THE STJXDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 22, 1905.
4
The Mystery of the
Stockbroker's Clerk
(Copyrighted by A. Conan Doyle and Har
der '& Brothers.)
SHOBTLY after my marriage I had
bought a connection In the Pad
dlngton district. Old Mr. Farquhar,
from whom I purchased It. -had at one
time anv excellent general practice; but
his age, and an affliction o'f the nature
of St vftus dance from which he-suffered,
had very much thinned ItThes
public not unnaturally -goes on the prin
ciple that he who would " heal others'
must himself be whole, and looks ask
'ance at -the curative powers of the 'man
whosoown -case Is beyond the reach of
Ills drugs. Thus as my predecessor weak
ened hi& practice declined, until when I
purchased it from him it had sunk from
1200 to little moro than-300 a year. I
had confidence, however, in my own youth
and energy, and was convinced that ;In
a very few years the concern would -be
as flourishing as ever.'
For three months aftor taking- over tho
practice I was kept very., closely .at work,
and saw little of "my friend . Sherlock
Holmes, for i was too:busy to visit Baker
street, and. he seldom, went anywhere
himself save upon professional business.
I was surprised, therefore, when, one
morning in June, as I sat reading the
"British Medical .Journal," -after break
fast, I heard a ring -at, the" bell, followed
by the high, somewhat strident tones of
my old, companion's voice.
"Ah, my dear Watson," said he strjd-'
ing into the room, "am very delighted to
see you! I trust that Mrs. "Watson has
entirely recovered from all the little ex
citement connected with our adventure
of the Sign of the Four.'-'
"Tharik you, we are both well," said I,
shaking him warmly by the hand.
"And I hope, also." he continued, sit
ting down in the rocking-chair, "that .the
cares of medical practice have not entire
ly obliterated the Interest which you
used to take In our little deductive prob
lems." ' N
"On the contrary," I answered, "It was
only last night that I was looking" over
my old notes, and classifying some of
our past results."
"I trust you don't consider your col
lection closed."
"Net at all. I should wish nothing bet
ter than to have some more of such ex
periences." "Today, for example?"
"Yes. today, if you like.'?
"And as far off as Birmingham?"
"Certainly, if you wish.it."
"And the practice?"
' I do my neighbor's when ho goes. He
is always ready to work off a debt."
"Ha! nothing could be hotter," said
Holmes, leaning back In his chair and
looking keenly at me from under his half
c'.osed lids. "I perceive that you have
been unwell lately. Summer colds are
always a little trying." r
"I was confined to-the house by a se
vere chill for three days last week. "1
thought, however, that I had "cast off
every trace of it." --
"So you have. You look remarkably
robust."
"How, then, did you know of it?"
"My dear fellow, you know my
methods." .,
"You deduced- it, then?"
"Certainly." t ;
"And from what?"
"From your slippers."
I glanced down at the now patent-leathers
-which I was wearing. "How on
earth " I began, but Holmes answered 11
my question before it was asked.
"Your slippers are new," he said. "You
could not have had them more than a few
weeks. The solos which you are at this
moment presenting to me nr niifHti-
scorched. For a moment I thought they
might have got wet and been burned in
the drying. But near the instep there is
a small clmilar wafer of paper with the
shopman's hieroglyphics upon It. Damp
would of course have removed this. You
had, then, boon sitting with your feet
oustretched to the fire, which a man
would hardly do even In so wet a June
as this If he were In his full health."
Like all Holmes' reasoning tho thing
seemed simplicity Itself when It was once
explained. He read the thought upon my
features, and his smile had a tinge" of
hltterness.
"I am afraid that I rather give myself
away when I explain," said he. "Results
without causes are much more impres
sive. You are ready to come to Bir
mingham, then?"
"Certainly. What is tho case?"
"You shall hear it all In the train
client is outside in a four-wheeler,
you come at once?"
My
Can
"In an instant." I scribbled a note to
my neighbor, rushed upstairs to explain
the matter to my wife, and joined Holmes
upon the doorstep.
"Your neighbor is a doctor," said he
redding at tho brass plate.
' Yes; he bought a practice as I did." .
"An old-established one?"
"Just the same as mine. Both have
hern here ever since tho houses wore
built "
"Ah! then you got hold of the best of
the' two."
