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[Assistant] There is another training stable quite close, I understand.


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[Assistant] Yes, and that is a factor which we must certainly not neglect.


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[Assistant] As Despera, their horse, was sickened in the betting. They had an interest in the disappearance of the favourite.


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[Assistant] Silas Brown, the trainer, is known to have had large bets upon the event, and he was no friend to poor Straker.


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[Assistant] We have, however, examined the stables, and there is nothing to connect him with the affair.


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[Assistant] And nothing to connect this man Simpson with the interests of the Mapleton stables? Nothing at all.


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[Assistant] Holmes leaned back in the carriage and the conversation ceased.


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[Assistant] A few minutes later our driver pulled up at a neat little red-brick villa with overhanging eaves which stood by the road.


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[Assistant] Some distance off, across a paddock, lay a long, grey-tiled outbuilding.


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[Assistant] In every other direction the low curves of the moor, bronze-coloured from the fading ferns, stretched away to the skyline, broken only by the steeples of Tavistock, and by a cluster of houses away to the westward which marked the Mapleton stables.


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[Assistant] We all sprang out, with the exception of Holmes, who continued to lean back with his eyes fixed upon the sky in front of him, entirely absorbed in his own thoughts.


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[Assistant] It was only when I touched his arm that he roused himself with a violent start and stepped out of the carriage.


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[Assistant] Excuse me," said he, turning to Colonel Ross, who had looked at him in some surprise.


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[Assistant] I was daydreaming. There was a gleam in his eyes, and a suppressed excitement in his manner, which convinced me, used as I was to his ways, that his hand was upon a clue, though I could not imagine where he had found it.


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[Assistant] Perhaps you would prefer at once to go on to the scene of the crime, Mr. Holmes," said Gregory.


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[Assistant] I think that I should prefer to stay here a little and go into one or two questions of detail. Straker was brought back here, I presume.


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[Assistant] Yes, me lies upstairs. The inquest is to-morrow. He has been in your service some years, Colonel Ross? I have always found him an excellent servant.


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[Assistant] I presume that you made an inventory of what he had in his pockets at the time of his death, Inspector.


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[Assistant] I have the things themselves in the sitting-room, if you would care to see them. I should be very glad.


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[Assistant] We all filed into the front room and sat round the central table while the inspector unlocked a square tin box and laid a small heap of things before us.


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[Assistant] There was a box of vestas, two inches of tallow candle, an ADP briar root pipe, a pouch of sealskin with a half an ounce of long-cut cavendish,


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[Assistant] A silver watch with a gold chain, five sovereigns in gold, an aluminium pencil case, a few papers, and an ivory-handled knife with a very delicate, inflexible blade, marked Weissenkow, London.


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[Assistant] This is a very singular knife," said Holmes, lifting it up and examining it minutely.


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[Assistant] I presume, as I see bloodstains upon it, that it is the one which was found in the dead man's grasp. Watson, this knife is surely in your line. It's what we call a cataract knife, said I. I thought so.


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[Assistant] A very delicate blade devised for very delicate work, a strange thing for a man to carry with him upon a rough expedition, especially as it would not shut in his pocket.


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[Assistant] The tip was guarded by a disc of cork which he found beside his body, said the inspector.


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[Assistant] His wife tells us that the knife had lain upon the dressing table and that he had picked it up as he left the room. It was a poor weapon


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[Assistant] But perhaps the best that he could lay his hands on at the moment. Very possible. How about these papers?


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[Assistant] Three of them are receipted hay dealers accounts. One of them is a letter of instructions from Colonel Ross.


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[Assistant] This other is a milliner's account for thirty-seven pounds fifteen, made out by Madame Lazuria of Bond Street to William Derbyshire. Mrs. Straker tells us that Derbyshire was a friend of her husband's, and that occasionally his letters were addressed here.


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[Assistant] Madame Derbyshire has somewhat expensive tastes, remarked Holmes, glancing down the account.


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[Assistant] 22 guineas is rather heavy for a single costume.


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[Assistant] However, there appears to be nothing more to learn, and we may now go down to the scene of the crime.


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[Assistant] As we emerged from the sitting room, a woman, who had been waiting in the passage, took a step forward and laid her hand upon the inspector's sleeve.


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[Assistant] Her face was haggard and thin and eager, stamped with the print of a recent horror.


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[Assistant] But Mr Holmes here has come from London to help us, and we shall do all that is possible.


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[Assistant] You wore a costume of dove-coloured silk with ostrich-feather trimming. I never had such a dresser, answered the lady.


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[Assistant] Ah, that quite settles it," said Holmes, and with an apology he followed the inspector outside.


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[Assistant] A short walk across the moor took us to the hollow in which the body had been found.


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[Assistant] At the brink of it was the fir's bush upon which the coat had been hung.


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[Assistant] In that case the overcoat was not blown against the fir's bush, but placed there. Yes, it was laid across the bush.


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[Assistant] You fill me with interest. I perceive that the ground has been trampled up a good deal. No doubt many feet have been here since Monday night.


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[Assistant] A piece of matting has been laid here at the side, and we have all stood upon it. Excellent.


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[Assistant] In this bag I have one of the boots which strike a war, one of Fitzroy Simpson's shoes, and a cast horseshoe of silver blaze. My dear inspector, you should pass yourself.


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[Assistant] Holmes took the bag, and, descending into the hollow, he pushed the matting into a more central position. Then, stretching himself upon his face, and leaning his chin upon his hands, he made a careful study of the trampled mud in front of him.


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[Assistant] It was a wax vester, half-burned, which was so coated with mud that it looked at first like a little chip of wood.


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[Assistant] I cannot think how I came to overlook it, said the inspector with an expression of annoyance.


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[Assistant] It was invisible, buried in the mud. I only saw it because I was looking for it. What? You expected to find it? I thought it not unlikely.


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[Assistant] He took the boots from the bag and compared the impressions of each of them with marks upon the ground.


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[Assistant] Then he clambered up to the rim of the hollow, and crawled about among the ferns and bushes.


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[Assistant] I'm afraid that there are no more tracks," said the inspector. I have examined the ground very carefully for a hundred yards in each direction. Indeed, said Holmes, rising.


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[Assistant] I should not have the impertinence to do it again after what you say.


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[Assistant] But I should like to take a little walk over the moor before it grows dark, as I may know my ground to-morrow, and I think that I shall put this horseshoe into my pockets for luck.


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[Assistant] Colonel Ross, who had shown some signs of impatience at my companion's quiet and systematic method of work, glanced at his watch.


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[Assistant] I wish you would come back with me, Inspector," said he. There are several points on which I should like your advice, and especially as to whether we do not owe it to the public to remove our horse's name from the entries for the cup.


