Tuesday 30 January 2018

خمس سنوات البرتقال نقطة النية - الفوركس


النقاط البرتقالية الخمسة عندما ألقي نظرة على ملاحظاتي وسجلات حالات شرلوك هولمز بين عامي 82 و 90، فإنني واجه من قبل الكثيرين الذين يقدمون ملامح غريبة ومثيرة للاهتمام أنه ليس من السهل معرفة ما لاختيار والتي إلى غادر. غير أن البعض قد اكتسب بالفعل دعاية من خلال الأوراق، بينما لم يقدم البعض الآخر مجالا لتلك الصفات الغريبة التي يمتلكها صديقي بدرجة عالية جدا، وهو موضوع هذه الأوراق لتوضيحها. كما أن البعض قد حبط مهاراته التحليلية، وسينطلق، كروايات، من بدايات دون نهاية، في حين أن البعض الآخر قد تم إزالته جزئيا، وأن تكون تفسيراته مبنية على التخمين والتخمين بدلا من ذلك الدليل المنطقي المطلق الذي كان كذلك عزيزي عليه. ومع ذلك، هناك واحدة من هذه الأخيرة التي كانت رائعة جدا في تفاصيلها ومذهلة جدا في نتائجه أنني إغراء لإعطاء بعض الاعتبار لذلك على الرغم من أن هناك نقاط في اتصال معها والتي لم تكن، وربما لن يكون، تماما تطهيرها. سنة 87 قدم لنا سلسلة طويلة من الحالات ذات الاهتمام أكبر أو أقل، والتي احتفظ بها السجلات. بين عناويني تحت هذا الاثني عشر شهرا أجد سرد لمغامرة غرفة بارادول، من جمعية الهواة منديكانت، الذي عقد ناد فاخر في القبو السفلي من مستودع الأثاث، من الحقائق المتصلة بفقدان البريطانيين النباح صوفي أندرسون. من المغامرات المفردة من غريس باترسونس في جزيرة أوفا، وأخيرا من قضية التسمم كامبرويل. في الأخير، كما يمكن أن نتذكر، كان شيرلوك هولمز قادرة، من خلال تصفية الساعات الميتة مان، لإثبات أنه قد انتهى قبل ساعتين، وبالتالي فإن المتوفى قد ذهب إلى الفراش في ذلك الوقت - خصم الذي كان له أهمية قصوى في إزالة القضية. كل هذه قد أرسمها في تاريخ لاحق، ولكن أيا منها لا يقدم مثل هذه الميزات الفريدة مثل القطار الغريب من الظروف التي أخذت الآن من ركلة جزاء لوصف. كان في الأيام الأخيرة من أيلول / سبتمبر، والعواصف متساوية التوازن وضعت في مع عنف استثنائي. كل يوم كانت الرياح صراخ والمطر ضربوا ضد النوافذ، حتى أنه حتى هنا في قلب كبيرة، من صنع اليد في لندن اضطرنا إلى رفع عقولنا للحظة من روتين الحياة والاعتراف بوجود تلك القوى العظيمة العظيمة التي تصرخ في البشرية من خلال قضبان حضارته، مثل الحيوانات التي لم تسمها في قفص. ومع اقتراب المساء، نمت العاصفة أعلى وأعلى، وكرعت الريح وأخذت مثل طفل في المدخنة. شيرلوك هولمز جلس في جانب واحد من الموقد عبر الفهرسة سجلاته من الجريمة، في حين أنني في الآخر كان عميقا في واحدة من كلارك راسل في قصص البحر الجميلة حتى عاء من العاصفة من دون يبدو أن يمزج مع النص، ودفقة المطر إلى إطالة إلى مائلة طويلة من موجات البحر. كانت زوجتي في زيارة لأمهاتها، وبضعة أيام كنت مسافرا مرة أخرى في أرباحي القديمة في شارع بيكر. لماذا، قال أنا، تألق في رفيقي، وهذا كان بالتأكيد الجرس. الذين يمكن أن يأتي إلى ليلة بعض صديق لك، ربما باستثناء نفسك ليس لدي أي شيء، أجاب. لا أشجع الزوار. وإذا كان الأمر كذلك، فهي حالة خطيرة. لا شيء أقل من شأنه أن يخرج رجل في مثل هذا اليوم وفي هذه الساعة. ولكني أعتبر أن من الأرجح أن يكون بعض المحسوبين في الأرض. شيرلوك هولمز كان مخطئا في تخمينه، ومع ذلك، لأنه جاء خطوة في مرور والتنصت على الباب. امتد ذراعه الطويل لتحويل المصباح بعيدا عن نفسه نحو الكرسي الشاغر الذي يجب أن يجلس عليه الوافد الجديد. تعال وقال انه. الرجل الذي دخل كان صغيرا، حوالي اثنين وعشرين في الخارج، ومجهزة بشكل جيد ومتهلكة يرتدون، مع شيء من الصقل والحساسية في حمله. وقال مظلة المتدفقة التي عقد في يده، وله طويلة مشرقة للماء من الطقس الشرس الذي كان قد جاء. كان ينظر إليه بشغف في وهج المصباح، وأستطيع أن أرى أن وجهه شاحب وعينيه ثقيلة، مثل تلك التي من الرجل الذي يزنه مع بعض القلق الكبير. لدين لكم اعتذار، وقال، ورفع له الذهبي بينس-نيز لعينيه. أنا واثق من أنني لا تتدخل. أخشى أنني جلبت بعض آثار العاصفة والمطر في غرفة دافئ الخاص بك. أعطني معطفك ومظلة، وقال هولمز. قد يجلسون هنا على الخطاف وسوف تكون جافة في الوقت الحاضر. لقد جئت من الجنوب الغربي، أرى. نعم، من هورشام. هذا الطين والطباشير الخليط الذي أرى على قبعات إصبع القدم الخاص بك هو مميز جدا. لقد جئت للحصول على المشورة. وهذا يحصل بسهولة. هذا ليس دائما من السهل جدا. لقد سمعت عنكم، السيد هولمز. سمعت من الرائد بريندرغاست كيف أنقذته في فضيحة نادي تانرفيل. آه، بالطبع. وقد اتهم على نحو خاطئ بالخداع على بطاقات. وقال إنه يمكنك حل أي شيء. وقال الكثير جدا. أنك لم تتعرض للضرب أبدا. تعرضت للضرب أربع مرات - ثلاث مرات من قبل الرجال، ومرة ​​واحدة من قبل امرأة. ولكن ما هو ذلك مقارنة مع عدد من النجاحات الخاصة بك صحيح أن كنت قد نجحت عموما. ثم قد تكون معي. أتوسل إليكم بأنكم ستوجهون كرسيكم إلى النار وتفضلونني ببعض التفاصيل عن قضيتك. انها ليست واحدة عادية. أي من تلك التي تأتي لي هي. أنا آخر محكمة استئناف. وبعد السؤال، يا سيدي، سواء، في كل ما تبذلونه من الخبرة، كنت قد استمع من أي وقت مضى إلى سلسلة من الأحداث أكثر غموضا ولا يمكن تفسيره من تلك التي وقعت في عائلتي. كنت ملء لي مع الفائدة، وقال هولمز. صلاة تعطينا الحقائق الأساسية من بدء، ويمكنني بعد ذلك السؤال لك على تلك التفاصيل التي يبدو لي أن تكون الأكثر أهمية. الوجه الصفع الشاب سحب كرسيه حتى دفعت قدمه الرطب خارج الحريق. اسمي، هو جون أوبنشاو، ولكن الشؤون الخاصة بي، بقدر ما أستطيع أن أفهم، القليل للقيام بهذه الأعمال الفظيعة. إنه أمر وراثي لكي نمنحك فكرة عن الوقائع، يجب أن أعود إلى بدء هذه القضية. يجب أن تعرف أن جدى كان له ابنان - عمي الياس ووالدي يوسف. كان لدى والدي مصنع صغير في كوفنتري، الذي قام بتوسيعه في وقت اختراع الدراجات. وكان صاحب براءة اختراع لإطارات أوبنشاو غير قابلة للكسر، وأعماله اجتمع مع هذا النجاح أنه كان قادرا على بيعه والتقاعد على كفاءة وسيم. هاجر عمي إلياس إلى أمريكا عندما كان شابا، وأصبح زارع في ولاية فلوريدا، حيث أفيد أنه قد فعل بشكل جيد للغاية. في وقت الحرب قاتل في جيش جاكسون، وبعد ذلك تحت غطاء محرك السيارة، حيث ارتفع ليكون العقيد. عندما وضع لي ذراعي عاد عمي إلى مزرعته، حيث بقي لمدة ثلاث أو أربع سنوات. حوالي 1869 أو 1870 عاد إلى أوروبا وأخذ قطعة صغيرة في ساسكس، بالقرب من هورشام. كان قد حقق ثروة كبيرة جدا في الدول، وكان سبب تركه هو نفوره من النكراء، وكرهه من السياسة الجمهوريه في توسيع الامتياز لهم. كان رجل واحد، شرسة وسريعة خفف، جدا كريهة الفم عندما كان غاضبا، وأكثر التصرف المتقاعد. خلال كل السنوات التي عاش فيها في هورشام، أشك في أي وقت مضى انه قدم القدم في المدينة. كان لديه حديقة واثنين أو ثلاثة حقول جولة منزله، وهناك سوف يأخذ ممارسة له، على الرغم من أن في كثير من الأحيان لعدة أسابيع في نهاية انه لن يترك غرفته. كان يشرب قدرا كبيرا من البراندي ويدخن بشدة، لكنه لا يرى أي مجتمع ولا يريد أي أصدقاء، ولا حتى أخيه. لم يكن يمانعني في الواقع، وقال انه أخذ يتوهم بالنسبة لي، لأنه في الوقت الذي رأى لي أولا كنت شابا من اثني عشر أو نحو ذلك. هذا سيكون في عام 1878، بعد أن كان ثمانية أو تسع سنوات في انكلترا. توسل والدي لي اسمحوا لي أن أعيش معه وكان لطيف جدا بالنسبة لي في طريقه. عندما كان الرصين كان يحب أن يكون مولعا لعب الطاولة والمسودات معي، وقال انه من شأنه أن يجعلني ممثله مع كل من العبيد ومع التجار، حتى أنه بحلول الوقت الذي كنت في السادسة عشر كنت سيد تماما من المنزل. ظللت جميع المفاتيح ويمكن أن تذهب حيث أحببت والقيام بما أحببت، طالما أنا لم يزعج له في خصوصيته. ولكن كان هناك استثناء واحد، لأنه كان لديه غرفة واحدة، غرفة من الخشب بين العلائق، والتي كانت دائما مغلقة، والتي لن تسمح لي أو أي شخص آخر للدخول. مع فضول الأولاد لقد زقزقة من خلال ثقب المفتاح، ولكن لم أكن قادرا على رؤية أكثر من مثل هذه المجموعة من جذوع القديمة والحزم كما هو متوقع في مثل هذه الغرفة. يوم واحد - كان في مارس 1883 - رسالة مع طابع أجنبي على الطاولة أمام لوحة الكولونيل. لم يكن أمرا شائعا بالنسبة له أن يتسلم رسائل، لأن فواتيره كانت تدفع كلها بأموال جاهزة، ولم يكن لديه أصدقاء من أي نوع. من الهند قال انه كما انه