Evening Star Newspaper, March 22, 1925, Page 72

4 This ished in a newsp Watsc most thrilling s of Sherlock Holme thir of a befor sertes pub- which lis some adven the been a con it been a trage his T a bloodletting, another man the aw. Yet there saent of comedy judge for yours I remember th 1t was in the same vefused nighthood which may perhaps som seribed. I only refer to the matter {n passing, for in my position of part- rer and confidant 1 am obliged to be particularly cold in- iscreti hat ) fix the date, which was the end of June, 1902,) shortly after the conclusion the | outh African War. Holmes had spent several days in bed, as was his habit 2 time to time, but he emerged that morning Wit long foolscap document in his hand wnd a twinkle of amusement his tere gray eyes. There is a c me money, Watson, ou_ever heard the deb?” 1 sdmitted that 1 had “Well, if you can la there’s m y. Tt cost t me yet fes of the y an ele- one it 150 1 pen: was certalr Wwell, dute very well, for )nth that Holmes for services day be de- < . 1 repea this enables me o make | Have Garri- said he name of not hand upon = long story- | in I don’t t s of human com- viexities have ever come upon ‘thing more singular. The fellow i1l be here presently for Cross-ex- <mination, so I won’t open the matter up till he comes. Rut meanwhile that's the name we want.” The telephone directory lay on the table beside me, and I turned over the pages in a rather hopeless quest. But to my amazement there was this strange name in its due place. 1 gave a ory of triumph. i “Here you are, Holmes! Here it is! Holmes took the book from my hand. “Garrideb, N.” he read, “136 Little Ryder Street, W. Sorry to disappoint you, Watson, but this is the man him- olf. That s the address upon his let- ter. We want another to match him.” Mrs. Hudsc had come in with a card on @ tray. I took it up and| glanced at it. “Why, here i ment. “This John Gar Aloorville, Holmes Kk 41l our explor: I cried differe Couns: in amaze- t initial or-at-Law, looked at the card. “I'm afraid 3 iust make vet wnother effort, Watson,” said he. “This gentlemen 1s also in the plot already, though 1 certainly did not expect to ree him this morning. However, he is in @ position to tell us a good deal which T want to know. * % % x MOMENT later he was in the room. Mr. John Garrideb, counse- lor-at-law, was & short, powerful man with the round, fresh, clean- <haven face characteristic of 5o many \merican men of affairs. The gen- eral effect was chubby and rather childlike, 8o that one received the {m pression of quite a young man with & broad set smile upon his face. His eyes, however, were arresting. Sel- dom in any human head have a I seen 2 pair which baspoke & more intense inward life, so bright were they, 50 alert, so responsive to every change of thought. His accent was American, but was not accompanied by any ec- centricity of speech i “Mr. Holmes?' he asked, glancing 1rom one to the other. “Ah, yes. Your pictures are not unlike you, sir, if I may say so. 1 believe you have had a letter from my namesake, Mr. than Garrideb, have you not?” Pray sit down” sald Sherlock Holmes. “We shall, T fancy, have a good deal to dlscuss.” He took up his sheets of foolscap. “You are, of course, tha Mr. John Garrideb men- tioned in this document. But surely 1ou have been in England some time “Why do you say that, Mr. Holmes [ seemed to read sudden suspicion in those expressive eves. Your whole outfit {s English Mr. Garrideb forced a laugh. “I've read of your tricks, Mr. Holmes, but 1 never thought 1 would be the sub- ject of them. Where do you read that?” “The shoulder cut of your coat, the toes of vour boots—could any one doubt it “Well, well, T had no idea I waus so obvious a Britisher. But business brought me over here some time ago, and 80, a8 you sy, my outfit is nearly all London, However, 1 guess your time 18 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 vour hand Holmes had in some way ruffled our visitor, whose chubby face had as- sumed @ far less amlable expression. “Patience, patience, Mr. Garrideb!" said my friend, in & 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 vou? Why did he ever drag all?” asked our visitor, with a sudden outflame of anger. “What In thunder had you to do with {t? Here was & bit of professional business be- tween two gentlemen, and ome of | them must needs call in a detective. I saw him this morning, and he told me *his fool trick he had played me, and that's why I am here. But I feel bad about ft, all the same.” “There was no refisction upon you, Mr. Garrideb. It 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, it was very natural that he should apply to me." Our visitor's