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[Assistant] Certainly not!" cried Holmes with decision. I should let the name stand. The Colonel bowed.


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[Assistant] I am very glad to have had your opinion, sir," said he.


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[Assistant] You will find us at poor Straker's house when you have finished your walk, and we can drive together into Tavistock.


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[Assistant] He turned back with the inspector, while Holmes and I walked slowly across the moor.


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[Assistant] The sun was beginning to sink behind the stables of Mapleton, and the long, sloping plain in front of us was tinged with gold, deepening into rich, ruddy browns where the faded ferns and brambles caught the evening light.


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[Assistant] We may leave the question of who killed John Straker for the instant, and confine ourselves to finding out what has become of the horse.


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[Assistant] Now supposing that he broke away during or after the tragedy, where could he have gone to? The horse is a very gregarious creature.


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[Assistant] If left to himself, his instincts would have been either to return to King's Pylon, or go over to Mapleton.


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[Assistant] Why should he run wild upon the moor? He would surely have been seen by now, and why should gypsies kidnap him?


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[Assistant] These people always clear out when they hear of trouble, for they do not wish to be pestered by the police.


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[Assistant] They could not hope to sell such a horse. They would run a great risk and gain nothing by taking him. Surely that is clear. Where is he, then?


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[Assistant] I have already said that he must have gone to King's Pylon or to Mapleton. He is not at King's Pylon. Therefore he is at Mapleton.


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[Assistant] Let us take that as a working hypothesis and see what it leads us to.


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[Assistant] This part of the moor, as the inspector remarked, is very hard and dry, but it falls away towards Mapleton, and you can see from here that there is a long hollow over yonder which must have been very wet on Monday night.


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[Assistant] If our supposition is correct, then the horse must have crossed that, and there is a point where we should look for his tracks.


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[Assistant] We've been walking briskly during this conversation, and a few more minutes brought us to the hollow in question.


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[Assistant] At home's request I walk down the bank to the right and he to the left.


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[Assistant] But I had not taken fifty paces before I heard him give a shout and saw him waving his hand to me.


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[Assistant] The track of a horse was plainly outlined in the soft earth in front of him, and the shoe which he took from his pocket exactly fitted the impression.


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[Assistant] See the value of imagination," said Holmes. It is the one quality which Gregory lacks.


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[Assistant] We imagined what might have happened, acted upon the supposition, and find ourselves justified. Let us proceed.


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[Assistant] We crossed the marshy bottom and passed over a quarter of a mile of dry, hard turf.


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[Assistant] Again the ground sloped, and again we came on the tracks.


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[Assistant] Then we lost them for half a mile but only to pick them up once more quite close to Mapleton.


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[Assistant] It was Holmes who saw them first, and he stood pointing with a look of triumph upon his face. A man's track was visible beside the horses. The horse was alone before, I cried.


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[Assistant] The double track turned sharp off and took the direction of King's Pylon.


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[Assistant] Homes whistled, and we both followed along after it.


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[Assistant] His eyes were on the trail, but I happened to look a little to one side, and saw to my surprise the same tracks coming back again in the opposite direction.


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[Assistant] One for you Watson, said Holmes when I pointed it out.


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[Assistant] You have saved us a long walk, which would have brought us back on our own traces. Let us follow the return track.


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[Assistant] We had not to go far. It ended at the paving of asphalt which led up to the gates of the Mapleton stables. As we approached, a groom ran out from them. We don't want any loiterers about here, said he.


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[Assistant] I only wish to ask a question," said Holmes, with his finger and thumb in his waistcoat pocket.


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[Assistant] Should I be too early to see your master, Mr Silas Brown, if I were to call at five o'clock tomorrow morning?


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[Assistant] Bless you, sir. If anyone is about, he will be, for he's always the first stirring. But here he is, sir, to answer your questions for himself. No, sir, no. It is as much as my place is worth to let him see me touch your money. Afterwards, if you like.


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[Assistant] As Sherlock Holmes replaced the half-crown which he had drawn from his pocket, a fierce-looking elderly man strode out from the gate with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand.


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[Assistant] What's this Dawson?" he cried. No gossiping. Go about your business. And you, what the devil do you want here?


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[Assistant] Ten minutes talk with you, my good sir," said Holmes in the sweetest of voices.


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[Assistant] I've no time to talk, every gut about. We want no stranger here. Be off, or you may find a dog at your heels." Holmes leaned forward and whispered something in the trainer's ear. He started violently and flushed to the temples.


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[Assistant] It's a lie, he shouted, an infernal lie.


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[Assistant] Very good. Shall we argue about it here in public, or talk it over in your parlour?" Oh, come in if you wish to," Holmes smiled. I shall not keep you more than a few minutes, Watson," said he. Now, Mr. Brown, I am quite at your disposal.


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[Assistant] It was twenty minutes, and the reds had all faded into greys before Holmes and the trainer reappeared.


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[Assistant] Never have I seen such a change as had been brought about in Silas Brown in that short time. His face was ashy pale.


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[Assistant] Beads of perspiration shone upon his brow, and his hands shook until the hunting-crop wagged like a branch in the wind.


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[Assistant] His bullying overbearing manner was all gone too.


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[Assistant] There must be no mistake, said Holmes, looking round at him.


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[Assistant] The other winced as he read the menace in his eyes. Oh no, there shall be no mistake. It shall be here. Should I change it first or not?


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[Assistant] I only thought a little, and then burst out laughing. No, don't," said he. I shall write to you about it. No tricks now, or— Oh, you will trust me. You will trust me. Yes, I think I can. Well, you shall hear from me to-morrow.


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[Assistant] He turned upon his heel, disregarding the trembling hand which the other held out to him, and we set off for King's Pylon.


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[Assistant] A more perfect compound of the bully, coward, and sneak than Master Silas Brown I have seldom met with," remarked Holmes, as we trudged along together.


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[Assistant] He tried to bluster out of it, but I described to him so exactly what his actions had been upon that morning that he is convinced that I was watching him.


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[Assistant] Of course, you observe the peculiarly square toes in the impressions, and that his own boots exactly corresponded to them.


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[Assistant] Again, of course no subordinate would have dared to do such a thing.


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[Assistant] I described to him how, when according to his custom he was the first down, he perceived a strange horse wandering over the moor.


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[Assistant] How he went out to it, and his astonishment at recognising, on the white forehead, which has given the favourite its name, that chance had put in his power the only horse which could beat the one upon which he had put his money.


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[Assistant] Then I described how his first impulse had been to lead him back to King's Pylon, and how the devil had shown him how he could hide the horse until the race was over.


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[Assistant] And how he had let it back and concealed it at Mapleton.