استغرق، بونديشيري ختم البريد ما الذي يمكن أن يكون هذا فتحه على عجل، هناك قفزت خمس نقاط البرتقال المجففة قليلا، والتي ضربت أسفل لوحة له. بدأت الضحك على هذا، ولكن الضحك ضرب من شفتي على مرأى من وجهه. فقد سقطت شفته، وظهرت عينيه، وجلده لون المعجون، وقال انه غلارد في المغلف الذي لا يزال محتجزا في يده يرتجف، كك انه صرخ، وبعد ذلك، يا إلهي، يا إلهي، خطاياني تجاوزت لي ما هو، عم بكيت. الموت، وقال انه، ورفع من الطاولة انه تقاعد الى غرفته، وترك لي خفق مع الرعب. أخذت المغلف ورأى تملأ في الحبر الأحمر على رفرف الداخلي، فوق العلكة، والحرف K ثلاث مرات المتكررة. لم يكن هناك شيء آخر حفظ النقاط المجففة الخمسة. ما يمكن أن يكون السبب وراء إرهابه المفرط الذي تركته على طاولة الإفطار، وعندما صعدت الدرج التقيت به ينزل مع مفتاح صدئ قديم، يجب أن يكون ملكا للعلية، من جهة، وصغيرة النحاس مربع، مثل كاشبوكس، في الآخر. قد يفعلون ما يحلو لهم، ولكن رفيقهم لا يزال، وقال انه مع اليمين. أخبر ماري بأنني سأحتاج إلى حريق في غرفتي إلى اليوم، وأرسل إلى فوردهام، محامي هورشام. فعلت كما أمر، وعندما وصل المحامي طلب مني أن تصعد إلى الغرفة. كان الحريق يحرق الزاهية، وفي الصر كان هناك كتلة من رماد أسود رقيق، كما من الورق المحترق، في حين أن مربع النحاس وقف مفتوحة وفارغة بجانبه. كما لاحظت في المربع لاحظت، مع البداية، أن على الغطاء طبعت K ثلاثة أضعاف التي كنت قد قرأت في الصباح على المغلف. أتمنى لكم، يا جون، قال عمي، ليشهد إرادتي. أترك ممتلكاتي بكل مزاياه وكل عيوبه، إلى أخي، والدك، ومن هنا لا شك، ينزل إليك. إذا كنت يمكن أن يتمتع بها في سلام، حسنا وجيدة إذا وجدت أنك لا تستطيع، تأخذ نصيحتي، صبي، وترك الأمر إلى العدو الأكثر دموية الخاص بك. أنا آسف لإعطائك مثل هذا الشيء ذو حدين، ولكن لا أستطيع أن أقول ما تتحول الأمور سوف تتخذ. يرجى التوقيع على ورقة حيث السيد فوردهام يظهر لك. لقد وقعت على الورقة حسب توجيهات المحامي، وأخذها المحامي معه. لقد جعلت الحادثة المفردة، كما تظن، انطباعا عميقا علي، وتفكرت فيه، وحولت كل شيء في ذهني دون أن تكون قادرة على صنع أي شيء من ذلك. ومع ذلك لم أتمكن من التخلص من الشعور الغامض من الرهبة التي تركتها وراءها، على الرغم من الإحساس نمت أقل حريصة مع مرور الأسابيع ولم يحدث شيء لإزعاج الروتين المعتاد في حياتنا. أستطيع أن أرى تغييرا في عمى، ومع ذلك. شرب أكثر من أي وقت مضى، وكان أقل ميلا لأي نوع من المجتمع. معظم وقته كان ينفق في غرفته، مع الباب مقفل على الداخل، ولكن في بعض الأحيان انه سوف تظهر في نوع من جنون مخمور وسوف تنفجر من المنزل والمسيل للدموع عن الحديقة مع مسدس في يده، يصرخ لأنه لا يخاف من أي إنسان، وأنه لا ينبغي أن يتم حجبه، مثل الأغنام في قلم، من قبل الإنسان أو الشيطان. وعندما انتهى هذا الانتصار الحار، سرعان ما سرعان ما كان في الباب وقفله وحجبه خلفه، كرجل لا يستطيع أن يقهره ضد الإرهاب الذي يكمن في جذور روحه. في مثل هذه الأوقات رأيت وجهه، حتى في يوم بارد، لامعة مع الرطوبة، كما لو كانت جديدة التي أثيرت من حوض. حسنا، لإنهاء هذه المسألة، السيد هولمز، وعدم الاعتداء على صبركم، جاء هناك ليلة عندما قدم واحدة من تلك سايلز سكران الذي لم يعود. وجدنا له، عندما ذهبنا للبحث عنه، تواجه هبوطا في بركة خضراء قليلا سكومد، والتي تقع على سفح الحديقة. لم يكن هناك أي دليل على أي عنف، وكان الماء بعمق اثنين فقط، حتى أن لجنة التحكيم، مع مراعاة عدم انتظامه المعروف، جلبت حكم الانتحار. لكنني، الذي كان يعرف كيف انه ينحني من فكر الموت، كان لديه الكثير من اللغط لإقناع نفسي أنه خرج من طريقه لمقابلته. إلا أن الأمر مر، وبات أبي في حوزة الحوزة، وحوالي 14 ألف جنيه استرليني، وهو ما كان له الفضل في البنك. لحظة واحدة، هولمز المتداخلة، بيانكم هو، وأنا أتوقع، واحدة من الأكثر ملحوظا التي استمع إليها من أي وقت مضى. اسمحوا لي أن يكون تاريخ استقبال من قبل عمك من الرسالة، وتاريخ انتحاره المفترض. وصلت الرسالة في 10 مارس 1883. وفاته بعد سبعة أسابيع، في ليلة 2 مايو. شكرا لكم. صلوا المضي قدما. وعندما استولى والدي على ممتلكات هورشام، قام، بناء على طلبي، بإجراء فحص دقيق للعلية التي كانت دائما محاصرة. وجدنا مربع النحاس هناك، على الرغم من أن محتوياته قد دمرت. في الداخل من الغلاف كان ورقة التسمية، مع الأحرف الأولى من K. K. K. كرر عليه، والحروف والمذكرات والإيصالات، وسجل مكتوب تحت. وهذا ما نفترضه، أشار إلى طبيعة الأوراق التي دمرها العقيد أوبنشاو. بالنسبة للبقية، لم يكن هناك شيء من أهمية كبيرة في العلية حفظ العديد من الأوراق المتناثرة والكتب مذكرة تحمل على أعمالي الحياة في أمريكا. بعضهم كانوا في زمن الحرب وأظهروا أنه قام بواجبه على ما يرام، وقد تحمل سمعة جندي شجاع. وكان البعض الآخر في تاريخ إعادة بناء الولايات الجنوبية، وكان معظمهم معنيا بالسياسة، لأنه كان من الواضح أنه اتخذ دورا قويا في معارضة السياسيين حقيبة السجاد الذين تم إرسالهم من الشمال. حسنا، كان بداية 84 عندما جاء والدي للعيش في هورشام، وذهب كل ذلك ممكنا معنا حتى يناير من 85. في اليوم الرابع بعد العام الجديد سمعت والدي تعطي صرخة حادة من المفاجأة كما جلسنا معا على طاولة الإفطار. هناك كان، يجلس مع مغلف افتتح حديثا في يد واحدة وخمس نقاط البرتقال المجففة في النخيل ممدود من الآخر. كان يضحك دائما على ما وصفه بقصتي الديك والثور حول العقيد، لكنه بدا خائفا جدا وحير الآن أن نفس الشيء قد حان على نفسه. لماذا، ماذا على الأرض هذا يعني، جون انه ستاميرد. قلبي تحولت إلى الرصاص. هو K. K. K.، وقال I. وقال انه ينظر داخل المغلف. لذلك هو، بكى. هنا هي الحروف جدا. ولكن ما هو مكتوب أعلاه عليهم وضع الأوراق على الشمس، قرأت، يختفي على كتفه. ما الأوراق ما سونديال انه سأل. الساعة الشمسية في الحديقة. ليس هناك أي شيء آخر، ولكني يجب أن تكون الأوراق التي دمرت. قال بوه إنه يجتاح بجد على شجاعته. نحن في أرض متحضرة هنا، ونحن لا يمكن أن يكون الرخوة من هذا النوع. أين يأتي الشيء من من دندي، أجبت، وألمع في ختم البريد. وقال بعض نكتة عميقة منافية له. ماذا أفعل مع سونديالز وأوراق أنا لن تأخذ أي إشعار من هذا هراء. وأود أن أتحدث بالتأكيد إلى الشرطة. وضحك في آلامي. لا شيء من هذا القبيل. ثم اسمحوا لي أن تفعل ذلك لا، أنا لا سمح لك. لن أكون ضجة حول مثل هذا هراء. كان من دون جدوى أن يجادل معه، لأنه كان رجل عنيد جدا. ذهبت، ومع ذلك، مع القلب الذي كان مليئا فوربودينغس. في اليوم الثالث بعد مجيء الرسالة ذهب والدي من المنزل لزيارة صديق قديم له، الرائد فريبودي، الذي هو في قيادة واحدة من الحصون على بورتسدون هيل. كنت سعيدا لأنه يجب أن يذهب، لأنه بدا لي أنه كان أبعد من الخطر عندما كان بعيدا عن المنزل. في ذلك، ومع ذلك، كنت في الخطأ. في اليوم الثاني من غيابه تلقيت برقية من الكبرى، ليتأمل لي أن يأتي في آن واحد. وكان والدي قد سقط على واحدة من الطباشير العميقة الحفر التي تكثر في الحي، وكان الكذب بلا معنى، مع الجمجمة الممزقة. سارعت إليه، لكنه توفي دون أن يكون قد استعاد وعيه من أي وقت مضى. كان يبدو، كما يبدو، عائدا من فاريهام في الشفق، وبما أن البلاد لم تكن معروفة له، والطباشير غير مكشوفة، فإن هيئة المحلفين لم يتردد في إصدار حكم بالقتل لأسباب غير مقصودة. وبعناية عندما فحصت كل الحقائق المتصلة بموته، لم أتمكن من العثور على أي شيء يمكن أن يوحي بفكرة القتل. لم تكن هناك علامات على العنف، لا علامات، لا السطو، لم يسجل أي سجل من الغرباء على الطرق. ومع ذلك لا أحتاج إلى أن أقول لكم أن ذهني كان بعيدا عن الراحة، وأنني كنت على يقين تماما أن بعض مؤامرة كريهة تم نسج جولة له. في هذه الطريقة الشريرة دخلت إلى ميراثي. سوف تسألني لماذا لم أكن التخلص منها أجيب، لأنني كنت مقتنعا تماما أن مشاكلنا كانت تعتمد بطريقة ما على حادث في حياة أعمامي، وأن الخطر سيكون الضغط في منزل واحد كما هو الحال في بلد آخر. كان في كانون الثاني / يناير، 85، أن والدي الفقراء التقى نهايته، وسنتين وثمانية أشهر قد انقضت منذ ذلك الحين. خلال ذلك الوقت عشت بسعادة في هورشام، وكنت قد بدأت في الأمل أن هذه اللعنة قد مرت الطريق من الأسرة، وأنها انتهت مع الجيل الأخير. كنت قد بدأت في الراحة في وقت قريب جدا، ولكن صباح أمس ضربت