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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1905)
THE SUN-DAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, AUGUST 20, 1905. Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle I HAD called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second " morning after Christmas with the Intention of wishing him the compliments of the sca-f-n. He was lounging upon the sofa In a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack with in his reach upon the right and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and eireputablc hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear and cracked in several r lares. A lone and a forceps, lying upon th seat of the chair, suggested that the hat had been suspended In this manner for the purpose of examination. "You aro engaged," said I; "perhaps I Interrupt you." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my results. The. matter Is a perfectly trivial one" (he jrrked his thumb in the direction of the old hat), "but there are points in connec tion with It which are not entirely devoid f Interest and even of Instruction." I seated myself In his arm-chair and warmed my hands before bis crackling 'fire, for a sharp frost had sot in and the windows were thick with the Ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, homely as It looks, this thing has somfe deadly story linked on to It that It Is. the clue which will guide you in the solution of some mystery and the punlshmont of Enmc crime." No. no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of those whimsical little incidents which will hap pen whne you have 4,000,000 human boings nil jostling each other within the space cf a few square miles. Amid the action cr.d reaction of so donee a swarm of hu manity every possible combination of events may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be pre rrnted which may be striking and bizarre wi'hout being criminal. We have already hid experience of such." So much so," I remarked, "that of the !?si six cases which I have added to my r -s three have been entirely free of any Irjral crime." ' Precisely. You allude to my attempt t ) recover the Irene Adler papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Suthcr la 1 and to the adventure of the man with the twisted Hp. "Well, I have no dubt that this small matter will fall 1 1 the w Innocent category. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Yes." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "It Is his hat?" "No, no; he found It. Its owner Is un known. I beg that you will look upon It iiot as a battered billycock, but as an Intellectual problem. And first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Chrlst m?s morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I have no doubt, roasting at this moment In front of Pe terson's Are. The facts are these: About 4 c't lock on Christmas morning Peterson, w ho, as you know. Is a very honest fellow, was returning from some small jollifica tion and was making his way howeward down Tottenham Court road. In front of lum he saw, In the gaslight, a talllsh man, walking with a slight stagger and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As be reached the corner of Goodge street a row broke out between 's stranger and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to de fend himself, and swinging It over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Peterson bad rushed forward to protect the stranger from his assailants, but the man, whocked at having broken the window and seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing toward him, Cropped his goose, took to his heels and vanished amid the labyrinth of small streets which He at the back of Totten ham Court road. Tho roughs had also f d at the appearance of Peterson, so that he was left In possession of the field cf battle and also of the spoils of victory in. the shape of this battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." '"A hich surely he rostored to their owner?" "My dear fellow, there lies the prob lem. It Is true that 'For Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the Initials 'H. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat; but as there are some thousands of Ba kers and some hundreds of Henry Ba kers In this city of ours, it Is not easy to restore lost property to any one of them." "What, then, did Peterson do?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, knowing that even the smallest problems are of Interest to me. The goose wo retained until this morning, when there wore signs that, in spite of tho slight frost. It would be well that It should be oaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried It off. therefore, to fulfill the ul timate destiny of a goose, while I con t'rue to retain the hat of tho unknown gentleman who lost his Christmas dinner." "Did he not advertise?" x No." "Then, what clue could you have as to h!s identity?" "Only as much as wc can deduce." "From his hat?" "Precisely." "But you are joking. "What can you gather from this pld battered felt?" "Here Is my lena You know my meth ods. "What can you gather yourself as to the Individuality of the man who has vvrn this article?" I took the tattered object In my hands and turned it over rather ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat, of the usual round shape, hard, and much tho worse for wear. The lining had been of red silk, but was a good deal discolored. There was no maker's name; but as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B " wore scrawled upon one side. It was rlerced In the brim for a hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spot ted In several placos, although thore seemed to have been some attempt to hide the discolored patches by smearing them w!th ink. I can see nothing," said I, handing It bak to my friend. 'On tho contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fall, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in drawing your Inferences." "Then, pray tell mo what It Is that you can infer from this hat?