angry face gradually | sleared ! “Well, that's puts it differers,” sn1d he. “When 1 went to seo him this morning o a detective I just asked for your | ddress and came right awa don’t want police butting into a pri- | vate matter. But if you are content | ust to help us find the man, there an be no harm in that “Well, that is just how it stands,” sald Holmes. “And now, sir, since vou are here we had best have a clear account from your own lips. My friend here knows nothing of the detaile i M’ AVL 7ot too friendly a gaze. he know?" he asked. “We usually work together. “Well, there's no reason it should kept a secret. I'll give you the facts ae short as I can make them. It you came from Kansas I would 10t need to explain to you who Alex- ander Hamilton Garrideb was. He made his money in real estate, and afterward in the wheat pit at Chi- cago, but he spent it in buying up as much land as would make one of your countfes, lying along the Ar- kansas River, west of Fort Dodge. 1t's grazing land and lumber land, and arable land and mineralized land, and just every sort of land that brings dollars to the man that owns it. “He had no kith nor kin—or if he ! had, T never heard of it. But he took a kind of pride in the queerness of his name. That was what brought us together. 1 was in the law at Topeka, and one day T had a visit from the old man and he was tickled o death to meet another man with | his own name. It was his pet fad vou into it P JARRIDEB surveyed me with | “Need | >u shall | | “Dear me: | | the .world. “ind {he. T told him I was a busy man | and could not spend my life hiking ound the world in search of Garri- None the less,’ sald he, ‘that {18 ju what you will do if things |pan out as I planned them. I thought he was joking, but there was . powerful lot of meaning in the words, as I was soon to discover. “For he died within a year of say- ing them and he left a will behind him. It 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- matnder. It's §5,000,000 for each If it is a cent, but we can't lay a finger on it until we all three stand in a row “It was 80 big a chance that I just |let my legal practice slide and I set forth looking for Garridebs. There is not one in the United States. I went through it, sir, with a fine- tooth comb and never a Garrideb could T catch. Then I tried the old country. Sure enough, there was the me another! said | debs. {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 Itke my- self, with some women relations, but no men. It says three adult men in the will. So. you see, we still have a vacancy, and if you can help to fill it we wiil be very ready to pay your charges “Well, Watson,” said Holmes with a smile, “T said it was rather whim- sical, did I not? I should have thought, sir, that your obvious way wvas to advertise in the agony col- | umns of the pape: “I have done that, Mr. No replies. Holmes. Well, it s certainly a most curious little problem. I may take a glance at it in my lefsure. By the way, it is curfous that you should have come from Topeka. 1 used to have a correspondent—he s dead now —old Dr. Lysander Starr, who was mayor in 1890." ‘Good old Dr. Starr!” said our vis- itor. “His name is still honored. Well, Mr. Holmes, I 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." * % K % ITH this assurance our American bowed and departed. Holmes | had 1it his pipe and he sat for some time with & face “Well?" I asked, at last. “I am wondering, Wats wondering! “At what?" Holmes took his pipe from his lips. “I was wondering, Watson, what on earth could be the object of this man in telling us such a rigmarole of lies, I nearly asked him so—for there are times when a brutal frontal attack is the best polloy —but I judged it better to let him think he had fooled us. Here i3 a man with an English coat frayed at the elbow and trousers bagged at the knes with a years wear, and yet by this document and by his own account he is a provin- clal American lately landed in Lon- don. There have been no advertise- ments in the agony columns. You know that I miss nothing there. They are my favorite covert for putting up & bird, and 1 would never have over- looked such & cock pheasant as that. I never knew a Dr. Lysander Starr of Topeka. Touch him where you would he was false. I think the fel- 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- terous search for Garridebs. T belleve it's worth our attention, for, granting that the man s a rascal, he is cer- tainly a complex and ingenious one. We must now find out if our other correspondent {s a fraud also. Will you be kind enough to ring him up, Watson?" I did so and heard a thin, quaver- ing voice at the other end of the line. “Yes, yes, I