ضربة في الشكل نفسه الذي كان قد جاء على والدي. استغرق الشاب من صدرية له مظروف متكتل، وتحول إلى الطاولة انه هز بها على خمس نقاط البرتقال المجففة قليلا. هذا هو المغلف. ختم البريد هو لندن - تقسيم الشرقية. في داخل هي الكلمات التي كانت على آباء آخر رسالة: K. K. K. ومن ثم وضع الأوراق على الشمس. ماذا فعلتم طلب هولمز. لقول الحقيقة - غرق وجهه في بلده رقيقة، والأيدي البيضاء - لقد شعرت بالعجز. لقد شعرت وكأنها واحدة من تلك الأرانب الفقيرة عندما ثعبان هو يتجه نحو ذلك. يبدو لي أن يكون في قبضة بعض ريسيستليس، الشرير الذي لا يرحم، والتي لا التبصر ولا الاحتياطات يمكن أن تحرس ضد. توت توت بكى شيرلوك هولمز. يجب أن تتصرف، رجل، أو كنت فقدت. لا شيء سوى الطاقة يمكن أن يوفر لك. هذا ليس وقت لليأس. لقد رأيت الشرطة. لكنهم استمعوا إلى قصتي بابتسامة. وإنني مقتنع بأن المفتش قد رأى أن الرسائل كلها نكات عملية، وأن وفاة علاقاتي كانت حوادث حقيقية، كما ذكرت هيئة المحلفين، ولم تكن مرتبطة بالتحذيرات. همز هولمز يديه مشدودة في الهواء. بكاء لا يصدق بكى. ومع ذلك، سمحت لي شرطي، الذي قد يبقى في المنزل معي. هل جاء معك الليلة رقم أوامره بالبقاء في المنزل. مرة أخرى هولمز في الهواء. لماذا لم تأتي لي، بكى، وقبل كل شيء، لماذا لم يأت في وقت واحد لم أكن أعرف. كان اليوم فقط أن تحدثت مع الرائد بريندرغاست عن متاعب بلدي وأبلغته أن يأتي إليكم. هو حقا يومين منذ كان لديك الرسالة. وكان ينبغي لنا أن نتصرف قبل ذلك. ليس لدي أي دليل آخر، على ما أعتقد، من ذلك الذي وضعتموه أمامنا - أي تفاصيل موحية قد تساعدنا هناك شيء واحد، قال جون أوبنشاو. فقام في جيبه المعطف، واستخرج قطعة من ورق ملون، ملون أزرق، وضعه على الطاولة. لدي بعض الذكرى، وقال إنه في اليوم الذي أحرق فيه عمي الأوراق لاحظت أن الهوامش الصغيرة غير المحترقة التي تقع وسط الرماد كانت من هذا اللون بالذات. لقد وجدت هذه الورقة الواحدة على أرضية قاعته، وأنا أميل إلى الاعتقاد بأنها قد تكون واحدة من الأوراق التي ربما ترفرفت من بين الآخرين، وبهذه الطريقة قد نجا من الدمار. بالإضافة إلى ذكر النقاط، لا أرى أنه يساعدنا كثيرا. أعتقد نفسي أنه صفحة من بعض مذكرات خاصة. الكتابة بلا شك أعمامي. هولمز نقل المصباح، ونحن على حد سواء عازمة على ورقة من الورق، والتي أظهرت من قبل حافة خشنة أنه تم بالفعل تمزقت من كتاب. وكان رأسه، مارس، 1869، وتحت ما يلي الإشعارات الغامضة: 4th. جاء هدسون. نفس منصة القديمة. 7. تعيين النقاط على مكولي، بارامور، وجون سوين، القديس أوغسطين. 9. مكولي مسح. 10. تم تطهير جون سوين. ال12 زار بارامور. الكل بخير. شكرا لكم هولمز، طي الورق والعودة إلى زائرنا. والآن يجب عليك على أي حساب تفقد لحظة أخرى. لا يمكننا أن نوفر الوقت حتى نناقش ما قلته لي. يجب أن تحصل على المنزل على الفور والتصرف. ماذا أفعل هناك شيء واحد يجب القيام به. ويجب أن يتم ذلك فورا. يجب عليك وضع هذه القطعة من الورق التي كنت قد أظهرت لنا في مربع النحاس الذي كنت قد وصفت. يجب أن تضع أيضا في ملاحظة أن أقول أن جميع الأوراق الأخرى أحرقت من قبل عمك، وأن هذا هو الوحيد الذي يبقى. يجب أن تؤكد أنه في مثل هذه الكلمات كما سوف تحمل الإدانة معهم. بعد القيام بذلك، يجب عليك في وقت واحد وضع مربع خارجا على الشمس، وفقا لتوجيهات. هل تفهم لا تفكر في الانتقام، أو أي شيء من هذا النوع، في الوقت الحاضر. وأعتقد أننا قد نكتسب ذلك من خلال القانون ولكن لدينا شبكة على نسج، في حين أن لهم بالفعل المنسوجة. والنظر الأول هو إزالة الخطر الملحة الذي يهددك. والثاني هو إزالة الغموض ومعاقبة الأطراف المذنبة. أشكركم، وقال الشاب، وارتفاع وسحب على معطفه. لقد أعطاني حياة جديدة وأمل. أنا بالتأكيد سوف تفعل كما ننصح. لا تفقد لحظة. وقبل كل شيء، اعتني بنفسك في الوقت نفسه، لأنني لا أعتقد أنه يمكن أن يكون هناك شك في أنك مهدد بخطر حقيقي وشيك. كيف يمكنك العودة بالقطار من واترلو. انها ليست بعد تسعة. سوف تكون الشوارع مزدحمة، لذلك l الثقة التي قد تكون في أمان. ومع ذلك لا يمكنك حماية نفسك عن كثب. هذا جيد. إلى الغد سأعمل على قضيتك. سوف أراك في هورشام، ثم لا، سر يكمن في لندن. هناك أن أسعى إليه. ثم سأتصل بك في يوم، أو في يومين، مع الأخبار فيما يتعلق بالمربع والأوراق. وسأخذ مشورتك في كل واحد على حدة. وصافحنا وأخذ إجازته. خارج الرياح لا يزال صراخ والمطر رشت وضرب ضد النوافذ. ويبدو أن هذه القصة البرية الغريبة قد جاءت إلينا من وسط العناصر المجنونة - التي انفجرت علينا مثل ورقة من الأعشاب البحرية في عاصفة - والآن تم استيعابهم مرة أخرى. غادر شيرلوك هولمز لبعض الوقت في صمت، مع غرق رأسه إلى الأمام وعيناه عازمة على توهج أحمر من النار. ثم أضاء أنبوبه، وراجع في كرسيه، وشاهد حلقات الدخان الزرقاء حيث طاردوا بعضهم البعض حتى السقف. أعتقد، واتسون، وقال في الماضي، أنه من جميع حالاتنا لم يكن لدينا أي شيء أكثر رائعة من هذا. حفظ، ربما، علامة أربعة. نعم. حفظ، ربما، ذلك. ومع ذلك يبدو لي جون أوبنشاو لي أن يسير وسط أخطار أكبر مما كان عليه شولتوس. ولكن، هل سألت، شكلت أي تصور واضح لما هي هذه المخاطر هي لا يمكن أن يكون هناك أي سؤال عن طبيعتها، أجاب. ثم ماذا هم من هذا K. K. K. ولماذا يسعى هذه العائلة التعيس شيرلوك هولمز أغمض عينيه ووضع المرفقين على ذراعيه من كرسيه، مع اصبعه نصائح معا. وقال إن السبب المثالي هو أنه عندما كان يظهر مرة واحدة حقيقة واحدة في جميع محامله، يستنتج منه ليس فقط كل سلسلة من الأحداث التي أدت إلى ذلك ولكن أيضا كل النتائج التي ستتبع منه. كما كوفييه يمكن أن تصف بشكل صحيح حيوان كامل عن طريق التأمل في عظم واحد، وبالتالي فإن المراقب الذي فهم جيدا صلة واحدة في سلسلة من الحوادث يجب أن تكون قادرة على أن تحدد بدقة كل تلك الأخرى، قبل وبعد. ونحن لم نستوعب بعد النتائج التي يمكن للسبب الوحيد تحقيقها. ويمكن حل المشاكل في الدراسة التي حيرة كل أولئك الذين سعت إلى حل من خلال مساعدة من حواسهم. غير أنه من الضروري أن يكون العقل قادرا على استخدام كل الحقائق التي وصلت إلى علمه وهذا في حد ذاته يعني، كما ترون بسهولة، حيازة كل المعرفة، والتي، حتى في هذه الأيام من التعليم الحر والموسوعات، هو إنجاز نادر إلى حد ما. ومع ذلك، ليس من المستحيل أن يكون لدى الرجل كل المعرفة التي من المرجح أن تكون مفيدة له في عمله، وهذا ما سعت في حالتي للقيام به. إذا كنت أتذكر بحق، في مناسبة واحدة، في الأيام الأولى من صداقتنا، وحددت حدود بلدي بطريقة دقيقة جدا. نعم، أجبت، يضحك. وهي وثيقة مفردة. تم وضع علامة الفلسفة، وعلم الفلك، والسياسة في الصفر، أتذكر. متغير النبات، والجيولوجيا عميقة فيما يتعلق البقع الطينية من أي منطقة في غضون خمسين ميلا من المدينة والكيمياء غريب الأطوار والتشريح غير النظامية والأدب المثيرة وسجلات الجريمة فريدة من نوعها، لاعب الكمان، الملاكم، المبارز، المحامي، والمسمم الذاتي من قبل الكوكايين و التبغ. وأعتقد أن هذه هي النقاط الرئيسية في تحليلي. هولمز غريند في البند الأخير. حسنا، قال، أقول الآن، كما قلت آنذاك، أن الرجل يجب أن يحافظ على القليل من العلية الدماغ مخزنة مع جميع الأثاث أنه من المرجح أن تستخدم، والباقي انه يمكن وضع بعيدا في غرفة الخشب من له مكتبة، حيث يمكن الحصول عليها إذا كان يريد ذلك. والآن، بالنسبة لحالة من قبيل الحالة التي قدمت إلينا إلى الليل، نحتاج بالتأكيد إلى حشد جميع مواردنا. يرجى يسلم لي حرف K من الموسوعة الأمريكية التي تقف على الرف بجانبك. شكرا لكم. الآن دعونا ننظر في الوضع ونرى ما يمكن استخلاصه منه. في المقام الأول، قد نبدأ بفرضية قوية بأن العقيد أوبنشاو كان لديه سبب قوي جدا لمغادرة أمريكا. الرجال في وقته من الحياة لا تغيير كل عاداتهم وتبادل طيب خاطر مناخ ساحر من ولاية فلوريدا للحياة وحيدا من بلدة المقاطعة الإنجليزية. حبه الشديد من العزلة في انكلترا يقترح فكرة أنه كان في خوف من شخص أو شيء، لذلك قد نفترض فرضية العمل أنه كان خوفا من شخص ما أو شيء الذي قاده من أمريكا. أما ما كان يخشى، فلا يسعنا إلا أن نستنتج أنه بالنظر إلى الرسائل الهائلة التي تلقاها بنفسه وخلفائه. هل لاحظت العلامات البريدية لتلك الرسائل كان الأول من بونديشيري، والثاني من دندي، والثالث من لندن. من شرق لندن. ماذا تستنتج من ذلك أنها جميع الموانئ. أن