"I think I did. But how do you know?"
"By tho steps, my boy. Yours are
worn three inches deeper than his. Bui
this gentleman In the cab is my client,
Mr. Hall Pycroft. Allow me to Introduce
you to him. "Whip ypur horse up, cabby,
for we have only just time to catch our
train.
The man whom I found myself facing
was a well-built, fresh-complexioned
young fellow, with a frank, honest face
and a slight, crisp, yellow mustache. He
wore a very shiny top hat and a neat
suit of sober black, which made him look
what he was a smnrt young city' man,
cf the clas.who baye been labeled cock
neys, and who give us our crack volunteer
regiments, and who- tura out more fine
a"-tes and -sportsmen, than any body of
men In- these islands. '.His round, ruddy"
f tfre was rtaturally full of cheorlness. but
t'.c corners 'of his mouth seemed to mo
to be pulled down in a half-comical dis
tress It was no't. '.however, until we
were all in. a-flrst-class carriage -and well
sv.red iipon our journey to Birmingham
thit i -vvas able to learn what the trouble
was which had driven him to Sherlock
Ho'mes-.
"We have a clear run here or 70 min
utes," Holmes remarked. "I want you
Mr Hali Pycroft. to tell -my frie'ndf your
very Interesting experience exactly as you
have told It to me, or with morodetall if
possible. It will be of use to me to hSar
the succession of events again. It -is a
case, Watson, which may prove to have
something in ,it. or may prove to have
nothing, but which, at least, presents
those unusual and outre features .which
are as dear to you as they are to me.
Now. Mr. Pycroft, I shall not -interrupt,
you again.''
Our young companion, looked at me -with,
a twinkle in his eye. -
The worst of the slory is, .said he;- that I
show myself up as such a confounded fool.
Of course it may work out all right, and
don't soe that I could have dome other
wise; but if I have lost my crib and get
nothing In exchange. I shall feel what a
soft Johnnie I have been. I'm not very
good atteljing a story. Dr. .Watson but
it is like- this with -me:
I used to have a billet at Coxon & Wood-
a week rise, and the duties just -about tho
same as at Coxon's. ,
And now I come to ,lho queer part of the
business. I was in diggings out Hamp
stead way, 17 Potter's Terrace. Well, l
was sitting doing a smoke that very eve
ning after I had been .promised the ap
pointment, when up came my landlady
with a card which had "Arthur Pinner.
Financial Agent," printed ujSon it. I had
never heard the name before and could
not imagine what he wanted with me;
but," of course, I asked her to show him
up. In he walked, a middle-sized, darK
haired, dark-eyed, black-bearded man,
with a touch of the Hebrew about his
nose. He had a brisk kind of way with
him and spoke sharply, like a man who
knew the value of time. '
"Mr. Hall Pycroft, I believe?" said he.
VYes. sir," I answered, pushing a chair
towards him.
"Lately engaged at Coxon & Wood
house's?" "Yes. sir."
"And now on the staff of Mawson?"
"Quite so," , t
"Well," said he, "the fact is that I have
heard some really extraordinary stone
about your financial ability. You remem
ber Parker, who used to be Coxon's man
ager? He canne'cr say enough about It."
Of course I was pleased to bear this. I
had always been pretty sharp in the of
fice, but I had never dreamed that I was
talked about in the city in this fashion.
"You have a good memory?" said he.
"Pretty fair," I answered modestly.
"Have you kept In touch with the mar
ket while you have been out of work?"
he asked.
"Yes. I read the stock exchange list
every morning."
"Now that shows real application!" he
cried. "That Is the way to prosper! You
won't mind my testing you, will you? Let
me see. How are Ayrshlres?"
"A hundred and six and a quarter to a
hundred and five and seven-eighths."
"And New Zealand Consolidated?"
"A hundred and four."
"And British Broken Hills?"
"Seven to seven-and-slx."
"Wonderful!" he cried, with his hands
up. "This quite fits in with all that I haa
heard. My boy, my boy, you are very
much too good to be a clerk at Maw
sonls!" ....
This, outburst rather astonished me as
you can think. "Well," said I. "other
people don't think quite so much of me
as you seem to do, Mr. Pinner, I had a
hard fight to .get this, berth, and I am
very glad to have it" ' .
"Pooh, man; you should soar above it.