am Mr. Nathan Garri- deb. Is Mr. Holmes there? I should very much like to have a word with Mr. Holmes.” My friend took the instrument and I heard the usual syncopated dia- logue. “Yes, he has been here. T under- stand that you don't know him. How long? Only two days! Yes, yes, of course, it is a most captivating pros- pect. Wil you be at home this eve- ning? I suppose your namesake will not be there. Very good, we shall come then, for T would rather have a ehat 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 6. You need not mentfon it to the American lawyer. Very good. Good- bye!” JT was twilight of a lovely Spring evening, and even Little Ryder street, one of the smaller offshoots from the Edgware romd, within a stone cast of old Tyburn tree of evil memory, looked golden and wonder- ful 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- fice with a flat brick face, broken only by two deep bay windows on the ground floor. It was on this ground floor that our client lived, and {ndeed low windows proved to be 1t of the huge room in which he spent his waking hours. Holmes pointed as we passed to the small curious smile upon his * ok %k ¥ name, “Has been up some years, Watson,” he remarked, indicating its discolored surface. “It's his real name, anyhow, and that is somethting to note.” The house had a common stair, and there were & number of names paint- ed in the hall, some indicating of- fices and some private chambers. It was not a collection of residential flats, but rather the abode of Bo- hemian bachelors. Our client opened the door for us himself and apolo- gized by seying that the woman in chargo left at 4 o'clock. Mr. Nathan Garrided proved to be & very tall, loose-jointed, round-backed person, gaunt and bald, some 80-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 goat's beard combined with his stooping attitude to give him an ex- pression of peering curlosity. The general effect, however, was amiable, though eccentric, The room was as curfous as its oc- cupant. It looked like a small mu- seum. It was both broad and deep, With cupboards and cabinets all around, crowded with specimens, ge- ological and anatomical. Cases of butterflies and moths flanked each side of the entrance. A large table n the center was littered with all sorts of debris while the tall brass tube of a powerful microscope bris- tled up among them. As I glanced around I was surprised at the uni- versality of the man's interests. Here was a case of anclent coins. Thore was a cabinet of flint instruments. Behind his central table was a large cupboard of fossil bones. Above wa: a line of plaster skulls with euch nderthal,” ‘“Heidel- “Cro-Magnon” printed beneath It was clear that he was a student of many subjects. As he stood In front of us now, he held a piece of chamois leather in his right hand, with which he was polishing a coin. “Syracusan—of the best period,” he explained, holding it up. “They de- generated greatly toward the end. At their best I hold them supreme, though some prefer the Alexandria school. You will find a chair here, and he was dead set to find out if b Were &Ny, Jnors Gacrideds N Mr. Holmes. Pray allow me to clear B theme-DABML ADG FOUy SlDmaly Fo&! brass plate which bore the curious| THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, MARCH 22, 1925—PART The Adventure of the Three Garridebs SAID HOLMES, e PP e pmpesn. Al 4 —. . (I Another Sherlock Holmes Story “BUT YOU HAVE BEEN IN ENGLAND FOR SOME TIME.” SAID SHERLOCK HOLMES TO MR. GARRIDEB OF KANSAS. MR. GARRIDEB WON- DERED HOW MR. HOLMES KNEW. “THE SHOULDER OF YOUR COAT, THE TOES OF YOUR SHOE: COULD ANY ONE DOUBT IT?" Dr. Watson—if you would have the goodness to put the Japanese vase to one side. You see round me my littls interests in life. My doctor lectures me about never going out, but why should I go out when I hava xo much to hold me here? I can assure you that the adequate cataloging of one of those cabinets would take m three good months.” ik OLMES looked round him with curfosity. “But do you tell me that you never go out”™ he said Now and again I drive down to Sotheby's or Christie’ erwise 1 very seldom leave my room. I am not too strong, and my researches are very absorbing. But you can imag- tne, Mr. Holmes, what a terrific shock —pleasant, but terrific—it was for me when I heard of this unparalleled good fortune. It only needs one more Garrided to complete the matter, and surely we can find one. I had a brother, but he is dead, and female relatives are disqualified. But there must surely be others in the world I heard that you handled strang: cases, and that was why I you. Of course, this American gen- tleman is quite right, and I should ! have taken his advice first, but I acted for the best.” “I think you acted very wisely, in- deed,” said Holmes. “But are you really anxious to acquire an estate in America?” “Certainly not, sir. Nothing would induce me to leave my collection. But thls gentleman has assured ‘me that he will buy me out as soon as we have established our ctlaim. Five millfon dollars was the sum “named {There are a dozen specimens in the market at the present moment which fill gaps in my collection and which I am unable to purchase for want of & few hundred pounds. Just think what I could do with five million dol- Jars! Why, I have the nucleus of a national collection. 