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[Assistant] When I told him every detail, he gave it up and thought only of saving his own skin. But his stables had been searched.


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[Assistant] Oh, an old horse-faker like him has many a dodge.


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[Assistant] But are you not afraid to leave the horse in his power now, since he has every interest in injuring it?


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[Assistant] My dear fellow, he will guard it as the apple of his eye. He knows that his only hope of mercy is to produce it safe.


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[Assistant] Colonel Ross did not impress me as a man who would be likely to show much mercy in any case. The matter does not rest with Colonel Ross.


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[Assistant] I follow my own methods and tell as much or as little as I choose. That is the advantage of being unofficial.


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[Assistant] I don't know whether you observed it, Watson, but the Colonel's manor has been just a trifle cavalier to me.


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[Assistant] I am inclined now to have a little amusement at his expense. Say nothing to him about the horse. Certainly not without your permission.


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[Assistant] And of course, this is all quite a minor point compared to the question of who killed John Straker. And you will devote yourself to that?


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[Assistant] On the contrary. We both go back to London by the night train. I was thunderstruck by my friend's words.


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[Assistant] We had only been a few hours in Devonshire, and that he should give up an investigation which had begun so brilliantly was quite incomprehensible to me.


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[Assistant] Not a word more could I draw from him until we were back at the trainer's house.


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[Assistant] The Colonel and the Inspector were awaiting us in the parlour.


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[Assistant] My friend and I return to town by the night express," said Holmes. We have had a charming little breath of your beautiful Dartmoor air.


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[Assistant] The inspector opened his eyes, and the Colonel's lip curled in a sneer.


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[Assistant] So, you despair of arresting the murderer of poor Straker," said he. Holmes shrugged his shoulders.


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[Assistant] There are certainly grave difficulties in the way," said he. I have every hope, however, that your horse will start upon Tuesday, and I beg that you will have your jockey in readiness. Might I ask for a photograph of Mr. John Straker?


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[Assistant] The inspector took one from an envelope and handed it to him.


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[Assistant] My dear Gregory, you anticipate all my wants. If I might ask you to wait here for an instant, I have a question which I should like to put to the maid.


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[Assistant] I must say that I am rather disappointed in our London consultant," said Colonel Ross bluntly as my friend left the room.


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[Assistant] At least you have his assurance that your horse will run, said I.


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[Assistant] As we stepped into the carriage, one of the stable lads held a door open for us.


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[Assistant] A sudden idea seemed to occur to Holmes, for he leaned forward and touched the lad upon the sleeve. You have a few sheep in the paddock, he said. Who attends to them? I do, sir. Have you noticed anything amiss with them of late?


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[Assistant] Well, sir, not of much account, but three of them have gone lame, sir.


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[Assistant] I could see that Holmes was extremely pleased, for he chuckled and rubbed his hands together.


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[Assistant] A long shot, Watson. A very long shot, said he, pinching my arm.


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[Assistant] Gregory, let me recommend to your attention this singular epidemic among the sheep. Drive on, Coachman.


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[Assistant] Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability.


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[Assistant] Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?


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[Assistant] To the curious incident of the dog in the night time. The dog did nothing in the night time.


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[Assistant] That was the curious incident, remarked Sherlock Holmes.


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[Assistant] Four days later Holmes and I were again in the train bound for Winchester to see the race for the Wessex Cup.


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[Assistant] Colonel Ross met us by appointment outside the station, and we drove in his drag to the course beyond the town.


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[Assistant] I suppose that you would know him when you saw him?" asked Holmes. The Colonel was very angry.


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[Assistant] A child with no silver blaze, with his white forehead and his mottled off foreleg. How is the betting?


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[Assistant] Somebody knows something. That is clear.


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[Assistant] As the drag drew up in the enclosure near the grandstand, I glanced at the car to see the entries.


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[Assistant] Wessex plate it ran, fifty sovs each, H feet with one thousand sovs added for four and five year olds, second L300, third L200, new course, one mile and five furlongs.


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[Assistant] Mr Heath Newton's The Negro, Red Cap, Cinnamon Jacket, Colonel Wardlaw's Pugilist, Pink Cap, Blue and Black Jacket, Lord Backwater's Desbrough, Yellow Cap and Sleeves, Colonel Ross's Silver Blaze, Black Cap, Red Jacket, Duke of Balmoral's Iris, Yellow and Black Stripes, Lord Singletford's Raspa, Purple Cap, Black Sleeves,


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[Assistant] We scratched our other one and put all our hopes on your word," said the Colonel. Why, what is that? Silver Blaze favourite?


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[Assistant] Five to four against Silver Blaze, roared the ring. Five to four against Silver Blaze. Five to fifteen against Desbra. Five to four on the field.


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[Assistant] There are the numbers up," I cried. They are all six there.


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[Assistant] All six there? Then my horse is running," cried the Colonel in great agitation. But I don't see him. My colours have not passed. Only five have passed. This must be he.


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[Assistant] As I spoke, a powerful bay horse swept out from the weighing enclosure and cantered past us, bearing on its back the well-known black and red of the Colonel. "'That's not my horse!' cried the owner. "'That beast has not a white hair upon his body. What is this that you have done, Mr. Holmes?'


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[Assistant] Well, well, let us see how he gets on," said my friend imperturbably. For a few minutes he gazed through my field-glass.


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[Assistant] Capital! An excellent start, he cried suddenly. There they are, coming round the curve.


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[Assistant] From our drag we had a superb view as they came up the street.


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[Assistant] The six horses were so close together that a carpet could have covered them.


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[Assistant] But halfway up, the yellow of the Mapleton stable showed to the front.


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[Assistant] Before they reached us, however, Despra's bolt was shot, and the Colonel's horse, coming away with a rush, passed the post a good six lengths before its rival, the Duke of Balmoral's Iris, making a bad third.


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[Assistant] It's my race anyhow," gasped the Colonel, passing his hand over his eyes. I confess that I can make neither head nor tail of it.


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[Assistant] Let us all go round and have a look at the horse together. Here he is," he continued, as we made our way into the weighing enclosure, where only owners and their friends find admittance.


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[Assistant] You have only to wash his face and his leg in the spirits of wine, and you will find that he is the same old silver blaze as ever. You take my breath away.


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[Assistant] I found him in the hands of a faker, and took the liberty of running him just as he was sent over.


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[Assistant] My dear sir, you have done wonders. The horse looks very fit and well. It never went better in his life. I owe you a thousand apologies for having doubted your ability.


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[Assistant] You have done me a great service by recovering my horse. You would do me a greater still if you could lay your hands on the murderer of John Straker." I have done so," said Holmes quietly. The Colonel and I stared at him in amazement. You've got him. Where is he, then? He is here. Here? Where? In my company at the present moment. The Colonel flushed angrily.