الكاتب كان على متن سفينة. ممتاز. لدينا بالفعل فكرة. ولا يمكن أن يكون هناك شك في أن احتمال - احتمال قوي - هو أن الكاتب كان على متن سفينة. والآن دعونا النظر في نقطة أخرى. في حالة بونديشيري، انقضت سبعة أسابيع بين التهديد وفاء، في دندي كان فقط ثلاثة أو أربعة أيام. هل هذا يشير إلى أي شيء مسافة أكبر للسفر. ولكن الرسالة كانت أيضا على مسافة أكبر. ثم أنا لا أرى هذه النقطة. وهناك افتراض على الأقل بأن السفينة التي يكون الرجل أو الرجل فيها سفينة شراعية. يبدو كما لو أنهم أرسلوا دائما تحذير المفرد أو رمزية لهم عند بدء مهمتهم. ترى مدى سرعة الفعل فعلت علامة عندما جاء من داندي. إذا كانوا قد جاءوا من بونديشيري في باخرة كانوا قد وصلوا تقريبا في أقرب وقت رسالتهم. ولكن، في واقع الأمر، انقضت سبعة أسابيع. وأعتقد أن تلك الأسابيع السبعة تمثل الفرق بين البريد-- قارب الذي جلب الرسالة وسفينة الإبحار التي جلبت الكاتب. أكثر من ذلك. ومن المحتمل. والآن ترى إلحاح القاتل لهذه الحالة الجديدة، ولماذا حثت أوبنشاو الشباب للحذر. وقد سقطت ضربة دائما في نهاية الوقت الذي سوف يستغرق المرسلين للسفر المسافة. ولكن هذا يأتي من لندن، وبالتالي لا يمكننا الاعتماد على التأخير. الله جيد بكيت. ماذا يمكن أن يعني، هذا الاضطهاد لا هوادة فيها الأوراق التي أوبينشو نفذت من الواضح أهمية حيوية للشخص أو الأشخاص في السفينة الشراعية. وأعتقد أنه من الواضح تماما أنه يجب أن يكون هناك أكثر من واحد منهم. وكان رجل واحد لا يمكن أن يكون قد نفذت اثنين من القتلى بطريقة خداع هيئة المحلفين للعدالة. كان يجب أن يكون هناك عدة في ذلك، وكان يجب أن يكون الرجال من الموارد والتصميم. أوراقهم يعني أن يكون، حاملا لهم من قد. وبهذه الطريقة ترى K. K. K. يتوقف عن أن تكون الأحرف الأولى للفرد ويصبح شارة للمجتمع. ولكن ما المجتمع لم تكن أبدا - قال شيرلوك هولمز، والانحناء إلى الأمام وغرق صوته --have لم يسمع لك من كو كلوكس كلان هولمز حول أوراق الكتاب على ركبته. هنا هو، وقال انه في الوقت الحاضر: كو كلوكس كلان. اسم مشتق من التشابه خيالية إلى الصوت التي تنتجها تصويب بندقية. وقد شكل هذا المجتمع السري الرهيب من قبل بعض الجنود الكونفدراليين السابقين في الولايات الجنوبية بعد الحرب الأهلية، وسرعان ما شكلت فروع محلية في أجزاء مختلفة من البلاد، ولا سيما في تينيسي ولويزيانا وكارولينا وجورجيا وفلوريدا. وقد استخدمت قوتها في أغراض سياسية، وذلك أساسا لترويع الناخبين الزنجيين وقتل من كانوا يعارضون آرائها والقيادة من البلد. وعادة ما يسبق انتفاضها تحذير يرسل إلى الرجل الملحوظ في شكل رائع ولكن معترف به عموما - وهو خنزير من أوراق البلوط في بعض الأجزاء وبذور البطيخ أو النقاط البرتقالية في مناطق أخرى. عند تلقي هذا الضحية قد إما جفر علنا ​​طرقه السابقة، أو قد تطير من البلاد. إذا كان قد شجع على المسألة، فإن الموت سيأتي بلا هوادة عليه، وعادة بطريقة غريبة وغير متوقعة. لذا كان الكمال تنظيم المجتمع، ومنهجيته المنهجية، وأنه لا يكاد يكون هناك سجل على الإطلاق حيث نجح أي رجل في التحريض عليه مع الإفلات من العقاب، أو في أي من الاعتداءات التي عادت إلى منزل الجناة. وقد ازدهرت المنظمة منذ سنوات على الرغم من جهود حكومة الولايات المتحدة والطبقات الأفضل للمجتمع في الجنوب. في نهاية المطاف، في عام 1869، وانهارت الحركة فجأة بدلا من ذلك، على الرغم من أن هناك تفشي متفرقة من نفس النوع منذ ذلك التاريخ. ستلاحظون أن هولمز، الذي يشرح حجمه، أن الانفصال المفاجئ للمجتمع كان متزامنا مع اختفاء أوبنشاو من أمريكا مع أوراقهم. قد يكون السبب والنتيجة. وليس من المستغرب أن يكون له وأسرته بعض الأرواح الأكثر إلحاحا على مسارهم. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered. Then the page we have seen -- Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, sent the pips to A, B, and C -- that is, sent the societys warning to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable ways of our fellowmen. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down. You will excuse me for not waiting for you, said he I have, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young Openshaws. What steps will you take I asked. It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all. You will not go there first No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the maid will bring up your coffee. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chill to my heart. Holmes, I cried, you are too late. Ah said he, laying down his cup, I feared as much. How was it done He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading Tragedy Near Waterloo Bridge. Here is the account: Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shaken than I had ever seen him. That hurts my pride, Watson, he said at last. It is a petty feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I should send him away to his death -- He sprang from his chair and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and unclasping of his long thin hands. They must be cunning devils, he exclaimed at last. How could they have decoyed him down there The Embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now No I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may take the flies, but not before. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet. It was nearly ten oclock before he entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, washing it down with a long draught of water. You are hungry, I remarked. Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since breakfast. Not a bite. I had no time to think of it. And how have you succeeded You have a clue I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of What do you mean He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote S. H. for J. O. Then he sealed it and addressed it to Captain James Calhoun, Bark Lone Star, Savannah, Georgia. That will await him when he enters port, said he, chuckling. It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him. And who is this Captain Calhoun The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first. How did you trace it, then He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with dates and names. I have spent the whole day, said he, over Lloyds registers and files of the old papers, following the future career of every vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in 83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reported there during those months. Of these, one, the Lone Star, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to one of the states of the Union. I was not and am not sure which but I knew that the ship must have an American origin. I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the bark Lone Star was there in January, 85, my suspicion became a certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present in the port of London. The Lone Star had arrived here last week. I went down to the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight. What will you do, then Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for news of the Lone Star of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered stern-post of the boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave, with the letters L. S. carved upon it, and that is all which we shall ever know of the fate of the Lone Star. The Five Orange Pips Sherlock Holmes From 1882 to 1890. he was involved in many cases which present strange and interesting features. (1 ) Except Watson, he has no friends. (17 ) He