1 will be the Hans Sloane of my age.” g His eyes gleamed behind his great spectacies. 1t was very clear that no pains would be spared by Mr. Nathan Garrideb in finding a name sake. “I merely called to make your ac- quaintance, and there is no reason I should interrupt your studies, said Holmes. "I prefer to establish personal touch with those with whom I do business. There are few ques- tions I need ask, for I have your very clear narrative in my pocket and I filled up the blanks when this Amer- fcan gentleman called. 1 understand that up to this week you were un- aware of his existence.” “That is so. He called on me last Tuesday.” “Did he tell you of our interview to- 4 Yes, ho came straight He had been very angry “Why should he be angry? “He seemed to think it was some | reflection on his honor. But he was quite cheerful again when he re- turned.” “Did he suggest any course of ac- tion “No, sir; he did not.” “Has he had, or asked for, any money from you?” No, sir; You see no possible object he has in view? “None, except what he states.” “Did you tell him of our telephone appointment “Yes, sir, I di Holmes was lost in thought. see that he was puzzied . “Have you any articles of great alue in your collection?" ‘No, sir. I am not a rich man. It is & good collection, but not a very valuable one.” “Have you no fear of burglars?” I could | sent to | ney for years. Not the least. “How long have you been in' these rooms?” “NpACly, Lve yearsd (] Holmes' cross-examination was in- terrupted by an imperative knock- ing at the door. No sooner had our client unlatched it than the American lawyer burst excitedly into the room. “Here you are!” he cried, waving a paper over his head. “I thought I would be in time to get you. Mr Nathan _Garrideb, my congratula- tions! You are a rich man, sir. Our business is happily finished and all is well. As to you, Mr. Holmes, we can only say we are sorTy if we have given you any useless trouble.” He handed over the paper to our client, who stood staring at a marked advertisement. Holmes and I leaned forward and read it over his shoulder. This is how it ran: HOWARD GARRIDEB, Constructor of Agricultural Machinery. Reapers, Steam and Hand Plows, Drills, Harrows, Farmers' “arts,” Buckboards, and All Other Appliances. Estimates for Artesian Wells. APPLY GROSVENOR BUILDINGS, ASTON. tlorious!” gasped our host. makes our third man.” “I had opened up inquiries in Bir- mingham,” said the American, “and my agent thers has sent me this ad- vertisement from a local paper. We must hustle and put the thing through. I have written to this man and told him that you will see him in his ofice tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock.” “You want we to see him? “What do you say, Mr. Holmes? Don't you think it would be wiser? Here 1 am, a wandering American, with a wonderful tale. Why should he belleve what I tell him? But you are a Britisher with solld references and he is bound to take notice of what you say. I would go with you if you wished, but I have a very busy day tomorrow, and I could always, follow you if you are in any trouble.” “Well, I have not made such a jour- “It 1s” nothing, Mr. Garrideb. I have figured out your trains. ‘You leave at 12 and should be thers be- fore 2. Then you can be back the same night. All you have to do is to see this -man, explain the matter and get an affidavit of his existence By the Lord!” he added hotly, “con- sidering I've come all the way from the center of America, it is surely little enough if you go a hundred miles in_order to put this matter through. “Quite s0,” sald Holmes. what this gentleman says true.” Mr. Nathan Garrideb shrugged his shoulders with a disconsolate a! “Well, if you insist, I shall go,” said he. “It is certainly hard for me to refuse you anything, considering the glory of hope that you have brought | into my life.” “Then that is agreed,” said Holmes, ‘and no doubt you will let me have & report as soon as you can.” "1l see to that” said the Ameri- can. “Well” he added, looking at his watch, “T'll have