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fashion which was characteristic of him. "It Is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there are a few Infer ences which are very distinct and a few ethers which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That the man was highly intellectual is, of course, obvious upon tho face of it. and also that he wan fairly well-tp-do within the last three jar, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a moral retrogression which, when taken jAtia, tho flecUgo pf Jbis forties, yecflg to indicate some evil Infiuonce. probably drink, at work upon him. This may ac count also for the obvious fact that his wife has ceased to love him." "My dear Holmes!" "He has, however, retained some de gree of self-respect," he continued, dis regarding my remonstrance. "Ho Is a man who leads a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training ontirely,. is middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the last fow days, and which he annoints with lime cream. These are the more patent facts which are to bo deduced from his hat. Also, by the way, that It is ex tremely Improbable that he has gas laid on in his house." "You are certainly Joking, Holmes." "Not in the least. Is It possible that even now, when I give you these re sults, you arc. unable to see how they are attained?' "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I ant unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that this man was in tellectual?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat up on his head. It came right over the fore head and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It Is a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a brain must have something in it." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "This hat Is three years old. Those fiat brims curled at the edge came in then. Jt Is a hat of the vers best qual ity. Look at the band of rlbbd silk and the excellent lining. If this man could afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no hat since, then he has assuredly gone down In the world." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the foresight and the moral retrogression?" Sherlock Holmos laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he, putting his finger upon the little disk and loop of the hat securer. "They are never sold upon' hats. If this man ordered one. It is a sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he wont out of his way to take this pro caution against the wind. But since we see that he has broken the elastic, and has not troubled to replace it. Jt is ob vious that he has less foresight now than formerly, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other hand, he has endeavored to conceal some of these stains upon the felt by daubing them with ink. which is a sign that he has not entirely lost his self-respect." "Your reasoning Is certainly plausible." "The further points, that he is middle aged, and that bis hair is grizzled, that It has been recently cut, and he uses lime cream, aro all to be gathered from a close examination of the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of hairends, clean cut by the scissors of tho barber. They all appear to be adhesive, and thero is a distinct ordor of lime cream. This dust, you will observe. Is not the gritty, gray dust of the street, but the fluffy brown dust of the house, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time; while the marks of moisture upon the inside arc proof positive that the wearer perspired very freely, and could, therefore, hardly be in the best of training." "But his wife you said that she had ceased to love him?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. "When I see you, my dear Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall foar that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's affection." "But he might be a bachelor." "Nay. he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his wife. Remem ber the card upon the bird's leg." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce that the gas Is not laid on In his house?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by, chance, but when I see no less than five. I think that thero can be little doubt that the Individual must b.e brought into frequent contact with burning tal lowwalks upstairs at night probably with his hat In one hand and a gutter ing candle in the other. Anyhow, he never got tallow-stains from a gas Jet. Aro you satisfied?" "Well, it is vory Ingenious." said T. laughing, "but since, as you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm done, save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a waste of enorgy." Sherlock Holmes had oponed bis mouth to reply when the door flew open, and Pe terson, the commissionaire, rushed Into tho apartment with flushed cheeks and tho face of a man who is dazed with astonishment. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" ho gasped. "Eh? "What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off through tho kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the sofa to get a fairer "view of the man's excited face. "Sec here, sir! Seo what my wife found In Its crop!" He heia out his hand and dis played upon tho center of the palm a brilliantly scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, hut of such purity and radiance that It twinkled like an electric point in the dark hollow of his hand. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" ald he, "this Is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you have got?" "A. diamond, sir? A prod our stone. It cuts Into glass as though It were putty." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue car buncle!" I ejaculated. "Precisely so. I ought to know Its size and shape, seeing that I have read the advertisement about It in the Times every day latelyl It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 is certainly not within a twentieth jart of the market price." "A thousand pounds! Good Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire plumped down into a chair, and stared from one to the other of us. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that thero are sentimental con siderations in the background which would Induce the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but recover the gem." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I remarked. "Precisely so. "on December 22. Just Ave days ago. John Horner, a plumber, was accused PfJmvlng Abstract ;t; Xrorfljtho lady's Jewel case. The evidenco against him was so strong that the case has been referred to the Assizes. J have soma ac count of the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: '"Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Bob bery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22d Instant abstracted from tho Jewel case-of the Countess of Mor car the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, upper attondant at the hotel, gave his evi dence to tho effect that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess of Morcar upon the Jay of the robbery. In order that ho might solder the second bar of tho grate, which was loose. He had remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been -called away. On return ing, he found tnat Horner had disap peared, that tho bureau had been forced open, and that tho small mo rocco casket in which, as it afterward transpired, the Countess was accus tomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was arrested tne same evening; but the stone could not be found either upon his person or in his rooms. Cath erine Cusack, maid to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, where she found masters as described by the last wltnoss. Inspector Bradstreet, B Division, gave evidence as to the ar rest of Horner, who struggled fran tically and pretested his Innocence la the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for robbery having been given against the prisoner, the Magistrate refused to deal summarily with the offense, but roforred it to the Asslzos. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion during the pro ceedings, fainted away at the conclu sion, and was carried out of court, "Hum! So much for the Police Court," said Holmes, thoughtfully, tossing- aside the paper. "The ques tion, for us now to solve is the se quence of events leading from a rifled Jewel case at one end to the crop of a goose In Tottenham Court Road at tho other. You see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much more Important and less Inno cent aspect. Here is the stone; the Rtoiio came from tho goose, and tne goose came from Mr. Henry Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other characteristics with which I have bored me. So now we must set ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman, and ascertaining what part he has played In this little mystery. Tq do this, we must try the slmplost means first, and these lie undoubtedly In an advertisement in all the evening papers. If this fail, I shall have re course to other methods." "What will you say?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the cor ner of Goodge streot, a goose and a black folt hat. Mr. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:36 this evening at 221B Baker street. That is clear and concise." "Vory. But will he seo it?" "Well, he le sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his mischance in break ing the window and by the approach of Petorson, that ho thought of noth ing but flight; but since them he must have bitterly regretted the Impulse which causod him to drop his bird. Then. ngalnf the introduction of his name will cause him tq see It, for every one who knows him will direct his attontion to it. Here you arc. Peterson: run down to the advertising agency, and have this put In the even ing papers." "In which, sir?" "Oh. in the Globe, Star. Pall Mall, Si. Jamos's, Evening News. Standard. Echo and any others that occur to you." "Vory well, sir. And this stone?" "Ah, yos. I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Peterson. Just bH7 a goose on your way back and leave It here with me. for we must have cne to give to this gentleman In place of the one which your, family is now devouring." When the commissionaire bad gone. Holmes took up the stone and held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing." said he. "Just see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and focus of crime. Every good stone Is. They are the devil's et baits.- In the large and older Jewels every facet may stand for a bloody deed. This stone is not yet 20 years old. It was found In the banks of the Amoy River, in Southern China, and is romarkable for having ev ory characteristic of the carbuncle save that it is blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of Its youth It has already a sinister history- There have been two murders, a vitriol-throwing, a sulctdo and several robberies brought about for the sake of this 40-graIn weight of crystal lized charcoal. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up In my strong box now, and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I cannot toll." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one. Honrs Baker, had anything to do with the matter?" "It is, I think; much more likely that Henry Baker is an absolutely Innocont man, who had no idea that the bird which he was carrying " of considerably more value than If it were made of solid gold. That, howevor, I shall determine by a very simple tost, if we have an answer to our advcrtlsomont." "And you can do nothing until then?" "Nothing." "In that case I shall continue my pro fessional round. But I shall come back In the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Very glad to see you. I dine at 7. There is a woodcock, I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, per haps X ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to ex amine its crop." I had beon delayed at a case, and it was a little after half past 6 when I found myself" in Baker street once more. As I approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet, with a coat which was buttoned up po his chin, wait ing outside in tho bright semi-circle which was thrown from the fan light. Just as I arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Holmes' room. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the Are, Mr. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation Is more adapted for Sum mer than for Winter. Ah. Watson, you have Just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Yes, sir; that is undoubtedly my hat." He was a large man. with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of grizzled brown. A touch of red In nose and cheeks, with a slight tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his habits. His rusty black ,fxckga&t yaa button r!gM.ii'jg Jxs&s,. with the collar turned up, and his lank wrist protruded from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoko in a slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave. the impression gen erally of a man of learning and letters who had bad ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not ad vertise." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not been so plen tiful with me as they once were," ho remarked. "I had no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off both my hat and tho bird. I did not care to spcAd more money in a hopeless attempt at recovering them. "Very naturally. By tho way, about the bird we were compelled to eat It." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his excitement. "Yes; it would have been of np use to anyone had we not done so. But I pre sume that this other goose upon the side board, which Is about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your pur pose equally well?" "Oh. certainly, certainly!" answered Mr. Baker, with a sigh of relief. "Of course, we still have the feathers. "THE BIRD legs, crop, and so oa, of youi own bird, so If you wish" The man burst Into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are go ing to be to me. No, sir; I think that, with your permission, I will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive upon the sideboard." ' Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of his shoul ders. "There Is your hat. then, and there your bird." said he. "By the way, would It bore you to tell me where you got the other one from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a better grown goose." "Cortainly, sir." sold Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly-gained prop erty undor his arm. "There are a few of us who frequent the 'Alpha Inn. near the Museum we are to be found In the museum itself during the day, you understand. This year ourgood host, Windlgate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence evory week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. -My pence was duly paid, and the rest Is familiar to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet Is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity," With a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and strode off upon his way. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him. "It Is quite certain that he knows nothing whatever about the matter. Aro you hungry, Watson?" "Not particularly." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper, and follow up this clew while it is still hot." "By all means." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cravats about our thrqats. Outsldo the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of tho passers-by blew out into smoke liko so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loud ly as we swung through tho doctors quarter, WImpole street, Harley street, and so through WIgmore street Into Oxford street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the "Alpha Inn," which is a small public house at the corner of one of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed, open the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Your beer should bo excellent if it is as good as your geese." said he. "My geese!' Tho man seemed sur prised. "Yes. I was speaking only half nn hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose club." "Ah! yes, I see. But, you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Well. I got the two dozen from a salesman In tho Covent Garden." "Ilndeed? 'I know some of them. Which was It?" "Brecklnrlrge is his name." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health, landlord, and prosperity to your house. Good night" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he con tinued, buttoning up his coat, as we came out Into the frosty air. "Remember, Wat son, that though we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we have at the other a man who will cer tainly get seven years' penal servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible that our Inquiry may but con firm his .guilt; but, in any case, we have a lino of investigation which has been missed by tho police, and which a singu lar chance has placed in our hands. Let us follow it out to the bitter end. Faces tnth jyh,t;-,F'' '; Tnarch.I, We passed across Holborn, down Endell street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covcnt Garden Market. One of tho largest stalls bore the name of Breckln rldgo upon It, and the proprietor, a horsey-looking man. with a sharp face and trim side whiskers, way helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Good evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. The salesman nodded and shot a ques-. tloning glance at my companion. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs of marble. "Let you have SCO tomorrow morning." "That's no good." "Well, there arc some on the stall with the gasflare." "Ah. but I was recommended to you." "Who by?" "The landlord of the 'Alpha.' " "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple' of dozen." "Fine birds they were. too. Now, where did you get them from?" To my surprise tho question provoked a burst of anger from the salesman. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms akimbo, "what are you driving .at? Let's have it straight, now." "Itiis straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the geese which you supplied to the 'Alpha.' " "Well, then, I shan't tell you. So now!" ! k i GAVE A GULP." "Oh. it Is a matter of no Importance; but I don't know why you should be so warm over such a trifle." "Warm! You'd be as warm, may be. It you were as estered as I am. When 1 pay good money for a good article there should be an end of the business; but It's, 'Where are the geese?" and 'Who did you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese? One would think they were the only geese In the world, to hear the fuss that Is made over them." "Well. I have no connection with any other people who have been making in quiries." said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the bet Is off. that is all. But I'm always ready to back my opin ion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on It that the bird I ate is country bred." 1 "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for It's town bred." snapped the salesman. "It's nothing of the kind." "I say It is." "I don't believe It." "D'you - think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you. all those birds that went to the 'Alpha were town bred." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Will you bet. then?" "It's merely taking your money; for I know that I am right. But I'll have a sovereign- on with you Just to teach you not to be obstinate." The salesman .chuckled grimly. "Bring mo the books. Bill." said he. ' The small boy brought round a small, thin volume and a great greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath ,tho hanging lamp. "Now. then. Mr. Cocksure." said the salesman. "I thought that I was out of geese, but before I finish gou'll find that there Is still one left In my shop. You see this, little book " "Well?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'ye see? Well, then, here on this pago arc the country folk, and the numbers after their namos , arc where their accounts are in the big ledger. Now, then! You see this other page in red Ink? Well, that Is a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just read it out to me." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117 Brixton road 249," read Holmes. "Quite so. Now, turn that up in tho ledger." Holmes turned to the pago indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Oakshott, 117 Brixton road, egg and poultry supplier." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" " 'Dec. 22. Twenty-four geese at 7s 6d." "Quite so. There you are. And under neath?" " 'Sold to Mr. Windlgate, of the Alpha, at 12s." "What have you to say now?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply cha grined. He drew a sovereign from his pocket and threw It down upon tho slab, turning away with an air of a man whoso disgust Is too deep for words. A few yards off he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless fashion which was peculiar to him. "When you seo a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'pink un protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," said he. "I dare say that if 1 had put 100 down in front of him. that man would not have given me such com plete information as was drawn from him by tho idea that he was doing me on a wager. Well. Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our quest, and the only point which remains to be determined Is whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott's tonight or whether we should reserve It for tomorrow. It is clear from what that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves who are anxious I abo 1 H, about the matter, and I should " a loud hubbub which broke out from the stall which we had Just left. Turning around, we saw a little, rat-faced fellow standing in the center of the circle of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Breckinridge, the salesman, framed In the door of his stall. wa3 shaking his fists fiercely at the cring ing figure. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Oakshott here and I'll answer her; but what have you to do with It? Did I buy the geese oft you?" "No; but one of them was mine, all the same." whined the little man. "Well then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for It." "She told me to ask you." "Well, you can ask the 'King of Proosia, for all 1 care. I've had enough of It. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely for ward, and the Inquirer flitted away Into the darkness. "Ha, tljis may save us a visit to Brixton road," whispered Holmes. "Come with me, and we will see what Is to be mndo of this fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang round, and I could see In the gas light that every vestige of color had been driven from his face. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked. In a quavering voice. "You will excuse me," said Holmes, blandly, "but I could not help overhear ing the questions which you put to the salesman Just now. I think that I could be of assistance to you." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of this matter?" "My name Is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know wiiat other people don't know." "But you can know nothing of this." "Excuse me, I know everything of It. You are endeavoring to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton road, to a salesman named Breck inridge. JOy him In turn to Mr. Windlgate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Henry Baker Is a member." "Oh. sir, you are the very man whom T have longed to meet," cried the little fel low, with outstretched hands and quiver ing fingers. "I can hardly explain to you how Interested I am In this matter." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that case we had better discuss it In a cozy room rather than In this wlnd-swlpt market place," said he. "But. pray tell me, before we go further, who It Is that I have the pleasure of afislstlng?" The man hesitated for an Instant. "My name Is John Robinson," he answered, with a sidelong glance. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes, sweetly. "It Is always awkward doing business with an alias." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well, then." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Precisely so. Head attendant at tho Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray step Into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you everything which you would wish to know." The little man stood glancing from .one to the other of us with half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who Is not sdre whether he Is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Then he stepped Into the cab, and in half an hour we were back In the sitting-room at Baker street. Nothing had been said during our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new compnnlon and the clasplngs and unclasp Ings of his hands spoke of the nervous tension within him. "Here we are." said Holmes, cheerily, as we filed Into the room. "The fire looks very seasonable In this weather. You look cold, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will Just put on my slip pers before wo settle this little matter of yours. Now, then, you want to know what became of those geese?" "Yes, sir." "Or, rather. I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I Imagine, In which you were Interested white, wltfi. a black bar across the tall." Ryder quivered with, emotion. "Oh. sir," he cried. "Can you tell me where it went to?" "It came here." '"Here?" "Yes; and a most remarkable bird It proved. I don't wonder that you should take an Interest In It. It laid an egg after It was dead the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. I have It here In my museum." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong box and held up the blue carbuncle, which shone out like n star, with a cold, bril liant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown It. "The game's up. Ryder," said Holmes, quietly. "Hold up. man. or you'll bo Into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. Soli Now he looks a little more human. Whnt a shrimp it Is, to be sure!" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but tho brandy brought a tingle of color Into his cheeks, and he sat staring with frightened eyes at his ac cuser. "I have almost every link In my hands and all the proofs which I could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Still, that little may as well bo cleared up to make the case complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of tho Countess of Morcar's?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of It." said he. In a crackling voice. I see her. ladyship's waltlng-mald. Well the temptation of sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you. as It has been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous In the means you used. It seems to me. Ryder, that there Is the making of a very pretty villain In you. You know that this man Horner, the plumber, had been concerned In some such matter before, and that sus picion would rest the more readily upon him. What did you do, then? You made some small Job In my lady's room you and your confederate Cusack and you managed that he should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled tho Jewel case, raised the alarm and had this unfortunato man arrested. You then" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my com panion's knee. "Fod God's sake, have mercy!" she shrieked. "Think of my father! of my mother! It would break their hearts. I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear It. I'll swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring It into court! For Christ's sake, don't!" "Get back Into your chair!" said Holmes, sternly. ''It Is very well to crlngo and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this poor Horner In the dock for a crime of which he knew noth ing." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the charge against him will break down." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account of tho next act. How camo the stone Into the goose, and how came the goose Into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies your only hope of safety." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched Hps. "I will tell you It Just as It happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been .arrested it seemed to me that It would be best for me to get away with the stono at once, for I did not know at what moment the police might not take It Into their heads to search me and my room. There was no place about the hotel where It would be safe. I went out, as If on some commission, and I made for my sister's house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there every man I met seemed to be a policeman or a detec tive; and for all that it was a cold night the sweat was pouring down my face be tors I carog tq the Brixton road. Mjjjg- ter asked me what was tho matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I had been upset by the .Jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Into the backyard and smoked a pipe and wondered what It would be best to do. "I had a friend once called Maudsley. who went to tho bad, and has Just been serving his time In Pentonvllle. One day he had met me and fell Into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they could get rid of what they stole. I knew- that ho would bo true to me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to go right on to Kllburn. where he lived, and take him Into my confi dence. He would show me how "to turn the stone Into money. But how to get to him In safety? I thought of the agonies I had gone through In coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be seized and searched, and there would be the stone In my waistcoat pocket. I was lean ing against the wall at the time and look ing at the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the best detective that ever lived. "My sister had told me some weeks be fore that I might have the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she was always as good as her word. I would take my goose . now. and In It I would carry my stone to Kll burn. There was a little shed In tho yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds a fine, big one. white, with a barred tall. I caught It and prying Its bill open I thrust the stone down Its throat as far as my finger could reach. The bird gave a gulp and I felt the stone pass along Its gullet and down Into Its crop. But the creature flapped and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the matter. As I turned to speak to her thf brute broke loose and fluttered oft among the others. " 'Whatever were you doing with that bird. Jem?' says she. " 'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I was feeling which was the fattest." " 'Oh,' says she. 