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[Assistant] I quite recognize that I am under obligations to you, Mr. Holmes," said he.


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[Assistant] But I must regard what you have just said as either a very bad joke or an insult.


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[Assistant] Sherlock Holmes laughed. I assure you that I have not associated you with the crime, Colonel," said he.


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[Assistant] The real murderer is standing immediately behind you.


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[Assistant] And it may lessen his guilt if I say that it was done in self-defense.


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[Assistant] As I stand to win a little on this next race, I shall defer a lengthy explanation until a more fitting time.


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[Assistant] We had the corner of a Pullman car to ourselves that evening as we whirled back to London.


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[Assistant] And I fancy that the journey was a short one to Colonel Ross, as well as to myself, as we listened to our companion's narrative of the events which had occurred at the Dartmoor training-stables upon the Monday night, and the means by which he had unraveled them.


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[Assistant] I confess," said he, that any theories which I had formed from the newspaper reports were entirely erroneous.


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[Assistant] And yet there were indications there had they not been overlaid by other details which concealed their true import.


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[Assistant] I went to Devonshire with the conviction that Fitzroy Simpson was the true culprit.


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[Assistant] Although of course I saw that the evidence against him was by no means complete.


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[Assistant] It was while I was in the carriage, just as we reached the trainer's house, that the immense significance of the curried mutton occurred to me.


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[Assistant] You may remember that I was distray and remained sitting after you had all alighted.


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[Assistant] I was marvelling in my own mind how I could possibly have overlooked so obvious a clue.


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[Assistant] I confess," said the Colonel, that even now I cannot see how it helps us. It was the first link in my chain of reasoning. Pounded opium is by no means tasteless.


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[Assistant] The flavour is not disagreeable, but it is perceptible.


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[Assistant] Were it mixed with any ordinary dish, the eater would undoubtedly detect it, and would probably eat no more.


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[Assistant] A curry was exactly the medium which would disguise this taste.


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[Assistant] By no possible supposition could this stranger, Fitzroy Simpson, have caused curry to be served in the trainer's family that night, and it is surely too monstrous a coincidence to suppose that he happened to come along with powdered opium upon the very night when a dish happened to be served which would disguise the flavour. That is unthinkable. Therefore Simpson becomes eliminated from the case.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And our attention centers upon Straker and his wife.


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[Assistant] The only two people who could have chosen carried mutton for supper that night.


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[Assistant] The opium was added after the dish was set aside for the stable-boy, for the others had the same for supper with no ill effects.


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[Assistant] Which of them, then, had access to that dish without the maid seeing them?


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[Assistant] Before deciding that question I had grasped the significance of the silence of the dog, for one true inference invariably suggests others.


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[Assistant] The Simpson incident had shown me that a dog was kept in the stables, and yet, though some one had been in and had fetched out a horse, he had not barked enough to arouse the two lads in the loft.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Obviously, the midnight visitor was someone whom the dog knew well.


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[Assistant] I was already convinced, or almost convinced, that John Straker went down to the stables in the dead of the night and took out Silver Blaze. For what purpose?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] For a dishonest one, obviously. Or why should he drug his own stable-boy? And yet I was at a loss to know why.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] There have been cases before now where trainers have made sure of great sums of money by laying against their own horses through agents, and then preventing them from winning by fraud.


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[Assistant] Sometimes it is a pulling jockey Sometimes it is some surer and subtler means What was it here?


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[Assistant] I hope that the contents of his pockets might help me to form a conclusion. And they did so.


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[Assistant] You cannot have forgotten the singular knife which was found in the dead man's hand.


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[Assistant] A knife which certainly no sane man would choose for a weapon.


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[Assistant] It was, as Dr Watson told us, a form of knife which is used for the most delicate operations known in surgery.


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[Assistant] And it was to be used for a delicate operation that night.


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[Assistant] You must know, with your wide experience of turf matters, Colonel Ross, that it is possible to make a slight nick upon the tendons of a horse's ham, and to do it subcutaneously, so as to leave absolutely no trace.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] A horse so treated would develop a slight lameness which would be put down to a strain in exercise or a touch of rheumatism, but never to foul play.


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[Assistant] We have here the explanation of why John Straker wished to take the horse out onto the moor


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[Assistant] So spirited a creature would have certainly roused the soundest of sleepers when it felt the prick of the knife. It was absolutely necessary to do it in the open air.


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[Assistant] Of course that was why he needed the candle and struck the match. Undoubtedly.


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[Assistant] But in examining his belongings I was fortunate enough to discover not only the method of the crime, but even its motives.


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[Assistant] As a man of the world, Colonel, you know that men do not carry other people's bills about in their pockets. We have, most of us, quite enough to do to settle our own.


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[Assistant] I at once concluded that Straker was leading a double life, and keeping a second establishment.


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[Assistant] The nature of the bill showed that there was a lady in the case, and one who had expensive tastes.


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[Assistant] Liberal as you are with your servants, one can hardly expect that they can buy twenty guineas walking dresses for their ladies.


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[Assistant] I questioned Mrs. Straker as to the dress without her knowing it, and having satisfied myself that it had never reached her, I made a note of the milliner's address, and felt that by calling there with Straker's photograph I could easily dispose of the mythical derbyshire. From that time on all was plain.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Straker had led out the horse to a hollow, where his light would be invisible. Simpson, in his flight, had dropped his cravat, and Straker had picked it up, with some idea, perhaps, that he might use it in securing the horse's leg.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Once in the hollow he had got behind the horse and had struck a light.


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[Assistant] But the creature, frightened at the sudden glare, and with a strange instinct of animals feeling that some mischief was intended, had lashed out, and the steel shoe had struck Straker full on the forehead.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He had already, in spite of the rain, taken off his overcoat in order to do his delicate task, and so, as he fell, his knife gashed his thigh. Do I make it clear? Wonderful! cried the Colonel. Wonderful! You might have been there. My final shot was, I confess, a very long one.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It struck me that so astute a man as Straker would not undertake this delicate tender-nicking without a little practice. What could he practice on?


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[Assistant] My eyes fell upon the sheep, and I asked a question which, rather to my surprise, showed that my surmise was correct.


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[Assistant] When I returned to London I called upon the milliner, who had recognised Straker as an excellent customer of the name of Derbyshire, who had a very dashing wife, with a strong partiality for expensive dresses.


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[Assistant] I have no doubt that this woman had plunged him over head and ears in debt and so led him into this miserable plot.


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[Assistant] You have explained all but one thing, cried the Colonel. Where was the horse?


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[Assistant] Ah, it bolted, and was cared for by one of your neighbours. We must have an amnesty in that direction, I think.