to get on. I'll call tomorrow, Mr. Nathan, and see you off to Birmingham. Coming my way, Mr. Holmes? Well, then, good-bye, and we may have good news for you tomorrow night." I noticed that my friend's face cleared when the American left the room, and the look of thoughtful perplexity had vanished. “I wish T could look over your col- lection, Mr. GarrideD,” sald he. “In my profession all sorts of odd knowl- edge comes useful, and this room of yours is a storehouse of it PR UR client shone with pleasure and his eyes gleamed from be- hind his big glasses. “1 had always heard, sir, that you were a very intelligent man,” said he. “I could take you round now, if you Ve 1he SRty Binders, “That think is very |1 noticed that his face was very “Unfortunately, I have not. But| these specimens are so well labeled | and classified that they hardly need| your personal explanation. If I| should be able to look in tomorrow | I presume that there would bes no objection to my glancing over them' ‘None at all You are most wel- come. The place will, of course, be| shut up, but Mrs. Saunders is in the basement up to 4 o'clock and would| let you in with her key.” | Well, I happen to be clear tomor- row afternoon. If vou would say word to Mrs. Saunders, it would b quite in order. By the way, who is your house agent?” Our client was amazed at the sud- den question. “Holloway & Steele, in the Edgware Road. But wh “I am a bit of an myzelf when it com Holmes, laughing. ing if this was Georgian.” “Georglan, beyond doubt.” “Really. 1 should have thought a little earlier. However, it is easily ascertained. Well, good-bye, Mr. Gar- rideb, and may you have every suc- cess in your Birmingham journey." The house agent's was close by, but we found that it was closed for the day. so we made our way back to Baker Street. It was not °till after dinner that Holmes came back to the subject. ‘Our’ little problem draws to a close,” said he. “No doubt you have outlined the solution in your own mind.” of L oan make neither head mor tail “The head is surely and the tail we archeologist 0 houses.” sald | T was wonder- Queen Anne o 3 ];ln.\r enough, | h ould ses tomor- row. “DIA you notice nothing curions | lb?ut that advertisement?" “l saw that the w v * W Lopeniil word ‘plough’ was “Oh, You did notice that, Come, Watson, you improve all the time. Yes, it was bad English but 800d American. The printer had put it up as received. Then the buck- boards. That is American, also. And arteslan wells are commoner twith them than with us. It was a typical American advertisement, but purport. ing to be from an English firm. What do you make of that?" “I can only suppose that this Amer- ican lawyer put it in himself. What his object was I fail to understand.” “Well, there are alternative expla- nations. Anyhow, he wanted to get this good old forsil up to Birming- ham. That is very clear. I might have told him that he was olearly go- ing on & wild-goose chase, but, on second thoughts, it seemed better to clear the stage by letting him go. Tomorrow, Watson—well, tomorrow will speak for itself.” * % X ¥ H did you? OLMES was up and out early. When he returned at lunch time grave. “This is & more serious matter than I had expected, Watson,” said he. “It is fair to tell you so, though I know it will only be an additional reason to you for running your head Into danger. I should know my Watson by now. But there is danger, and you should know it.” “Well, it s not the first we have shared, Holmes. I hope it may not be the last. What is the particular danger this time “We are up against a very hard case. T have identified Mr. John Gar- rideb, counselor-at-law. He is none other than ‘Killer' Evans of sinister and murderous reputation.” “I fear I am none the wiser.” “Ah, it is not part of your profes- sion to carry about a portable New- calendar in your memory., I been down to see friend Lei trade at the Yard. There may be an occasional want' of imaginative in- tuition down there, but they lead the ROld for tRarguehness and methed, I had th n idea that we might get on track of our American friend in records. Sure enough, I found chubby face smiling up at me from the ‘rogues’ portrait gallery.’ ‘James Winter, allas Morecroft, allas ler Evans,’ was the inscription be- " Hol w an envelope from pocket scribbled down a few nts from his dossier. Aged 44. fve of Chicago. Known to have «hot three men in the Escaped from penitentlary through political niuence. Came to London in 1893. Shot a man over cards in a night club in the Waterloo Road In January, 1895 Man dled, but he was shown to have been the aggressor in the row Dead man was identified as Rodger Presbury, famous as forger and coiner in Chicago. Killer Evans leasql in 1901, Has been under police supervision since, but so far as known has led an honest life. Very dangerous man, usually carries arms and is prepared to use them.' That is our bird, Watson—a sporting bird, as you must admit. But what is his ga “Well, it begins to define itself. have been to the house agents. Our client, as he told us, has been thers five yvears. It was unlet for a vear before then. The previous tenant was & gentleman at large named Wal- dron. Waldron's appearance was well remembered at the office. He had suddenly vanished, and nothing more been heard of him. He was a tall bearded man with very dark fea- tures, Now, Presbury, the man whom Killer Evans had shot, was, accord- ing to Scotland Yard, a tall, dark man with a beard. As a working hy- pothesis, I think we may take it that Presbury, the American criminal, used to live in the very room which our innocent friend now devotes to his museum. So at last we get a link, you see.” And the next link?" “Well, we must go now and look for that.” He took a revelver from the draw- er and handed it to me. 1 have m own little small, but effective. If our wild West friend tries to live up to his nick- name, we must be ready for him. I'll gIve you an hour for a siesta, Wat- =on, and then I think it will be time for our Ryder street adventure.” * Xk x x T was just 4 o'clock when we reached the curious apartment of Nathan Garrideb. Mrs. Saunders, the caretaker, was about to leave, but she had no hesitation in admitting us, for the door shut with a spring lock and Holmes promised to =ee that all was safe before we left. Shortly atterward the outer door closed, her bonnet passed the bow window, and we knew that we were alone in the lower floor of the house. Holmes made a rapld examination of the premises, There was one cupboard in a dark corner which stood out a little from the wall. It was behind this that we eventually crouched, while Holmes in a whisper outlined his_intentions. “He wanted to get our amiable friend out of his room, that is very clear, and as the collector naver went out it took some planning to do it. The whole of this Garrideb invention ‘was apparently for no other end. I must say, Watson, that there is a certain devilish ingenuity about it even if the queer name of the tenant did_give him an opening which he could hardly have expected. He wove his plot with remarkable cunning.” “But what did he want?” “Well, that is what we are here to find out. It has nothing whatever to do with our client, so far as I can read the situation. It is something connected with the man he murdered —the man who may have been his confederats in crime. There is some guilty secret in the room. That is how I read it. At first I thought our friend might have something in h collection more valusbla shan 1es 1 derringer, knew—-something worth tion of a big criminal. But the fact that Rodger Presbu of evil mem- ory, inhabited these rooms points to mome deeper reason. Well, Watson we can but posses our souls in pa- tience and see what the hour may | bring.” | That hour was not long in striking. We crouched closer in the shadow as we heard the outer door open and shut. Then came the sharp metallic snap of a key and the American was in the room. He closed the door softly behind him, took a sharp glance around him to ses that all was safe, threw off his overcoat and walked up to the central table with the brisk manner of one who knows exactly what he has to do and how to do it. He pushed the table one side, tore up the square of carpet on which it rested, rolled it completa Iy back, and then, drawing a jimm from his inside pocket, knelt dow Presently we heard the sound of sliding boards and an instant later a square had opened in the planks Killer Evans struck a match, lit stump of candle and vanished from our view. P LEARLY our moment had come Holmes touched my wrist as & signal, and together we stole across to the open trapdoor. Gently as we moved, however, the old floor must have creaked under our feet, for the head of our American, peering anx- lously round, emerged suddenly from the open space. His face turned upon us with a glare of bafed rage, which | gradually softened into a rather shamefaced grin us he realized that two pistols were pointed at s head “Well, well!” sald he, cool rambled to the surface. T guess You have been one tco many for me Mr. Holmes. Saw through my game. 1 suppose, and played me for a suck from the first. Well, air, T hand to you; you have me beat and——" In an instant he hed whisked out a revolver from his breast and had fired two shots. I felt o sudden hot sear as if a red-hot fron had been pressed to my thigh. There was a crash as