'we've set yours aside for you Jem's bird, we call It. It's the big white one over yonder. There's 26 of them, which makes one for you. one for us and two dozen for the market." " Thank you, Maggie.' says I; 'but If It Is all the same to you. I'd rather have that one I was handling Just now.' " 'The other Is a good three pound heav ier,' said she. 'and we fattened It ex pressly for you." " 'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take It now.' said I. " 'Oh, Just as you like.' said she. a little huffed. 'Which Is It you want, then? " 'That white one with the bnrred tail, right in the middle of the flock. " 'Oh. very well. Kill it and take It with you.' "Well. I did what she said. Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird all the way to Kll burn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was a man that It was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I knew that some terrible mistake had oc curred. I left the bird, rushed back to my sister's and hurried Into the back yard. There was not a bird to be seen there. " 'Where are they all. Maggie?' I cried. " 'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' " 'Which dealer's?' " 'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden. " 'But was there another with a barred tall? I asked, 'the same as the one I chose? "'Yes, Jem; there were two bnrred talled ones, and I could never tell them apart.' "Well, then, of course, I saw It all. and I ran off as hard as my feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge, but he had sold the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they had gone. You heard him your selves ton'ght. Well, he has always answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mnd. Some times I think that I am myself. And now and now I am myself a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into convulsive sobbing, with his face burled in his hands. There was a Ions sllenco. broken only by his heavy breathing, and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open tho door. "Get out!" said he. "What, sir! Oh. heaven bless you!" "No more words. Get out!" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the stairs, the bang of a door and the crisp rattle of running footfalls from the street. "After all. Watson." snld Holmes, reaching up his hand for his clay pipe. "I am not retained by tho police to sup ply their deficiencies. If Horner were In danger It would be nnother thing: but this fellow will not appear against him. and the case must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a fel ony, but It Is just possible that I am saving- a soul. This fellow will not go wrong again; he Is too terribly frigh tened. Send him to jnll now, and you mako him a jnll bird for life. Besides. It Is the season of forgiveness. Chance has put In our way a most singular and whlmslcai problem, and Its solution Is Us own reward. If you will have the goodness to touch the bell, doctor, we will begin anothor Investigation, In which, also, a bird will be the chief feature." (Copyright by Harper & Bros.) FRENCH MAN'S BOAT SLIDES Skims Along Surface of the "Water at a Good Speed. American Inventor The fact that a stone can skim the water If Its flat surface strikes squarely has recently been put In practice In the construction of a sliding boat by a French Inventor, M. do Lambert. The friction which Is present when the de Lambert boat slides over the water Is very slight, and the power which Is necessary In or der to make the boat glide is not high. When the boat Is at rest It Is supported by floats. The boat constructed by M. de Lambert has a total length of 20 feet, with a width of ten feet between the Inclined planes upon which it slides. The boat has parallel floats resembling certain Asiatic canoes. The two floats are very narrow and are united by cross-pieces, partly of wood and partly of aluminum, a metal which has been used to a large ex tent In the construction of the boat be cause of Its slight weight. The motor used Is a 12 horsepower, but the essential parts of the boat are fixed sliding planes, adjusted under the boat at carefully regulated distances from each other. These planes, which are made of wood, are Immersed to a depth of several centimeters when the boat Is at rest, and they are Inclined at an angle which has been decided upon after wide ex perimentation. The total weight of the boat Is about 1200 pounds, but In order to move this weight It requires a motor of only 12 horsepower, while In the case of automobile boats the motors required are 60. SO and even 100 horsepower. M. Bellet says that M. de Lambert's boat has been timed by official chrono meters, and that the results have been surprising. When the motor Is started the boat commences to move with the planes still submerged, cutting the water horizontally. But this lasts only a short time; the planes show an Instantaneous tendency to rise, and they are practically on the water at the end of a few meters. Then the speed quickly Increases because of the Immense diminution in resistance, and soon the boat is sliding on the water, or, more exactly, on a layer of air rest ing between tho planes and the water .at a aaeed of 115 or 25 miles an hour