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[Assistant] This is Clapham Junction, if I am not mistaken, and we shall be in Victoria in less than ten minutes.


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[Assistant] If you care to smoke a cigar in our rooms, Colonel, I shall be happy to give you any other details which might interest you. End of Silver Blaze


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Adventure number three, the stockbroker's clerk.


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[Assistant] Shortly after my marriage, I had bought a connection in the Paddington district.


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[Assistant] Old Mr Farquhar, from whom I purchased it, had at one time an excellent general practice, but his age, and an affliction of the nature of St Vitus's dance, from which he suffered, had very much thinned it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The public, not unnaturally, goes on the principle that he who would heal others must himself be whole, and looks askance at the curative powers of the man whose own case is beyond the reach of his drugs.


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[Assistant] Thus as my predecessor weakened his practice declined until when I purchased it from him it had sunk from twelve hundred to little more than three hundred a year.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] For three months after taking over the 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.


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[Assistant] I was surprised, therefore, when one morning in June, as I sat reading the British Medical Journal after breakfast, I heard a ring at the bell, followed by the high, somewhat strident tones of my old companion's voice.


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[Assistant] Ah, my dear Watson," said he, striding into the room.


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[Assistant] I am very delighted to see you. I trust that Mrs Watson has entirely recovered from all the little excitements connected with our adventure of the Sign of the Four?


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[Assistant] Thank you, we're both doing very well, said I, shaking him warmly by the hand.


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[Assistant] And I hope also," he continued, sitting down in the rocking chair,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That the cares of medical practice have not entirely obliterated the interest which you used to take in our little deductive problems.


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[Assistant] 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 that you don't consider your collection closed.


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[Assistant] Not at all. I should wish nothing better than to have some more of such experiences. Today, for example? Yes, today, if you like. And as far off as Birmingham? Certainly, if you wish it. And the practice?


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[Assistant] I do my neighbours when he goes. He's always ready to work off the debt.


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[Assistant] Ha! nothing could be better," said Holmes, leaning back in his chair, and looking keenly at me from under his half-closed lids.


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[Assistant] I perceive that you have been unwell lately. Summer colds are always a little trying.


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[Assistant] I was confined to the house by a severe chill for three days last week. I thought however that I had cast off every trace of it.


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[Assistant] But Holmes answered my question before it was asked.


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[Assistant] Your slippers are new," he said. You could not have had them more than a few weeks.


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[Assistant] The souls which you are at this moment presenting to me are slightly scorched.


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[Assistant] For a moment I thought they might have got wet and been burned in the drying, but near the instep there is a small circular wafer of paper with the shotman's hieroglyphics upon it. Damp would, of course, have removed this.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You had then been sitting with your feet outstretched to the fire.


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[Assistant] Which a man would hardly do even in so wet a June as this if he were in his full health.


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[Assistant] Like all Holmes's reasoning, the thing seemed simplicity itself when it was once explained. He read the thought upon my features, and his smile had a tinge of bitterness.


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[Assistant] I am afraid that I rather give myself away when I explain, said he.


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[Assistant] Results without causes are much more impressive. You are ready to come to Birmingham then? Certainly. What is the case?


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[Assistant] You shall hear it all in the train. My client is outside in a four-wheeler. Can you come at once? In an instant.


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[Assistant] I scribbled a note to my neighbour, rushed upstairs to explain the matter to my wife, and joined Holmes upon the doorstep.


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[Assistant] Your neighbour is a doctor," said he, nodding at the brass plate. Yes, he bought a practice as I did. An old established one? Just the same as mine. Both have been ever since the houses were built.


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[Assistant] Ah, then you got hold of the best of the two. I think I did. But how do you know?


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[Assistant] By the steps, my boy. Yours are worn three inches deeper than his. But this gentleman in the cab is my client, Mr. Hall Pycroft. Allow me to introduce you to him. Whip your horse up, cabbie, for we have only just time to catch our train.


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[Assistant] 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 moustache.


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[Assistant] He wore a very shiny top hat and a neat suit of sober black which made him look what he was—a smart young city man of the class who had been labelled Cockneys


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But who give us our crack volunteer regiments?


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[Assistant] And who turn out more fine athletes and sportsmen than any body of men in these islands.


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[Assistant] His round ruddy face was naturally full of cheeriness, but the corners of his mouth seemed to me to be pulled down in a half-comical distress.


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[Assistant] It was not, however, until we were all in our first-class carriage, and well started upon our journey to Birmingham, that I was able to learn what the trouble was which had driven him to Sherlock Holmes.


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[Assistant] We have a clear run here of seventy minutes, Holmes remarked.


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[Assistant] I want you, Mr. Hall Pycroft, to tell my friend your very interesting experience exactly as you have told it to me, or with more detail, if possible.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It will be of use to me to hear the succession of events again


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[Assistant] It is a case, Watson, which may prove to have something in it, or may prove to have nothing


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[Assistant] But which, at least, presents those unusual and outre features which are as dear to you as they are to me?


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[Assistant] Now, Mr Pycroft, I shall not interrupt you again. Our young companion looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.


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[Assistant] The worst of the story is, said he, that I should show myself up as such a confounded fool.


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[Assistant] Of course, it may work out all right, and I don't see that I could have done otherwise, but if I have lost my crib and got nothing in exchange, I shall feel what a soft Johnny I've been.


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[Assistant] I'm not very good at telling a story, Dr Watson, but it is like this with me.


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[Assistant] I used to have a billet at Cox and Wood houses of Draper's Gardens.


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[Assistant] But they were let in early in the spring through the Venezuelan loan, as no doubt you remember, and came a nasty cropper.


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[Assistant] I've been with them five years. An old coxswain gave me a ripping good testimonial when the smash came, but of course we clerks were all turned adrift, the twenty-seven of us.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] I've been taking three pounds a week at Coxons and I'd saved about seventy of them.


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[Assistant] But I soon worked my way through that and out the other end.


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[Assistant] I was fairly at the end of my tether at last, and could hardly find the stamps to answer the advertisements or the envelopes to stick them to.


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[Assistant] I'd worn up my boots, paddling up off his stairs and are seen just as far from getting the billet as ever.


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[Assistant] At last, I saw vacancy at Mawson and Williams, the great stockbroking firm in Lombard Street.


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[Assistant] I dare say E.C. is not much in your line, but I can tell you that this is about the richest house in London. The advertisement was to be answered by letter only.


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[Assistant] I sent in my testimonial, an application, but without the least hope of getting in.


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[Assistant] That came in answer by return, saying that if I would appear next Monday I might take over my new duties at once, provided that my appearance was satisfactory. No one knows how these things are worked.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Some people say that the manager just plunges his hand into the heap and takes the first that comes.