You are not in your 'true .sphere. Now.
I'll tell you how It stands with me. What
I have to offer is little enough when
measured by your ability, but when com
pared with Mawson's, it's light to dartt.
Let me see. Whon do you go to Maw
son's?" "On Monday."
"Ha, ha! I think I would risk a little
sporting flutter that you don't go thera
at an.
"Not go to Mawson's?"
"No, sir. By that day you will be the
business manager of the Franco-Midland
Hardware Company, Limited, with 134
"branches in the towns and villages ot
.France, not counting one in Brussels and
-one in San Remov
- This took my breath away. "I never
heard of it," said L
"Very likely not. It has heen kept
very quiet, for the capital was all
privately subscribed, and It's too good
a thine to let the public into. My
brother,. Harry Pinner, Is promoter;
and Joins the board after allotment
as managing; director. He knew I -was
in the swim down here, and asked mo
to pick up a good man cheap. A
young, pushing man with plenty .of
snap about him. Parker spoke of you,
and that brought me here tonight.
We can only offer you "a beggarly five
hundred to start with."
"Five hundred a year!" I shouted.
"Only that at the beginning; but
you aro to have an overriding commis
sion of one per cent on all business
done by your agents, and you may take
my word for it that this will come to
more than your salary."
"But I know nothing about hard
ware." "Tut, my boy; you know about fig
tires." My head buzzed and I could hardly
sit still in my chair. But suddenly
a little chill of doubt came upon me.
"I must be rank with you," said I.
"Mawson only gives me two hundred,
but Mawson is safe. Now, really I
know so little about your company
that
"Ah, smart, smart!" he cried, in a
kind of ecstacy of delight ""You are
the very man for us. You are not to
be talked over, and quite right, too.
Now, here's a note for a hundred
pounds, and if you think we can do
'tfusiness you may just slip it Into your
;pocket as an. advance upon your sal
ary.
"That is very handsome." said L
"When should. I take oven my new du
ties?" "Bo In Birmingham tomorrow at
one." said he. "I .have a note In my
pocket 'hero -"which" you will take to
my brother. You will find him at 326b
'Corporation street, where tho tempo
rary offices -of the company aro sit
tiatcd. Of course, he must cqnfirm your
engagement but between ourselves It
will be all-rteht"
"Really, I liarflly know how to ex
press my gratitude, Mr. Pinner," said L
"Not at all, xiiy boy. Yon have only
got your deserts. There are- one or
two small things mere formalities
which I must arrange -with you. You
have a bit of paper beside you there.
Kindly write upon It "I am perfectly
willing to act as business manager .to
the Franco-Midland Hardware Com
pany, Limited, at a minimum salary of
500 pounds."
I did 'as he asked, and'' he put the
paper in his pocket-
'There is one' 'other detail;" said he.
"What do you Intend id do about Maw
son's!" I had forgotten all', about Mawson's
in myjoy. "I'll write and resign," said
"Precisely what I don't want you to
do. I had a row over you with Maw
son's manager. I had, gone up to ask
him about you. and he was very offens
ive; accused me of coaxing you away
from the service of the Arm. and that
sort of. .thing.- At last a fairly lost my
temper. If you want good- men you
should pay them a good price,' said L
'He would rather have our small
price than your big one said he.
"'I'll lay you a fiver,' said I. 'that
house's, of Draper's Gardens, but they
were let In early in the Spring through
the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you re
member, and came a nasty cropper. I
had been with them five years, and old
Coxon gave me a ripping good testimonial
when -the smash came, but of course wc
clerks were all turned adrift, the 27 of us.
I tried here and tried there, but there
were lots of other chaps on the same lay
as myself, and It was a perfect frost for a
long time. I had been taking .three pounds
a week at Coxon's, and I had saved about
70 of them, but I soon worked my way
through that and out at the other end. I
was fairly at the end of my tether at last,
and could, hardly find the stamps to an
swer the advertisements or the envelopes
to stick them' to. I had worn out my
boots paddling up office stairs, and I
seemed just as far from getting a billet
as over.
