIle. Kans., L. S. A"
Holmes smiled as he looked at the
card. I'm afraid you must make yet
smother effort, Watson" said he. This
gentlemen is also in the plot already,
though I certainly did not expect TO
see him this morning. However, he
q
which I want to know.
Il X x
A MOMENT later he was in the
"A room. Mr. John Garrideb, counse-
lor-at-law, was short, powerrul
man with the round, fresh, clean
shayen face Characteristic Of SO many
American men of affairs. The gen
eral effect was chubby and rather
chiidlike, so that one received the I'M
broad set smile upon his face. HIS
ewes. however, were arresting. Sell
dom in any human head have I seen
a pair which bespoke q more intense
inward life, so bright were they, SO
alert, so responsive to every change OF
thought His accent was American,
but was not accompanied by any &C.
centricity of speech.
Mr. Holiness" he asked, glanclng
from one to the other. "Ah, yes. Your
pictures are not unlike you, sir, II l
may say so. / believe you have had
letter from my namesake, MT
Nathan Garrideb, have you not?"
Pray sit down" said Sherlock
Holmes. I'VE shall. I fancy, have a
good deal to discuss" He took up
his sheets of foolscap. You are, of
course, the Mr.. John Garrideb men
toned in this document. But surely
YOU have been in England some time?'
"Why do you say that. Mr.. Holiness"
I seemed to read sudden suspicion in
those expressive eyes.
"Your whole outfit is English
Mr. Garrideb forced a laugh. "I've
read of your tricks, Mr.. Holmes, but
I never thought ! would be the sub
ject Of them. Where do you read
that?"
THE shoulder cut of your coat, the
toes of your boots-could any one
doubt itT'
well, we'll, 1 had no idea I was 50
obvious Britisher. But business
brought me over here some time ago,
and so, as you say, my outfit is nearly
all London. However, 1 guess your
time is of value and we did not meet
to talk about the cut of my socks.
What about getting down to that
paper you hold in your hand?
Holmes had in some way rufHed our
visitor, whose chubby face had as
sumed far less amiable expression.
Patience, patience, Mr.. Garrideb!"
said my friend, in 9, soothing voice.
''Dr. Watson would tell you that
these little digressions of mine some
times prove in the end to have some
bearing on the matter. But why did
Mr.. Nathan Garrideb not come with
you?"
why did he ever drag you into it
at all?" asked our visitor. with a
sudden outfiame OF anger. What in
thunder had you to do with It? Here
was a bit of professional business be-
tween two gentlemen, and one Of
them must needs call in a detective. I
saw him this morning, and he told me
this fool trick he had played me, and
that's why am here. But feel bad
about it, all the same"
There was no reflection upon you,
Mr. Garrideb. 1t was simply zeal
upon his part to gain your end-an
end which is, I understand, equally
vital for both of you. He knew that
| had means of getting information,
and, therefore, 1t was very natural
that he should apply to me-"
Our visitors angry face gradually
cleared.
well, that's puts il differe-t," said
he. when I went to see him this
morning and he told me he had sent
70 a detective 1 Just asked for your
address and came right away. !
don't want police butting into a pri-
vate matter But IL you are content
lust to help us find the man, there
can be no harm in that"
Wei, that is just how it stands" /"
said Holmes. And now, sir, since
YOU are here we had best have a
clear account from your own lips.
Ny friend here knows nothing of the
details
MR.. GARRIDEB surveyed me with
4VA not too friendly a gaze. Need
he know?" he asked.
I'VE USUALLY work together"