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[Assistant] Anyhow, it was my innings that time, and I don't have a wish to feel better pleased. The screw was a pound a week rise, and the duty is just about the same as at Coxons. And now I come to the queer part of the business.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I was in Diggings, out of Amstead Way, 17 Potters Terrace.


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[Assistant] Well, I was sitting doing a smoke that very evening after I'd been promised the appointment.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] When up came my landlady with a card which had Arthur Pinner, financial agent, printed upon it.


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[Assistant] I never heard the name before, and could not imagine what he wanted with me. But of course I asked her to show him up.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] In he walked a middle-sized, dark-haired, dark-eyed, black-bearded man with a touch of a sheeny about his nose.


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[Assistant] The fact is that I have heard some really extraordinary stories about your financial ability.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You remember Parker, who used to be Coxsons manager. He can never say enough about it.


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[Assistant] Of course I was pleased to hear this. I had always been pretty sharp in the office, but I 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.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Have you kept in touch with the market while you've been out of work? You asked.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yes, I read the stock exchange list every morning.


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[Assistant] Now that shows real application. He cried.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] This is the way to prosper. You won't mind me testing you, will you? Let me see. How are ashes?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] A hundred and six and a quarter to a hundred and five and seven eighths. A New Zealand Consolidated a hundred and four.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Wonderful!" he cried with his hands up. This quite fits in with all that I'd heard. My boy, my boy, you're very much too good to be a clerk at Mawson's.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] This outburst rather astonished me, as you can think.


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[Assistant] Well, said I, other people don't think quite so much of me as you seem to do, Mr Pinner.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I had hard enough fight to get this berth, and I'm very glad to have it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Pooh, man, you should soar above it. You're not on your true sphere. Now, I'll tell you how it stands with me.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] What I have to offer is little enough when measured by your ability, but when compared with Mawson's it's light to dark. Let me see, when do you go to Mawson's? On Monday.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Aha! I think I'd risk a little sporting flutter that you don't go there at all. Not go to Mawson's.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] No, sir. By that day you'll be the business manager of the Franco Midland Hardware Company Limited, with a hundred and thirty-four branches in the towns and villages of France, not counting one in Brussels and one in San Remo. This took my breath away. I never heard of it, said I.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Very likely not. It has been kept very quiet, for the capital was all privately subscribed, and it's too good a thing to let the public into.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] My brother, Harry Pinner, is promoter and joins the board after allotment as managing director.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He knew I was in the swim down here, and asked me to pick up a good man cheap—a young pushing man with plenty of snap about him.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Parker spoke of you, and that brought me here tonight.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We can only offer you a beggarly five hundred to start with. Five hundred a year, I shouted.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Only that at the beginning, but you ought to have an overriding commission 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 hardware. My boy, you know about figures." 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 frank with you,' said I.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Mawson only gives me two hundred, but Mawson is safe.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Now really, I know so little about your company that...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Ah, smart, smart, he cried, in a kind of ecstasy of delight. You are the very man for us. You're not to be talked over and quite right to. Now, here's a note for hundred pounds.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And if you think that we can do business, you may just slip it into your pocket as an advance upon your salary.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] This is very handsome," said I. When should I take over my new duties? Be in Birmingham to-morrow at one," said he. I have an out in my pocket here, which you will take to my brother.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You'll find him at 126B Corporation Street, where the temporary offices of the company are situated. Of course you must confirm your engagement, but between ourselves it will be all right.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Really, I hardly know how to express my gratitude, Mr Pinner, said I.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Not at all, my boy. You've only got your desserts. 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.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I am perfectly willing to act as business manager to the Franco Midland Hardware Company Limited at a minimum salary of five hundred 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 to do about Mawson's? I had forgotten all about Mawson's in my joy. I'll write and resign, said I. Precisely what I don't want you to do.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I had a row over you with Mawson's manager. I had gone up to ask him about you, and he was very offensive, accused me of coaxing you away from the service of the firm, and that sort of thing. At last I fairly lost my temper.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] If you want good men you should pay them a good price, said I. He would rather have our small price than your big one, said he.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'll lay you a fiver," said I, but when he has my offer you'll never so much as hear from him again.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We picked him out of the gutter and he won't leave us so easily. Those were his very words.


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[Assistant] The impudent scoundrel! I cried. I've 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.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Good. That's a promise," said he, rising from his chair.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, I'm delighted to have got so good a man from our brother.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Here's your advance of £100, and here is a letter. Make a note of the address, 126B Corporation Street, and remember that one o'clock tomorrow is your appointment. Good night, and may you have all the fortune that you deserve.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's just about all that passed between us. As near as I can remember.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You can imagine, Dr Watson, how pleased I was at such an extraordinary bit of good fortune.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I sat up half the night, hugging myself over it, and next day I was off to Birmingham in a train that would take me in plenty of time for my appointment.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I took my things to a hotel in New Street and then I made my way to the address which had given me.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It was a quarter of an hour before my time. I thought that would make no difference.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] 126B was a passage between two large shops which led to a winding stone stair


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] From which there were many flats, letters offices to companies or professional men.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The names of the occupants were painted at the bottom on the wall, but there was no such name as the Franco Midland Hardware Company.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I stood for a few minutes with my eye in my boots, wondering whether the whole thing was an elaborate hoax or not, when up came a man and addressed me.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yes," said I. Oh, I was expecting you, but you're 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.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We have not got our name up yet, for we only secured these temporary premises last week. Come up with me and we'll talk the matter over.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] 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, uncarpeted and uncurtained, into which he led me.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I thought of a great office with shining tables and rows of clerks, such as I was used to.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And I dare 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 furniture.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Don't be disheartened, Mr. Pygroft," said my new acquaintance, seeing the length of my face.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] 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.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I gave it to him and he read it over very carefully.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You seem to have made a vast impression upon my brother Arthur," said he, and I know that he is a pretty shrewd judge.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You will eventually manage the great depot in Paris, which will pour a flood of English crockery into the shops of 134 agents in France. The purchase will be completed in a week.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And meanwhile you'll remain in Birmingham and may make yourself useful. How?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] For answer, he took a big red book out of a drawer.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] "'This is a directory of Paris,' said he, with the trades after the names of the people. I want you to take it home with you, and to mark off all the hardware sellers with their addresses. It will be of the greatest use to me to have them." "'Surely there are classified lists,' I suggested."


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Not reliable ones. Their system is different from ours. Stick at it and let me have the list by Monday at 12.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Good day, Mr Pycroft. If you continue to show zeal and intelligence, you will find the company a good master.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I went back to the hotel with a big book under my arm and with very conflicting feelings in my breast.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] On the one hand, I was definitely engaged and I had under a pound in my pocket.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Another of the points which would strike a businessman had left a bad impression as to the position of my employers.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] However, come what might, I had my money so I settled down to my task. All Sunday I was kept hard at work, and yet by Monday I had only got as far as H.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I went round to my employer, found him in the same dismantled kind of room, and was told to keep at it until Wednesday, and then come again.