At last I saw a vacancy at Mawson &
Williams', the great stock-broking firm
in Lombard street I dare say E. C. la
not much In your line, but I can tell you
that this is about the richest house m
London. The advertisement was to be
answered by letter only. I sent In ray
testimonial and application, but without
the least hope of getting It Back cams
an answer by return, saying that if I
would appear next Monday I might taso
over my new duties at once, provided that
my appearance was satisfactory. No one
knows how these things are worked. Some
people say that the manager just plunges
his hand Into the heap and takes tho first
"MY BOY, MY BOY,
thing that comes. Anyhow, jt was my In
nings that time, and I don't ever wish to
feel better pleased. The pay was a pound
whon he has my offer you'll never so
much as hear from him again.'
"Done, said he. 'We picked him out
of tire gutter, and ho won't leave us so
easily.' Those were his very words.
"Tho Impudent scoundrel!" I cried.
Tve never so much as seen him in my
life. Why should I consider him In
any way? I shall certainly not write
if you would rather I didn't."
"Good! That's a promise," said he.
rising from his chair. "Well, I'm de
lighted to havo got so good a man for
my brother. Here's your advanco of
a hundred pounds, and hero is the let
ter. Make a note of the address, 126b
Corporation street, and remember, that
at 1 o'clock tomorrow Is your appoint
ment Good night; and may you havo
all the fortunes that "you deserve!"
That's just about all that passed be
tween us, as .near as I can remember
You can imagine. Dr. Watson, how
pleased I was at such an extraordinary
bit of good fortune. I sat up half the
night hugging myself over it and next
day I was off to Birmingham In a train
that would take mo in plenty of time
for my appointment I took my things
to a hotel on New street and then I
made my way to the address which
had been given me.
It was a quarter of an hour before
my time, but I thought that would
make no difference, 126b was a pasago
between two large shops, which led to
a winding stono stair, from which there
were many flats, let as offices to com
panies or professional men. Tho
names of the occupants were painted
at the bottom on the wall, but there
was no such name as the Franco-Midland
Hardware Company, Limited. I
stood for a few minutes with my heart
In my boots, wondering whether tho
whole thing was an elaborate hoax or
not, when up came a man and addressed
me. Ho was very like the chap I had
seen the night before, the same figure
and voice, but he was clean-shaven
and his hair was lighter.
"Are you Mr. Hall Pycroft?" he asked.
"Yes," said I.
"Oh! I was expecting you. but you are
a trifle before your time. I had a note
from my brother this morning In which
he sang your praises very loudly."
"I was just looking for the offices when
you came."
"We have not got ournamc up yet for
we only secured these temporary prem
ises last week. Gome up with me, and
wo will talk the matter o'r."
I followed him to the top of a very
lofty stair, and there, right under the
.slates, were a couple of empty, dusty
little rooms, uncarpented and uncurtained,
into which he led me. I had thought of
a great office with shining tables and
rows of .clerks, such as I was used to,
and I daro say I stared rather straight
at the two deal chairs and" one little
table, which, with a ledger and a waste
paper basket made up the whole furni
ture. ,
"Don't be disheartened, Mr. Pycroft"
said my new acquaintance, seeing the
length of my face. "Rome was not built
In a day, and we have lots of money at
our backs, though we don't cut much
dash yet in offices. Pray sit down and
let me have your letter."
I gave it to him, and he read It over
very carefully.
"You seem to have made a vast Im
presslon upon my brother Arthur," said
he; "and I know that he Is a pretty
shrewd judge. Ho swears by London,
you know; and I by Birmingham; but
this time I shall follow his advice. Pray
consider yourself definitely engaged."
"What are my duties?" I asked.
"You will eventually manage the great
depot In Paris, which will pour a flood
of English crockery Into tho shops of a
hundred and thirty-four agents In France.
Tho .purchase will be completed in a week,
and meanwhile you will remain In Bir
mingham and make yourself useful."
"How?"
For answer, he took a big red book out
of a. drawer.
"This is a directory of Paris," ald he.
"with the trades after tho names of the
people. I want you to take It home with
you, and mark off all. the hardware
sellers, with their addresses. It would he
of the greatest use to me to have them."
"Surely there are classified lists?" I
suggested.
"Not reliable ones. Their system 13
different frpm ours. Stick at it, and let i
me have the lists by Monday, at 12.
Good-day, Mr. Pycroft. . II you continue j
to show zeal and intelligence you will
una me company a gooa muster.