has been beaten four times - three times by men and once by a woman. (48 ) He has zero knowledge in philosophy, astronomy, and politics. (293 ) . but in botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. (294 ) John Watson He has many notes about Sherlock Holmes cases between 1882 and 1890. (1 ) He read Clark Russell s fine sea stories. (12 ) He is maried. (13 ) While his wife was on a visit to her aunts, he was a dweller once more in his old quarters at Baker Street. (13 ) Deductions By winding up a dead mans watch, to prove that it had been wound up two hours ago, and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time. (7 ) Clay and chalk mixture which I see upon the clieny toe-caps: the client comes from the south-west. (36 ) Letters sent from 3 towns with port: the writer was on board a ship. (311 ) Delay between two letters: the vessel is a sailing ship. (321 ) Baker Street Newspapers amp Books The American Encyclopedia (299 ) Newspaper with an article: 160 Tragedy near Waterloo Bridge 160. (373 ) Lloyds registers (432 ) Chronology As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents, should be able accurately to state all the other ones, both before and after.160 - Holmes (285 ) 160A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it.160 - Holmes (297 ) 160It becomes a personal matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hand upon this gang.160 - Holmes. (389 ) Filmography Radiography From 1882 to 1890. Some cases have baffled his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings, without an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Holmes. (3 ) The year 1887 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater or less interest. (5 ) In the latter days of september, the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. (9 ) Joseph Openshaw was the patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tyre. (64 ) According to Holmes, of all his cases he have had none more fantastic than this one, save perhaps the Sign of Four. (274 ) One of the 12 prefered stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. Plot summary (spoiler) A young man, John Openshaw asked Sherlock Holmes for help. He told the story of his uncle which after participating to the Civil War in the Confederates army went to settle in England. One day, he received a letter with five orange pips and only signature the initials K. K.K.. He died soon after. A few times later, Johns father died all the same after a similar letter. Two years has passed since, and now John received the dreadful letter with instructions to deliver some documents. Holmes advise him to obey. Unfortunately, John is killed on his way home. Sherlock Holmes promised to avenge his later client. He succeed to identify the Ku Klux Klan members but too late, they all fled by sea. He later learnt that the criminals perished on sea with the boat. Storys Text When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years 82 and 90, I am faced by so many which present strange and interesting features, that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings, without an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable in its details and so startling in its results, that I am tempted to give some account of it, in spite of the fact that there are points in connection with it which never have been, and probably never will be, entirely cleared up. The year 87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my headings under this one twelve months, I find an account of the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the British barque Sophy Anderson, of the singular adventures of the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead mans watch, to prove that it had been wound up two hours ago, and that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time - a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of them present such singular features as the strange train of circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life, and to recognize the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilization, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in the storm grew louder and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, whilst I at the other was deep in one of Clark Russells fine sea stories, until the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her aunts, and for a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street. Why, said I, glancing up at my companion, that was surely the bell Who could come tonight Some friend of yours, perhaps Except yourself I have none, he answered. I do not encourage visitors. If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out on such a day, and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more likely to be some crony of the landladys. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there came a step in the passage, and a tapping at the door. He stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Come in said he. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the outside, well groomed and trimly clad, with something of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is weighed down with some great anxiety. I owe you an apology, he said, raising his golden pince-nez to his eyes. I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have brought some traces of the storm and the rain into your snug chamber. Give me your coat and umbrella, said Holmes. They may rest here on the hook, and will be dry presently. You have come up from the south-west, I see. Yes, from Horsham. That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe-caps is quite distinctive: I have come for advice. That is easily got. That is not always so easy. I have heard of you, Mr Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast how you saved him in the Tankerville Club Scandal. Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards. He said that you could solve anything. He said too much. That you are never beaten. I have been beaten four times - three times by men and once by a woman. But what is that compared with the number of your successes It is true that I have been generally successful. Then you may be so with me. I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire, and favour me with some details as to your case. It is no ordinary one. None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of appeal. And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of events than those which have happened in my own family. You fill me with interest, said Holmes. Pray give us the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards question you as to those details which seem to me to be most important. The young man pulled his chair up, and pushed his wet feet out towards the blaze. My name, said he, is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, so far as I can understand it, little to do with this awful business. It is a hereditary