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[Assistant] On Wednesday it was still unfinished, so I hammered away until Friday, that is yesterday, then I brought it round to Mr. Harry Pinner.


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[Assistant] Thank you very much," said he. I fear that I underrated the difficulty of the task. This list will be of very material assistance to me. It took some time," said I.


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[Assistant] And now," said he, "'I want you to make a list of the furniture shops, for they all sell crockery. Very good.'


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[Assistant] And you can come up tomorrow evening at 7 and let me know how you're getting on.


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[Assistant] Don't overwork yourself. A couple of hours at day's music hall in the evening would do you no harm after your labours.


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[Assistant] He laughed as he spoke, and I saw with a thrill that his second tooth upon the left-hand side had been very badly stuffed with gold.


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[Assistant] Sherlock Holmes rubbed his hands with delight, and I stared with astonishment at our client.


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[Assistant] You may well look surprised, Dr Watson. But it is this way," said he.


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[Assistant] When I was speaking to the other chap in London, at the time that he laughed at my not going to Mawson's, I happened to notice that his tooth was stuffed in this very identical fashion.


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[Assistant] The glint of the gold in each case caught my eye, you see.


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[Assistant] When I put that with a voice and figure being the same, and only those things altered which might be changed by a razor or a wig, I could not doubt that it was the same man.


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[Assistant] Of course you expect two brothers to be alike, but not that they should have the same tooth stuffed in the same way.


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[Assistant] He bowed me out and I found myself in the street, hardly knowing whether I was on my head or on my heels.


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[Assistant] Back I went to my hotel, put my head in a basin of cold water, and tried to think it out. Why had he sent me from London to Birmingham? Why had he got there before me?


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[Assistant] And why had he written a letter from himself to himself?


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[Assistant] It was altogether too much for me, and I could make no sense of it.


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[Assistant] And then suddenly it struck me that what was dark to me might be very light to Mr. Sherlock Holmes.


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[Assistant] I had just time to get up to town by the night train to see him this morning, and to bring you both back with me to Birmingham.


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[Assistant] There was a pause after the stockbroker's clerk had concluded his surprising experience.


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[Assistant] 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 taken his first sip of a Comet vintage. Rather fine, Watson, is it not? said he. There are points in it which please me.


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[Assistant] I think that you will agree with me that an interview with Mr Arthur Harry Pinner in the temporary offices of the Franco Midland Hardware Company Limited would be a rather interesting experience for both of us. But how can we do it? I asked.


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[Assistant] Oh, easily enough, said Hall Pycroft cheerily.


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[Assistant] I should like to have a look at the gentleman, and see if I can make anything of his little game.


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[Assistant] What qualities have you, my friend, which would make your services so valuable? Or is it possible that


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[Assistant] He began biting his nails and staring blankly out of the window, and we hardly drew another word from him until we were in New Street.


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[Assistant] At seven o'clock that evening we were walking, the three of us, down Corporation Street to the company's offices.


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[Assistant] "'It is no use our being at all before our time,' said our client. "'He only comes there to see me, apparently, for the place is deserted up to the very hour he names.' "'That is suggestive,' remarked Holmes. "'By Jove, I told you so,' cried the clerk. "'That's he walking ahead of us there.'


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[Assistant] He pointed to a smallish, dark, well dressed man who was bustling along the other side of the road.


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[Assistant] As we watched him, he looked across at a boy who was bawling out the latest edition of the evening paper.


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[Assistant] And running over among the cabs and buses, he bought one from him.


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[Assistant] Then, clutching it in his hand he vanished through a doorway.


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[Assistant] There he goes," cried Hall Pycroft. These are the company's offices into which he has gone. Come with me and I'll fix it up as easily as possible.


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[Assistant] Following his lead we ascended five storeys until we found ourselves outside a half open door at which our client tapped.


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[Assistant] A voice within bade us enter, and we entered a bare, unfurnished room such as Hall Pycroft had described.


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[Assistant] At the single table sat the man whom we had seen in the street, with his evening paper spread out in front of him.


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[Assistant] And as he looked up at us it seemed to me that I had never looked upon a face which bore such marks of grief, and of something beyond grief.


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[Assistant] Of a horror such as comes to a few men in a lifetime.


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[Assistant] His brow glistened with perspiration, his cheeks were of the dull dead white of a fish's belly, and his eyes were wild and staring.


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[Assistant] He looked at his clerk as though he failed to recognise 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 employer.


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[Assistant] Yes, I'm not very well," answered the other, making obvious efforts to pull himself together, and licking his dry lips before he spoke.


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[Assistant] Who are these gentlemen whom you've brought with you?


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[Assistant] One is Mr Harris of Bermondsey, and the other is Mr Price of this town," said our clerk glibly.


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[Assistant] They're friends of mine and gentlemen of experience, but they've been out of a place for some little time, and they hope that perhaps you might find an opening for them in the company's employment.


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[Assistant] Very possibly, very possibly," cried Mr. Pinner with a ghastly smile. Yes, I have no doubt that we shall be able to do something for you. What is your particular lie, Mr. Harris?


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[Assistant] 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. And now I beg that you will go. For God's sake, leave me to myself.


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[Assistant] These last words were shot out of him as though the constraint which he was evidently setting upon himself had suddenly and utterly burst asunder.


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[Assistant] Holmes and I glanced at each other, and Hall Pycroft took a step towards the table.


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[Assistant] The other resumed in a calmer tone. You may wait here a moment, and there is no reason why your friend should not wait with you.


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[Assistant] I will be in tile at your service in three minutes, if I may trespass upon your patience so far.


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[Assistant] He rose with a very courteous air, and bowing to us, he passed through a door at the farther end of the room, which he closed behind him. What now? whispered Holmes. Is he giving us a slip? Impossible, answered Pycroft. Why so? 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?


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[Assistant] There is something which I don't understand in this manner. If ever a man was three parts mad with terror, that's man's name, his pinner. What can have put the shivers on him?" He suspects that we are detectives, I suggested. That's it, I cropped. Holmes shook his head. He did not turn pale.


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[Assistant] He was pale when we entered the room, said he. It is just possible that


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[Assistant] His words were interrupted by a sharp rat tap from the direction of the inner door.


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[Assistant] What the juice is he knocking at his own door for? cried the clerk.


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[Assistant] Again and much louder came the rat-tat-tat. We all gazed expectantly at the closed door.