J. went back to the hotel with the big.
book under my arm, and with very con
flicting feelings In my breast.-On the one
hand, I was definitely engaged and had a
hundred pounds in my pocket; on tho
other, the look of the offices, the absence,
of name on the wall. and. other of the
points which would strike a, .business
man had left a tjad Impression." as to tho
position of -my employers. However,
come what might, I had my money, so I
settled down to my task. All day Sunday
I was kept hard at worlc and yet b"r
Monday I had only got as far as E I
went around to my employer, found him
in the same dismantled kind of room,
and was told to keep at It until" Wednes
day, and then come again. On 'Wednes
day it was still unfinished, so I hammered
away until Friday that Is, yesterday.
Then I brought it round to Mr. Henry
Pinner.
"Thank you very much," said. he. "1
fear that I underrated the difficulty of
the task. This list will bo of very ma
terial assistance to me.".
"It took some time," said T.
"And now," said T he, "I want you to.
YOU ARE MUCH TOO GOOD TO BE A CLERK AT MAWSON'S."
make a list ,of the furniture shops, far
they all sell crockery."
"Very good.''
"And you can come up tomorrow even
Ing at 7, and let me know" Mow you arc
getting on. Don't overwork yourself. A
couple of hours at Day's Music Hall in
the -ovoning would do you no harm after
your labors." He laughed as he spoke,
and I saw with a thrill that his seconc.
tooth upon the left-hand -side had been
very badly stuffed with gold.
Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands with
delight - and I stared with astonishment
at our client.
"You may well look surprised. Dr. Wat
son; but It Is this way." said he: "When
I was speaking to the other chap !n
London, at the time that -he laughed it
my not going to Mawson's,. t happened to
notice that his tooth was stuffed In this
very Identical fashion". Tho glint of the
gold In each case caught my eye, you see.
When I put that with the voice and fTguro
being the same, and only these things
altered Which mlchf Vu rhnnen V,.
razor or a wig, I could not doubt that It 1
aa mo same man. ut course you expect
two brothers to be alike, but not-that tjiey
should have the same tooth stuffed In the
same way. He bowed me out and I found
myself In the streot; hardly knowing
whether I was on niy head or my heels.
Back I went to my hotel, put my head In
a basin of cold -water, and tried to think
It nUt. "VVJ-l - VtnA Vir T T J
to Birmingham? why had he got there '
Mciure me Ana wny nnd ne written a let
ter from himself to himself? Tt was al
together too. much or mo, and' I' "could
make no sense of It And then suddenly It
struck me that what was dark to me
might be very light to Mr. Sherlock
Holmes. I had just time to get up to town
by the night train to sea him this morn
ing, and to being you both back with ma
to Birmingham."
There was a pauso after the stock
broker's clork had concluded his surpris
ing experience. Then Sherlock Holmes
cocked his eye at me. leaning back on the
cushions with a pleased and yet critical
face, like a connoisseur who has Just tak
en his first sip of a comet vintage. -
"Rather fine. Watson, Is It not?" said
he. "There are polnta In It which please
me. I think that you will agr.o with me
that an Interview with Mr. A.thur Harry
Pinner in the temporary offices of th
Franco-Midland Hardware Company
Limited, would be a rather interesting
experience for both of us.".
"But how can wc do it?" I asked.
"Oh. easily enough," said Hall Pycroft
cheerily. "You are two friends of mine
who are In. want of a billet and what
could be more natural than I should
bring you both round to the managing
director?"
"Quite so, of course," said Holmes. "I
should like to have a look at the gentle
man, and soe if I can make anything of
his little game. What qualities have you.
my friend. which would make your serv
ices so valuable? or Is it possible that
He began biting his nails and staring
blankly out of the window, and wc hardly
drew another word from him until wc
were in New street
At 7 o'clock that evonlng we were
walking, the three of us. down Corpora
tion street to the company's offices.
"It Is no use our being at all before our
time.!' said our client "He only comes
there to sec me, apparently, for the place
is deserted up to the very hour he
namea" ,
"That Is suggestive," remarked Holmes.
"By Jove. I told you so!" cried the
clerk. "That's ho walking ahead of us
there."
