Evening star., 1925-03-29
A New Sherlock Holmes Story
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

alone. I was nearer him than any
one else, and yet L was always con
scious of tho gap between.
x X
ON the seventh day the stitches
~ were taken out, in spite of which
there was a report of erysipelas in
the evening papers. The same evening
papers had an announcement WhioA
l was bound, sick or well. to carry
TO my friend. It was simply that
among the passengers on the Cunaxr
boat Ruritania starting from Liver
pool On Friday was the Baron Adcf-
bert Gruner, who had some important
financial business to settle in the
States before his impending wedding
to Miss Violet de Merville. only
to the news with a. cold, concentrated
look upon his pale face which told
me that it hit him hard
Friday" he cried. only three
clear days. I believe the rascal wants
TO put himself out of dangers way.
But he won't, Watson. BY the Lord
Harry, he won't! Now, Watson. l
want you to do something for me-"
Il am here to be used, Holmes
well then. spend the next "a hours
in an intensive study of Chinese pot
terry"
lie gave no explanations and
asked for none. BY long experience
i had learned the wisdom of obcdi-
ence. But when 1 had left his room
l walked down Baker street revolv-
ing in my head how on earth l was
10 carry out so strange an order.
Finally I drove to the London Library
in st. James Square, put the matter
70 my friend Lomax, the subIibrar-
ian, and departed to my rooms with
Goodly volume under my arm.
1t is said that the barrister who
Grams up a case with such care that
he can examine an expert witne
upon the Monday has forgotten all his
forced knowledge before the Satur-
day. Certainly l should not like now
TO pose as an authority upon ceramics.
And yet all that evening and all that
night with short interval for rest and
all next morning l was sucking in
knowledge and committing names :"
memory. There | learned of the hall
marks of the great decorators,
of the mystery OF cyclicai dates, the
marks of the Hung-wu and the beau
ties of the Gung-lo, the writings OF
Tang-ying, and the glories of the
primitive period OF the Sung and the
Yuan.
4 WAS charged with all this infor-
nation when I called upon Holmes
next evening. He was out of bed nov,
though you would not have guessed
1t from published reports. and he sal
with his much -bandaged head resting
upon his hand in the depth Of his
,favorite armchair.
Why, Holiness l said. IF one be-
lieved the papers. you are dying"
That said he. is the very i'm
preston which ! intended to convey.
And now. Watson, have you learned
your lessons?"
AT least ! have tried to-
Good. You could keep up an intel
lisent conversation on the subject
Il believe | could
Then hand me that little box from
the mantelpiece."
He opened the lid and took out a
small object most carefully wrapped
In some fine Eastern silk. This he un-
folded and disclosed a delicate little
saucer of the most beautiful deep
blue color.
1T needs careful handling. Watson.
this is the real eggsheu pottery OF
the Ming dynasty. No finer piece
ever passed through Christie's A
complete set Of this would be worth
a kings ransom-in fact, it is doubt
full if there is a complete set outside
the imperial palace of Peking. The
sight Of this would drive real con-
noisseur wild"
What am to do with it,"
Holmes handed me d card upon
which was printed: DIR. Hill Barton,
500 Half Moon street"
THAT is your name for the evening,
Watson. You will call upon Baron
Gruner. I know something or his
habits, and at $50 he would probably
be disenga ged. \ note will tell him
in advance that you are about 10 call.
and you Will say that you are bring
ing him specimen of an absolutely
unique set of Ming china You may
as well be a medical man, since that
is part which you can play with
out dupllcity. You are collector
this set has come your way, you have
heard of the barons interest in the
subject, and you are not ayerse to
selling at a price"
What price,"
We'll asked, Watson. You would
certainly fall down badly II you d1d
not know the value of your own
wares. This saucer was got for me
by Sir James ard comes, | understand
from the collection of his client. You
viii not exaggerate if you say that II
could hardly be matched in the
world"
Il could perhaps suggest that tho
set should be valued by an expert.
Excellent, Watson, You scintillate
today. Suggest Christie or Sotheby.
Your delicacy prevents your putting
a price for yourself"
But if he won't see me-"
"Oh. yes he will see you He has
the collection mania in its most acute
form-and especially on this subject,
| on which he is an acknowledged
authority. Sit down. Watson. and I
will dictate the letter. No answer
| needed. You will merely say that
| you are coming and why"
1t was an admirable document,
short. courteous, and stimulating TO
the curiosity of the connoisseur. \
district messenger was duly dis
| patched with it.
=
ION the same evening. with tho
~ precious saucAr in my hand and
tho card Of DIR. Hill Barton in my
pocket. 1 set off on my own adven-
ture.
The beautiful house and grounds
indicated that Baron Gruner was. IS
Sir James had said a man of con
siderable wealth. A long winding
/ drive. with banks OF rare shrubs on
either side, opened out into a great
graveIed square adorned with statues.
| The place had been built by South
African gold king in the days of the
great boom, and the long low house
with the turrets at the corners,
| though an architectural nightmare,
was imposing in its size and solidity.
| A butler who would have adorned r
| bench of bishops showed me in, and
! handed me over TO pIush-c!ad foot
man, who ushered me into the baron :
| presence.
! He was standing at the open front
| of a great case which stood between
! the windows and which contained