Holmes' plstol came down on the man's head. I had a viston of him sprawling upon the floor, with blood running down his face while Holmes rummaged him for weapons Then my friend's wiry arms round me and he was leading me chalr. “You'rs not God's sake, say Rurt!” Tt was worth a wound worth many wounds know depth of loyalty and ve which behind that cold mask The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a mo- ment and the firm lips were shaking For the one and only time I caught @ glimpse of a great heart as well as of @ great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that mo nt of re | lation. “It's nothing, Holmes scratch.” He had ripped up my his picket knife. “You are right,” he cried, with an tmmense sigh of relief. “It is superfictal!™ His face set like flint as he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with a dazed face. “By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson you would not have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what have you to say for vourself?” were ta Watson? that 1 are For not was the It's o mere trousers with BY J. A. WALDRON. T is illogical for Blanche Wing to study law,” remarked one of her friends to another, *“Blanche is too handsome a girl. She can find more than one man with money anxious to give her ease and luxur “Well, I've talked with Blanche about it," replied the other. ‘“She man interests her only incident- She wants a career. Thinks she can do a lot of good in the law. And you know she is ardent in the cause of woman. She believes there is no mental differentfation of sex. Besides, there is another viewpoint. A hand some woman lawyer ought to win the cases in which she is employed.” Blanche was a student in a well known law school, and near gradu- ation. Luke Densmore came to the school as & lecturer. He was a young man of fine presence and had an ex- ceptional knowledge of criminal law. He had been picked by his party to run for the district attorneysh!p. Densmore fell in love with Blanche, and she reciprocated. All at once she revised her opinion of men and matri- mony. But she thought she could make a home for the man of her choice and still do good in her pro- fession. Densmore rallied her on this point, but when he found her mind fixed he became diplomatic. He had such an opinfon of his own plausibil- ity that he let the matter go for the time. Gradually he would bring her to his way of thinking. The present obsession was matrimony—and a honeymoon. It was agreed that the day Blanche secured her legal diploma they should be married. And so it happened. They would make a happy journey and be back in time for the political cam- palgn into which Densmore was to enter. And it was planned that a cosy home should be ready for occu- pancy on their return. Even a skilled housekeeper was engaged * % ok ¥k (3 IDURING their felicitous journey- ings both ignored the subject of the law, except for superficial discus- sion now and then of its benefits to humanity. In their stateroom on the steamer that was about to dock at the end of their trip Blanche made the subject personal. “I wonder, dear,” she ventured, “if you would like me to have an office with you?” “An office with me? Are you serious, sweetheart?” “Of courss I'm serfous! I am a lawyer. Did you imagine I had given up the idea?’ “I had hoped you twers happy enough to forget it. How can you make & home for us—an {deal home— and practice law?” ‘How do you play golt almost every pleasant afternoon, dear, and yet carry on your practice? I need not give all my time to the law. I can get some idea of its practice and still make a home." Densmore was thoughtful. “Will you postpone the subject a little? You know I must plunge right into poll- tios. Walt, please, until Iam elected —or defeated—dear girl!" And Blanche loved him enough to promise to walt, But her ultimate idea persisted. Densmore was elected district at- torney and at once assumed office. He was very busy. Blanche was con- siderate. But she scanned the pro- ceedings of the courts daily with a feverish interest. Several women ‘were appearing attorneys. And the election had furnished political surprises. Three of the new Board of Aldermen wers women, and wom- en were planning to contest for seats in the Legislature at the next elec- tion. But women figured in other aspects of the news. The daily journals made much of & sensational case of grand larceny. A young woman, Grace Bel- lair, who had held = confidential clerkship in a prominent bank, had been lndicted fof shat crimey A buns the atten-| and worked vigorously upon the floor. | v, as he | quite | By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle He had nothing to say for himes He only lay and scowled. 