He pointed to a smallish, dark, well
dressed man who was bustling along the
other side of the road. As wo watched
him he looked across at a bo who was
bawling out the latest edition of the even
ing paper, and running over among the
cabs and 'busses, he bought one from
him. Then, clutching it in his hand, he
vanished through a doorway.
"There ho goes!" cried Hall Pycroft
"These are the company's offices into
which ho has gone. Come with me, and
I'll fix It up as easily as possible."
Following hln lead, we ascended five
stories, until we found ourselves outside
a half-opened doo'r, at which our client
tipped. A- voice- within bade us enter,
and wo cntered'a. .bare, unfurnished room
such as Hall Pycroft had described. At
the single table sat the man whom we
had seen In the street, with' his evening
paper spread .out In front of him, and as
he looked up at us it deemed to me that
I had never looked Upon -a face which
bore such marks of grief, and of some
thing boybhd gflef of a horror such as
comes to few men "in a lifetime. His
brow glistened' with perspiration. ,hls
cheeks, were of the dull, dead white of a
fish's belly, jind hla eyes were wild and
staring. He looked at his clerk as though
he failed to recognize him. and I could
see by the astonishment depicted upon
our conductor's face that this was by no
means ' the usual appearance of his em
ployer, -i
"You look 111,. Mr. Pinner!" . he , ex
claimed. ,
"Yes. I am not very well." answered the
other, making obvious efforts to pull. him
self together, and. licking his dry Hps he
fore ho spoke. 'Who are these gentle
men who; you. have brought with you?.
"OneJ&Mf "Harris, of Bermondsey, and
the other Is.-Mr. Price, of this town." said
our clerk, glibly. "They are friends of
mine and gentlemen of experience, but
they have been out of a place for soma
little time, and they hoped, that perhaps
you might find an. opening for 'them" In
the company's employment"
"Very possibly! very possibly!" crjed
Mr. Pinner, with a ghastly smile. "Yes. I
have no doubt that we shall be able to do
something for you. What Is your par
ticular line, Mr. Harris?"
"I am an accountant," said Holmes.
"Ah, yes, we shall want something of
that sort Arid you, Mr. Price?"
"A clerk," said L
"I have every hope that the company
may accommodate you. I will let you
know about it as soon as we come to any
conclusion. Arid now I beg that you will
go. For God's sake leave me to mysel!"
"You forget, Mr. Pinner, that I am here
by appointment to receive some direc
tions from you." said he.
"Certainly, Mr. Pycroft, certainly," the
other resumed In a calmer tone. "You
may wait here a moment; and there is no
reason why your friends should not wait
with you. I will be entirely at your serv
ice In three thlnutes, if I might trespass
upon your patience so far." He rose with
a very courteous air, and, bowing to us,
he passed out through a door at the far
ther end of the room, which he closed
behind him.
"What now?" whispered Holmes. "I3
he giving us the slip?"
"Impossible," answered Pycroft
"Why sor
"That door'leads Into an inner room."
"There Is no exit?"
"None."
"Is. it furnished?" '
"It was 'empty yesterday."
"Then what on earth can he be doing?
There Is something which I don't under-"
stand In 'this matter. If ever a man was
three parts mad with terror, that man's
name Is Pinner. 'What can have put the
shivers on him?"
''He suspects that we are detectives," I
suggested. t
That's It" cried Pycroft
Holmes shook his head. "He did not
turn pale. He was pale when we en
tered the room." suid he. "It was Just
possible that '
His words were interrupted by a
sharp rat-tat from the direction or the
inner door.
"What the deuce Is he knocking at his
own door for?" cried the clerk.
Again and much louder came the rat-tat-tat
We all gazed expectantly at
the closed door. Glancing at Holmes,
I saw his face turn rigid, and he leaned
forward in intense excitement Then
suddenly came a low gurgling, gargl
ing sound, and a brisk drumming upon
wood-work. Holmes sprang frantical
ly across the room and pushed at the
door. It was fastened on the Inner
side. FoIIowIng,h!s example, we threw
ourselves upon It with all our weight
One hinge snapped, then the other, and
down came the door with a crash.