matter, so in order to give you an idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the affair. You must know that my grandfather had two sons - my uncle Elias and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He was the patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tyre, and his business met with such success that he was able to sell it, and to retire upon a handsome competence. My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man, and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jacksons army, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came back to Europe, and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or three fields round his house, and there he would take his exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his room. He drank a great deal of brandy, and smoked very heavily, but he would see no society, and did riot want any friends, not even his own brother. He didnt mind me, in fact he took a fancy to me, for at the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. That would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years in England. He begged my father to let me live with him, and he was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would make me his representative both with the servants and with the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite master of the house. I kept all the keys, and could go where I liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or anyone else to enter. With a boys curiosity I have peeped through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such a room. One day - it was in March, 1883 - a letter with a foreign stamp lay upon the table in front of the Colonels plate. It was not a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. From India said he, as he took it up, Pondicherry post-mark What can this be Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he still held in his trembling hand. K. K. K., he shrieked, and then: My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me. What is it, uncle I cried. Death, said he, and rising from the table he retired to his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his overpowering terror I left the breakfast-table, and as I ascended the stairs I met him coming down with an old rusty key, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small brass box, like a cash box, in the other. They may do what they like, but Ill checkmate them still, said he, with an oath. Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my room today, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer. I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid were printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the envelope. I wish you, John, said my uncle, to witness my will. I leave my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages to my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good If you find you cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I cant say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper where Mr Fordham shows you. I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest impression upon me, and I pondered over it, and turned it every way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left behind it, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would rush tumultuously in at the door, and lock and bar it behind him, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen his face even on a cold day, glisten with moisture as though it were new raised from a basin. Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr Holmes, and not to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when we went to search for him, face downwards in a little green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, brought in a verdict of suicide. But I, who knew how he winced from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of some fourteen thousand pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank. One moment, Holmes interposed. Your statement is, I foresee, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and the date of his supposed suicide. The letter arrived on March the 10th, 1883. His death was seven weeks later, upon the night of the 2nd of May. شكرا لكم. Pray proceed. When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a paper label, with the initials K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Letters, memoranda, receipts and a register written beneath. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was nothing of much importance in the attic, save a great many scattered papers and notebooks bearing upon my uncles life in America. Some of them were of the war time, and showed that he had done his duty well, and had borne the repute of being a brave soldier. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern States, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag politicians who had been sent down from the North. Well, it was the beginning of 84, when my father came to live at Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the January of 85. On the fourth day after the New Year I heard my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the out-stretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what he called my cock-and-bull story about the Colonel, but he looked very puzzled and scared now that the same thing had come upon himself. Why, what on earth does this mean, John he stammered. My heart had turned to lead. It is K. K. K., said I. He looked inside the envelope. So it is, he cried. Here are the very letters. But what is this written above them Put the papers on the sun-dial, I read, peeping over his shoulder. What papers What sun-dial he asked. The sun-dial in the garden. There is no other, said I but the papers must be those that are destroyed. Pooh said he, gripping hard at his courage. We are in a civilized land here, and we cant have tomfoolery of this kind. Where does the thing come from From Dundee, I answered, glancing at the postmark. Some preposterous practical joke, said he. What have I to do with sun-dials and papers I shall take no notice of such nonsense. I should certainly speak to the police, I said. And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort. Then let me do so. No, I forbid you. I wont have a fuss made over such nonsense. It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of forebodings. On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was further from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram from the Major, imploring me to come at once. My father had fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in bringing in a verdict of Death from accidental causes. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been woven round him. In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me why I did not dispose of it I answer because I was well convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an incident in my uncles life, and that the danger would be as pressing in one house as in another. It was in January, 85, that my poor father met his end, and two years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, however yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in which it had come upon my father. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and, turning to the table, he shook out upon it five little dried orange pips. This is the envelope, he continued. The postmark is London - eastern division. Within are the very words which were upon my fathers last message. K. K. K. and then Put the papers on the sundial. What have you done asked Holmes. To tell the truth - he sank his face into his thin, white hands - I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can guard against. Tut Tut cried Sherlock Holmes. You must act, man, or you are lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for despair. I have seen the police. But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the warnings. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. Incredible imbecility he cried. They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the house with me. Has he come with you to-night No. His orders were to stay in the house. Again Holmes raved in the air. Why did you come to me he said and, above all, why did you not come at once I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Prendergast about my trouble, and was advised by him to come to you. It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than that which you have placed before us - no suggestive detail which might help us There is one thing, said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat pocket, and drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted paper, he laid it out upon the table. I have some remembrance, said he, that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it may be one of the papers which had, perhaps, fluttered out from among the others, and in that way escaped destruction. Beyond the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is undoubtedly my uncles. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a book. It was headed March, 1869, and beneath were the following enigmatical notices: 4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. 7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and John Swain of St Augustine. 9th. McCauley cleared. 10th. John Swain cleared. 12th. Visited Paramore. All well. Thank you said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it to our visitor. And now you must on no account lose another instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told me. You must get home instantly, and act. What shall I do There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you must at once put the box out upon the sun-dial, as directed. Do you understand Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I think that we may gain that by means of the law but we have our web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens you. The second is to clear up the mystery, and to punish the guilty parties. I thank you, said the young man, rising, and pulling on his overcoat. You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall certainly do as you advise. Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you go back By train from Waterloo. It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too closely. That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case. I shall see you at Horsham, then No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek it. Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every particular. He shook hands with us, and took his leave. Outside the wind still screamed, and the rain splashed and pattered against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come to us from amid the mad elements - blown in upon us like a sheet of sea-weed in a gale - and now to have been re-absorbed by them once more. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence with his head sunk forward, and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue smoke rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. I think, Watson, he remarked at last, that of all our cases we have had none more fantastic than this. Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four. Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Sholtos. But have you, I asked, formed any definite conception as to what these perils are There can be no question as to their nature, he answered. Then what are they Who is this K. K.K. and why does he pursue this unhappy family Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes, and placed his elbows upon the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. The ideal reasoner, he remarked, would, when he has once been shown a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the chain of events which led up to it, but also all the results which would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents, should be able accurately to state all the other ones, both before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to utilize all the facts which have come to his knowledge, arid this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and encyclopedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits in a very precise fashion. Yes, I answered, laughing. It was a singular document. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the main points of my analysis. Holmes grinned at the last item. Well, he said, say now, as I said then, that a man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which has been submitted to us tonight, we need certainly to muster all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the American Encyclopedia which stands upon the shelf beside you. شكرا لكم. Now let us consider the situation, and see what may be deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their habits, and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of someone or something, which drove him from America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those letters The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the third from London. From East London. What do you deduce from that They are all sea-ports. That the writer was on board a ship. ممتاز. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the probability - the strong probability - is that the writer was on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the case of Pondicherry seven weeks elapsed between the threat and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Does that suggest anything A greater distance to travel. But the letter had also a greater distance to come. Then I do not see the point. There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man or men are is a sailing ship. It looks as if they always sent their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. But as a matter of fact seven weeks elapsed. I think that those seven weeks represented the difference between the mail boat which brought the letter, and the sailing vessel which brought the writer. More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay. Good God I cried. What can it mean, this relentless persecution The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital importance to the person or persons in the sailing ship. I think that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way as to deceive a coroners jury. There must have been several in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. In this way you see K. K.K. ceases to be the initials of an individual, and becomes the badge of a society. But of what society Have you never - said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking his voice - have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. Here it is, said he presently, Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from a fanciful resemblance to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Southern States after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorizing of the negro voters, and the murdering or driving from the country of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic but generally recognized shape - a sprig of oak leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organization of the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the perpetrators. For some years the organization flourished, in spite of the efforts of the United States Government, and of the better classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date. You will observe, said Holmes, laying down the volume, that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered. Then the page which we have seen - Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, sent the pips to A, B, and C - that is, sent the societys warning to them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done tonight, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for half an hour the miserable weather, and the still more miserable ways of our fellow-men. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down. You will excuse me for not waiting for you, said he I have, I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young Openshaws. What steps will you take I asked. It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. I may have to go down to Horsham after all. You will not go there first No, I shall commence with the City Just ring the bell, and the maid will bring up your coffee. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a chill to my heart. Holmes, I cried, you are too late. Ah said he, laying down his cup, I feared as much. How was it done He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading Tragedy near Waterloo Bridge. Here is the account: Between nine and ten last night Police Constable Cook, of the H Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was given, and by the aid of the water police, the body was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the last train from Waterloo station, and that in his haste and the extreme darkness, he missed his path and walked - over the edge of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shaken than I had ever seen him. That hurts my pride, Watson, he said at last. It is a petty feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that I should send him away to his death - He sprang from his chair, and paced about the room - in uncontrollable agitation, with a flush upon his sallow cheeks, and a nervous clasping and unclasping of his long, thin hands. They must be cunning devils, he exclaimed at last. How could they have decoyed him down there The Embankment is not on the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now No I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may take the flies, but not before. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes had not come back yet. It was nearly ten oclock before he entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, and, tearing a piece from the loaf, he devoured it voraciously, washing it down with a long draught of water. You are hungry, I remarked. Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since breakfast. Not a bite. I had no time to think of it. And how have you succeeded You have a clue I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not remain long unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of What do you mean He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces, he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five, and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote, S. H. for J. O. Then he sealed it and addressed it to Captain James Calhoun, Barque Lone Star, Savannah, Georgia. That will await him when he enters port, said he, chuckling. It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him. And who is this Captain Calhoun The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first. How did you trace it, then He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with dates and names. I have spent the whole day, said he, over Lloyds registers and the files of old papers, following the future career of every vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and in February in 83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reported there during those months. Of these, one, the Lone Star instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to one of the States of the Union. I was not and am not sure which but I knew that the ship must have an American origin. I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Lone Star was there in January, 85, my suspicion became a certainty. I then inquired as to vessels which lay at present in the port of London. The Lone Star had arrived here last week. I went down to the Albert Dock, and found that she had been taken down the river by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to Gravesend, and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as the wind is easterly, I have no doubt that she is now past the Goodwins, and not very far from the Isle of Wight. What will you do, then Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates are, as I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Finns and Germans. I know also that they were all three away from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore, who has been loading their cargo. By the time their sailing ship reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and severe were the equinoctial gales of that year. We waited long for news of the Lone Star of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a shattered sternpost of a boat was seen swinging in the trough of a wave, with the letters L. S. carved upon it, and that is all which we shall ever know of the fate of the Lone Star.

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