1 leaned on Holmes' a together we looked down whic a by the candle W | « number of ] “A pri tfit “Yes, sir ir prisoner, gering slowl his feet and sinking in The greates Presby bundles on t sand of Lond *s ma tabl Presbury's notes, each and fit to Help yourselves, a deal and let 1 nes laughed n pass ans gentleme Call it Ho “We Evar you ol gs A fo y ou this got. five vears nls have a soup plate & Presbury No 1fv from hadn't p flooded London where li der that 1 And can you made them nted t G o get to th wonder razy ting right i best 1 a 1 aw oug T i Ho! ng, a nt. T've Where do o beer carted g unless oth Mr. el not hurt you get me “Only attampted murder, T can see,” said Holmes. not our job. They take that at th stage. What we wanted & present was just your sweet self Just give the Yard a call, Watsor entirely unexpected so far as “But that's abou s remarkable Garridebs later over the shoc When dts cast ied hir He was las: home fn Brix the Yar y ot was dis though they knew that they had never been able doath of the m to find it was deed covered, t existe after th out where eral wo men to sleep counterfeite self as They would willing ribed to that so which the crimina an unappreclative favorable view ed to those he had jus the by der, stands him poken, but h took a less the killer re: les from wh Tnited States and Can by Nir' Arthur Conan Doyle. Released through the North American Newspaper A L sace.) The Woman’s Side of It dle of bank notes of high denomina tion had been found In the pocket of her coat at the bank. The new papers sald she was a girl who had no special call to work. Her parent were well-to-do, and her fiance, rising young architect, had qualified as her bondsman in court and secured her temporary freedom. Like other girls in good circumstances, she had been ambitious to do something, hav ing been active in canteen work dur ing the 4ar. She protested her inno cence of the theft, ulthough evider st her seemed conclusive. | |as T ov “story” Densmore, to soctety cute. “Why ca act?” Blanche asked. “How would it look some ona else handle portant case that comes to me he was o t upon it that went to his office after dinner look over the indictment That evening Blanch, —Grace Bellair herself. |alone, she saia had wished to Blanche saw in her of strong charact “I understand you are a lawyer. said the visitor, “and I had an ir pulse to tell you my story, although you are the wife of district a torney.” The story she told was o detalls that the newspapers could not ge Blanche talked the the da. Densmores cass the sald do my dut) onally prose r at dinner your deputies , dear? To let the first im 7" And he to d a visito a young womar at in once saw a remarkable possibility it. “Don’t engage a lawyer,” she sald to the girl. “I shal appear for you In court, but you must keep it a secret. In the meantime I am going to work upon a theory.” Grace Bellair was duly arraigned for trial. “T appear for the prisoner sald Blanche, coming forward. The courtroom was so crowded that her presence had not been noted. Dens more for the moment was stunned with amazement The judges favorabl pearance, and the situat enough even to astonish am ready to prove Blanche, “that the theft money was not committed by prisoner at the bar. | She turned and gave a signal and a noted dectective appearsd with = lyoung man almost in a state of col lapse. This young man confessed tha he had taken the money from a safe fn the bank, where he was also em ployed, and placed it in Miss Bellair pocket. It came out that she had discour aged his love-making and refected bis proposal of marrfage. (Coprright, 1925.) oted the ap was nove them. *I continued of thi the “or the Thirsty. [DELICIOUS drinks can be made o fruit juices, slightly sweetened with plain water. And for smalle children remember that the simpier drinks are much the best. Orangs julce d'luted with a little wat sweetened n trifie if necessary, witli & few siivers of clinking ice to make it festive, sipped through a straw on a warm afternoon, is thoroughly wholesome for even the littls child To make it more festiveé you can put a single well washed mint leaf in it ~—for decoration, not to be eaten teach the toddling child. For the older child—the 8-year-old —orange and pineapple juice mixed orange and grape juice mixed, the juice of grapefrult added to orange, are quits wholesome and add to the deliciousness of things. Milk shakes are as good and as wholesome as the fruit drinks. You can buy chocolate malted milk or plain malted milk. The plain malted milk, mixed with fresh milk, may be slightly sweetened, if you want, and served with a dash of grated nut- meg—iust 4 dashy