Rushing ver It we found ourselves In
the inner room. It was empty. But it
was only for a moment that we were
at fault At one corner nearest the
room which we had left there was a
second door. Holmes -sprang to 1U and
pulled it opon. A coat and waistcoat
were lying on the floor, and from a
hook behind the door, with his own
braces round his neck, was hanging
the managing director of the Franco
Midland Hardware Company. His
knes were drawn up. his head hung
at a dreadful angle to his body, and
the clatter ot his heels against the door
made the noise which had broken in
upon our conversation. In an Instant
I had caught him round the waist and
held him up while Holmes and Pycroft
untied the elastic bands which had dis
appeared between the livid creases of
skin. Then we carried him into the
other room, where he lay with a clay
colored face; puffing his purple Hps in
and out with every breath a dreadful
wreck ot all that he had been but five
minutes before.
"What do you think of him, Wat
son?" asked Holmes.
I stood over him and examined him.
His pulse was feeble and Intermittent,
but his breathing grew longer, and
there was a little shivering of the eye
lids, which showed a thin white silt
of ball beneath.
"It, has been touch and go with him,'
said L "but he'll live now. Just open
that window and hand mo the water
carafe." I undid his collar, poured tho
cold water over his face, and raised
and sank" his "arms untirhe drew-a'lOrtgT
natural breath. 'It's only a question
of time now," said I, as I turned away
from him.
Holmes stood by the table, with his
hands deep in his trousers pockets and
his chin upon his breast.
"I suppose we ought to call the police
In now." said he. "And yet I confess
that I'd like to give them a complete
case when they come."
"'It's a blessed mystery to me." cried
Pycroft scratching his head. "What
ever they wanted to bring me all the
way up here for. and then "
"Pooh! All that is clear enough."
'said Holmes, Impatiently. "It Is this
last sudden move."
"You understand tle Test, then?"
"I think that It is fairly obvious.
What do you say, "Watson '
i I shrugged my shoumers. "I must
confess that I am out xZ my- depths,"
said L
"Oh. surely, it you consider" the
events at first they can only point to
one conclusion."
"What do you -make of them?"
"Well, the whole thing hlnge3 upon
two points. The first Is the,' making
of Pycroft write a declaration by which
he entered the service' ot this prepos
terous company. Do you not see how
very suggestive that Is?"
"I am afraid I miss the point"
'"Well, -why did they want him to do
It? Not as a business matter, for these
arrangements, are usually verbal, and
there was no earthly reason why this
should be an exception. Don't you see,
my young friend, that they were very
anxious1 to .obtain a specimen of your
handwriting, and had no other way of
doing" It?
"And why?"
"Quite so. Why? When, we answer
that we have made some progress with
our little problem. Why? There can
bo only one adequate reason. Some
one wanted to learn to imitate your
writing, and had to procure a specimen'
of It .first. And now If wo pass on to
the second point we find that each
throws light upon the other. That
point Is the request made by Pinner
that you should not resign your place,
but should leave the manager of this
Important business In the full expecta
tion that a Mr. Hall Pycroft, whom he
had never seen, was about to enter the
office upon the Monday morning."
"My God!" cried our client, "what a
blind beetle I have been!"
"Now you see the point about tha
handwriting; Suppose that some ono
turned up in your "place who wroto a
completely different hand" from that In
"which you had applied for the vacancy,
of course, the game would have heen
up. But in the Interval the rogue had
learned to. imitate you, and his posi.
tlon was therefore secure, as I pre
sume that nobody In the offico had ever
set eyes upon you."
"Not a soul," groaned Hall Pycroft.
"Very good. Of course tt was of tho
utmost importance to prevent you from
thinking better ot It, and also to keep
you from coming into contact with
any one who might tell you that your
double was at work in Mawson's of
fice. Therefore they gave you a hand
some advance on your salary, and ran
you off to the Midlands, where they
gave you enough work to do to prevent
your going to London, where you
might have burst their little game up.
That Is all plain enough."
"But why should this man pretend -to
be hl3 own brother?"
"Well, that Is pretty clear also. There
are evidently only two of them In it The
other Is personating you at the office. This
ono acted as your engager, and then found
that he could not find you an employer
without admitting a third person fnto his
plot That he was most unwilling to do.
He changed his appearance as far as he
could and trusted that the likeness which
you could'not fall to observe would be put
down to a family resemblance. But for
the happy chance of the gold stuffing your
suspicions would probably never have
been aroused."
Hall Pycroft shook his clinched hands
in the air. "Good Lord!" he cries, "while
I have been fooled In thl3 way, what has
the other Hall Pycroft been doing at
Mawson's? What should wc do, . Mr.
