Evening star., 1925-03-22

he. tOiu MIN Was n puSy ma
and could not spend my life hiking
round .he world in search OF Garri-
debs. None the less said he, that
is just what you viii do if things
pan out as planned them l
thought he was joking, but there was
q powerful lot of meaning in the
words. as 1 was soon to discover.
For he died within a year of say
ing them and he left will behind
him. 1t was the queerest will that
has ever been filed in the State of
Kansas. His property was divided
into three parts, and I was to have
one on condition that I found two
Garridebs, who would share the re-
mafnder. It's $1,000 .006 for each If 1t
is cent, but we can't lay a finger
on 1t until We all three stand in
row.
TT was so big a chance that just
let my legal practice slide and / set
forth looking for GarrIdebs. There
is not one in the United States. I
went through IL, sir, with a fine
tooth comb and never a Garrideb
could I catch. Then / tried the old
country. Sure enough, there was the
name in the London telephone direc-
tory. I went after him two days ago
and explained the whole matter to
him. But he is lone man like my
selI, with some women TeiatloHs, but
no men. 1t says three adult men in
the will. So, you see. we still have
vacancy, and II you can help to fill 1t
we Will be very ready to pay your
charges"
We'll, Watson" said Holmes with
a smile, II said 1t WAS rather whim-
steal, did I not? I should have
thought, sir, that your obvious way
was to advertise IN the agony col
umns OF the papers"
II have done that, AIR. Holmes. No
replies"
Dear me. Well. it is certainly
most curious little problem. ] may
take a glance at II in my leisure. By
the way, 1t Is curious that you should
have come from Topeka. j used to
have a correspondent-he is dead now
old DR.. Lysander Starr, who was
mayor in 1880"
Good old DR.. Starr" said our Wis
itor. His name is still honored.
Well, Mr.. Holmes, 1 suppose all we
can do is to report TO you and let you
know how we progress. I reckon you
Will hear within a day or two"
WITH this assurance our American
" bowed and departed. Holmes
had lit his pipe and he sat for some
time with a curious smile upon his
face.
"Well?' I asked, at last.
Il am wondering, Watson = just
wondering"
AT what"
Holmes took his pipe from his lips.
II was wondering, Watson, what on
earth could be the object of this man
in telling US such a rigmarole of lies.
nearly asked him so-for there are
times when a brutal frontal attack
is the best policy II but I judged IL
better to let him think he had fooled
US. Here Is man with an English
coat frayed at the elbow and trousers
bagged at the knee with a years
wear, and yet by this document and
by his own account he is a provin-
ciai American lately landed in Lon
don. There have been no advertise
ments in the agony columns. You
know that l miss nothing there. They
are my favorite covert for putting up
a bird, and l would never have over
looked such a cock pheasant as that,
never knew a DR.. Lysander Starr
Of Topeka. Touch him where you
would he was false. l think the fell
low is really an American, but he has
worn his accent smooth with years of
London. What IS his game, then, and
what motive lies behind this prepos-
i
it's worth our attention. for, granting
that the man is a rascal. he is GER
tainly a complex and ingenious one.
We must now find out IL our other
correspondent is a fraud also. VIII
you be kind enough to ring him UP,
WatsonT'
1 did so and heard a thin. quaver-
ing voice at the other end of the line
Yes, yes, I am Mr.. Nathan Garri-
Inh T. ~
very much like to have word with
Mr.. Holmes"
Ny friend took the instrument and
I heard the usual syncopated dia-
logue.
Yes, he has been here. I under
stand that you don't know him. How
long? Only two days! Yes. yes, Of
course, It is a most captivating pros
pect. Will you be at home this eve
ming? 1 suppose your namesake will
not be there. Very good, we shall
come then, for I would rather have a
chat without him. DR.. Watson Will
come with me. 1 understood from
your note that you did not go out
often. Well. we shall be round about
s. You need not mention it to the
American lawyer. Very good. Good
bye"
: X **
TT was twilight Of O. lovely Spring
evening, and even Little Ryder
street, one Of the smaller ofrshoots
from the Edgware road, within a
stone cast of old Tyburn tree Of evil
memory, looked golden and wonder
full in the slanting rays of the set
ting sun. The particular house to
which We were directed was a large.
old-fashioned, early Gregorian edi-
flee with q fiat brick face, broken
only by two deep bay windows on the
ground floor. It was on this ground
floor that our client lived. and indeed
the low windows proved to be the
front Of the huge room in which he
spent his waking hours. Holmes
pointed as we passed TO the small
brass plate which bore the curious
name.
Has been up some years, watson -
he remarked, indicating its discolor ed
surface. IT'S his real name, anyhow
and that is something to note"
The house had q common stair, and
there were number of names paint
ed in the hall, some indicating Of
fees and some private chambers. 1t
was not a collection Of residential
flats, but rather the abode Of Bo-
hemian bachelors. Our client opened
! the door for US himself and apollo
gized by saying that the woman in
charge left at 4 o'clock. Mr.. Nathan
Garrideb proved to be O. very tall
loose-jointed, round-backed person
gaunt and bald. some e0-odd years
of age. He had a cadaverous face
with the dull, dead skin Of a man to
whom exercise was unknown. Large
round spectacles and a small project
ing goats beard combined with his
| STOPPING attitude to give him an ex.
preston of peering curiosity. The
! general effect. however, was amiable
| though eccentric.
! The room was as curious as its oc.
! II Look Ad 1Ilra