Evening star., 1925-03-29

when, for the tenth time in as
i many years, 1 asked his leave
TO reveal the following nara
tive. So II was that at last obtaine ned
permission to put on record what
was, in some ways, the supreme mo-
ment OF my friends career.
Both Holmes and I had a weakness
for the Turkish bath. 1t was over a
cigarette m the pleasant lassitude OF
the drying room that I have found
him less reticent and more human
than anywhere else. On the upper
floor of the Northumberland avenue
establishment there is an isolated cor
her where two couches lie side by
side, and it was on these that we lay
upon September 3, 1902, the day when
my narrative begins. I had asked
him whether anything was stirring
and for answer he had shot his long
thin, nervous arm out of the sheets
which enveloped him and had drawn
an envelope from the inside pocket
of the coat which hung beside him.
ut may be some fussy, self-impor
tant fool. 1t may be a matter of life
or death" said he, as he handed me
the note. Il know no more than this
message tells me-"
II was from the Carlton Club and
dated the evening before. This Is
what i reaQ.
Sir James Damery presents his
compliments TO Mr.. Sherlock Holm es
and will call upon him at 4:3O to-
morrow. Sir James begs to say that
the matter upon which he desires to
consult Mr.. Holmes is very delicat e
and also very important. He trusts
therefore, that Mr.. Holmes will make
every effort to grant this interview
and that he will confirm il over the
telephone to the Carlton Club
Il need not say that I have con-
frmed it, Watson" said Holmes as !
returned the paper do you know
anything of this man Damery?"
only that his name is a household
word in society"
Well, can tell you a little more
than that. He has rather a reputa-
tion for arranging delicate matters
which are to be kept out Of the
papers. You may remember his ne
Eotiations with Sir George Lewis over
the Hammerford will case. He Is a
man of the world with a natural
turn for diplomacy. 1 am bound
therefore. to hope that it is not a
false scent and that he has some real
need for our assistance"
Our"
Wen, if you will be 50 good
Watson
"I shall be honored"
Then you have the hour-:30. Tn
I'll then we can put the matter out Of
our heads"
I WAS living in my own rooms in
Queen Anne street at the time
but l was round at Baker street before
the time named. Sharp to the half
hour, Colonel Sir James Damery was
announced. 1t Is hardly necessary to
describe him, for many will remember
that large, bluff, honest personality:
that broad, clean-shaven face; above
all, that pleasant, mellow voice Frank
ness shone from his gray Irish eyes
and good humor played round his
mobile, smiling lips. His lucent top
hat, his dark frock coat-indeed, every
detail from the pearl pin in the black
satin cravat to the lavender spats over
the vanished shoes-spoke OF the me-
ticulous care in dress for which he was
famous. The big, Inasterful sristocrat
dominated the little room.
'Of course I was prepared to find DR.
Watson" he remarked, with a courte-
Gus bow. His laboration may be
very necessary, for we are dealing on
This occasion, Mr.. Holmes, with a man
to whom violence is familiar and who
WILL literally, stick at nothing. !
should say that there is no more
dangerous man in Europe"
81 have had several opponents TO
whom that fattering term has been
applied" said Holmes with a smile.
Don't you smoke? Then you will ex-
cuse me if / light my pipe. II your
man is more dangerous than the late
Professor Moriarty, or than the living
Colonel Sebastian Moran. then he is
indeed worth meeting. May I ask his
name?"
Have you ever heard Of Baron
Gruner?"
You mean the Austrian murderer
Colonel Damery threw up his kid
gloved hands with a laugh. There is
no getting past you, Mr.. Holmes,
Wonderful! So you have already sized
him up as a murderer
1T is my business TO follow the de-
tails of continental crime. Who could
possibly have Tread what happened at
Prague and have any doubts as to the
mans guilt. 1t was a purely technical
legal point, and the suspicious death of
witness, that saved him! l am as
sure that he killed his wife when the
so-called accident happened in the
Splugen Pass as if I had seen him do
il. I knew. also. that he had come to
England and had a presentiment that
work to do. Well, what has Baron
Bruner been up to? | presume II Is
not this old ira agedy which has come
up again?
mo, it is more serious than that. To
revenge crime is important, but to pre-
vent it is more SO. 1t is a terrible
thing, Mr.. Holmes. to see a dreadful
event, an atrocious situation. preparing
itself before your eyes. clearly to
understand whittier it will lead, and yet
to be utterly unable to avert it. Can
trying position"
Perhaps not
Then YOU will synpathize with the
client in whose interests am acting
II did not understand that you were
merely an intermediary. Who is the
principal?"
"Mr. Holmes. ! must beg you not
TO press that question. It is impor-
tant that I should be able TO assure
him that his honored name has been
in no way dragged into the matter
His motives are, to the last degree
honorable and chivalrous, but he pre-
fers to remain unknown. 7 need not
say that your fees will be assured and
that you will be given a perfectly
free hand. Surely the actual name
Of your client is immaterial?"
Il am sorry" said Holmes, Il an
accustomed to have mystery at one
end Of my cases, but to have 1t Al
both ends ii too confusing. | fear
Sir James. that 1 must decline to act
4 i y
OCR visitor was greatly disturbed
- His large sensitive face was
darkened with emotion and disap-
pointment. You hardly realize the
effect of your own action Mr.
Holmes" said he. You place me in
a most serious dilemma, for I am
perfectly certain that you would be