Holmes? Tell me what to do?"
"We must wire to Mawson's."
"They shut at 12 on Saturdays."
"Never mind. There may be some door
keeper or attendant"
"Ah, yes, they keep a permanent guard
there on account of the value of the se
curities that they hold. I remember hear
ing It talked of In the city."
"Very good; we shnll wire to him, and
see If all Is well, and If a clerk ot your
name is working there. That Is clear
enough: but what Is not so clear Is .why
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at sight bt Us one of-the rogues shonM
instantly walk out ot the room and han
himself." '"The paper!" croaked a voice behind ua.
The man was sitting up, blanched and
ghastly, with returning reason In his eyes
and hands which rubbed nervously at th
broad red band which still encircled hli
throat
"The paper! Of course!" yelled Holmes,
In a paroxysm of excitement. "Idiot thai i,
"I was! I thought so much of our vlsll y
that the paper never entered my head fot
an Instant. To be sure, the secret must
He there."
He flattened It out upon the table, and
a cry of triumph burst from his lips.
"Look at this, Watson!" he cried. "It ii
a London paper, an early edition of th
Evening Standard. Here Is what we want
Look at the headlines. 'Crime in the City
Murder at Mawson & Williams'. Glgatt
tic Attempted Robbery. Capture of th
Criminal. Here, Watson, we are all
equally anxious to hear it, so kindly read
it aloud to us."
It appeared from Its position In the pa
per to have been the one event of impor
tance in town; and the account of It ra
In this -way:
"A desperate attempt at robbery, cul
minating In the death of one man and thf
capture ot the criminal, occurred this
afternoon in tho city. For some tlm
back Nawson & Williams, the famous
financial house, have been the guardian
of securities which amount in the aggrw
gata to a sum of considerably over a mil
Hon sterling. So conscious was the man
ager of the responslblUty which devolved
upon him In consequence of the great In
terests at stake that safes of tho very
latest construction have been employed,
and an armed watchman has been left day
and night in the building. It appears thai
last week a new clerk named Hall Pycroft
was engaged by the firm. This person
appears to have been none other than
Beddington, the famous forger and cracks
man, who, with his brother, has only re
cently emerged from a five years' spell of
penal servitude. By some means, which
are not yet clear, he succeeded In winning,
under a false name, this official position in
the office, which he utilized in order to
obtain moldings of various locks and
a thorough knowledge of the position of
the Btrongroora and the safes.
"It Is customary at Mawson's for the
clerks to leave at midday on Saturday.
Sergeant 'Tuson, of the City Police, was
somewhat surprised, therefore, to see n
gentleman with a carpet-bag .come down
the steps at 1:20. His suspicions being
aroused, the sergeant followed tho man,
and, with tho aid of Constable Pollock,
succeeded, after a most desperate resist
ance, In arresting him. It wa3 at once
clear that a daring and gigantic robbery
had been committed. Nearly a hundred
thousand pounds' worth of American rail
way bonds., wjth a large amount of scrip
in mines and other companies, was discov
ered In the bag. On examining the prem
ises the body of the unfortunate watch
man was found doubled up and thrust
Into the largest of the safes, -where it
would ont have" been discovered until
Monday mornlnir had It not been for the
prompt action of Sergeant Tuson. The
man's skull had been shattered, by a blow
from a poker delivered .from behind.
There could be no doubt that Beddington
had obtained entrance by pretending that
he had left something behind him, and?
having murdered the watchman, rapidly
rilled the large safe, and then made off
with the booty. His brother, who usually
works with him, has not appeared In tls
job, as far as can at present be ascer
tained, although the police are making
energetic Inquiries as to his whereabouts."
"Well, we may save the police some lit
tle trouble In that direction," said Holmes,
glancing at the haggard figure huddled up
by the window. "Human nature Is a
strange mixture, Watson. You see that
even a villain and murderer can Inspire
such affection that his brother turns to
suicide when he learns that his neck la
forfeited. However, we have no choice as
to our action. The doctor and I will re
main on guard, Mr. Pycroft. If you will
have the kindness to stop out for the po
lice." (The EndJ
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THE GREAT
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LOCATED IN PORTLAND SINCE 1880