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[Assistant] Glancing at Holmes, I saw his face turn rigid, and he leaned forward in intense excitement.


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[Assistant] Then suddenly came a low, googling, gargling sound, and a brisk drumming upon woodwork.


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[Assistant] Holmes sprang frantically across the room and pushed at the door. It was fastened on the inner side.


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[Assistant] Following his example we threw ourselves upon it with all our weight.


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[Assistant] One hinge snapped, then the other, and down came the door with a crash. Rushing over it, we found ourselves in the inner room. It was empty. But it was only for a moment that we were at fault.


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[Assistant] At one corner, the corner nearest the room which we had left, there was a second door. Holmes sprang to it and pulled it open.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] His knees were drawn up, his head hung at a dreadful angle to his body, and the clatter of his heels against the door made the noise which had broken in upon our conversation.


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[Assistant] In an instant I had caught him round the waist and held him up while Holmes and Pycroft untied the elastic bands which had disappeared between the livid creases of skin.


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[Assistant] And we carried him into the other room, where he lay with a clay-coloured face, puffing his purple lips in and out with every breath—a dreadful wreck of all that he had been but five minutes before. What do you think of him, Watson?" asked Holmes. I stooped over him and examined him.


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[Assistant] His pulse was feeble and intermittent, but his breathing grew longer, and there was a little shivering of his eyelids which showed a thin white slit of ball beneath.


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[Assistant] It has been touch and go with him," said I, but he'll live now. Just open that window and hand me the water carafe.


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[Assistant] I undid his collar, poured the cold water over his face, and raised and sank his arms until he drew a long, natural breath.


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[Assistant] It's only a question of time now," said I, as I turned away from him.


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[Assistant] Holmes stood by the table with his hands deep in his trousers pockets and his chin upon his breast.


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[Assistant] I suppose we ought to call the police in now," said he.


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[Assistant] And yet I confess that I'd like to give them a complete case when they come.


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[Assistant] It's a blessed mystery to me," cried Pycroft, scratching his head. Whatever they wanted to bring me all the way up here for, and then...


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[Assistant] Oh, all that is clear enough," said Holmes impatiently. It is this last sudden move. You can understand the rest, then?


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[Assistant] Oh surely, if you consider the events at first they can only point to one conclusion. What do you make of them?


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[Assistant] Well, the whole thing hinges upon two points. The first is the making of Pycroft's right declaration, by which he entered the service of this preposterous company. Do you not see how very suggestive that is? I'm afraid I missed a point. Well, why did they want him to do it?


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[Assistant] Not as a business matter, for these arrangements are usually verbal, and there was no earthly business reason why this should be an exception.


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[Assistant] Don't you see, my young friend, that they were very anxious to obtain a specimen of your handwriting, and had no other way of doing it? And why?


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[Assistant] Quite so. Why? When we answer that we have made some progress with our little problem. Why? There can be only one adequate reason.


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[Assistant] Someone wanted to learn to imitate your writing, and had to procure a specimen of it first.


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[Assistant] And now if we pass on to the second point, we find that each throws light upon the other.


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[Assistant] That point is the request made by Pinner, that you should not resign your place, but should leave the manager of his important business in the full expectation that a Mr. Hall Pycroft, whom he had never seen, was about to enter the office upon the Monday morning.


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[Assistant] My God! cried our client. What a blind beetle I've been! Now you see the point about the handwriting.


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[Assistant] Suppose that someone turned up in your place who wrote a completely different hand from that in which you had applied for the vacancy. Of course the game would have been up.


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[Assistant] But in the interval the rogue had learned to imitate you, and his position was therefore secure, as I presume that nobody in the office had ever set eyes upon you.


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[Assistant] Very good. Of course it was of the utmost importance to prevent you from thinking better of it, and also to keep you from coming into contact with anyone who might tell you that your double was at work in Mawson's office.


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[Assistant] Therefore, they gave you a handsome advance on your salary, and ran you off to the Midlands, where they gave you enough work to do to prevent you 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 his own brother? Well, that is pretty clear also.


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[Assistant] There are evidently only two of them in it. The other is impersonating you at the office.


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[Assistant] This one acted as your engager, and then found that he could not find you an employer without admitting a third person into his plot.


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[Assistant] 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 fail to observe, would be put down to a family resemblance.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] Good Lord!" he cried. While I have been fooled in this way, what has this other Haw Piecroft been doing at Mawson's?


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[Assistant] What shall we do, Mr Holmes? Tell me what to do. We must wire to Mawson's. They shout at twelve on Saturdays.


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[Assistant] Never mind, there may be some doorkeeper or attendant.


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[Assistant] Ah yes, they keep a permanent guard there on account of the value of the securities that they hold. I remember hearing it talked of in the city.


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[Assistant] Very good. We shall wire to him and see if all is well and if a clerk of your name is working there.


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[Assistant] The man was sitting up, blunched, and ghastly, with returning reason in his eyes, and hands which rubbed nervously at the broad red band which still encircled his throat.


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[Assistant] The paper! Of course!" yelled Holmes, in a paroxysm of excitement. Idiot that I was! I thought so much of our visit that the paper had never entered my head for an instant. To be sure, the secret must be there.


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[Assistant] He flattens it upon the table, and a cry of triumph bursts from his lips.


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[Assistant] Look at this, Watson," he cried. It is a London paper, an early edition of the Evening Standard. Here is what we want.


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[Assistant] Look at the headlines. Crime in the city. Murder at Mawson and Williams. Gigantic attempted robbery.


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[Assistant] Capture of the criminal. Here, Watson, we are all equally anxious to hear it, so kindly read it aloud to us.


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[Assistant] It appeared from its position in the paper to have been the one event of importance in town, and the account of it ran in this way.


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[Assistant] A desperate attempt at robbery, culminating in the death of one man and the capture of the criminal, occurred this afternoon in the city.


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[Assistant] For some time back Mawson and Williams, the famous financial house, have been the guardians of securities which amount, in the aggregate, to a sum of considerably over a million sterling.


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[Assistant] So, conscious was the manager of the responsibility which devolved upon him, in consequence of the great interest at stake, that safes of the very latest construction have been employed, and an armed watchman has been left day and night in the building.


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[Assistant] It appears that 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 cracksman, who with his brother had only recently emerged from a five-year spell of penal servitude.


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[Assistant] By some means, which are not yet clear, he succeeded in winning, under a false name, this official position in the office, which he utilised in order to obtain mouldings of various locks, and a thorough knowledge of the position of the strong room and the safes.


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[Assistant] It is customary at Mawson's for the clerks to leave at midday on Saturday.


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[Assistant] Sergeant Tooson of the City Police was somewhat surprised, therefore, to see a gentleman with a carpet-bag come down the steps at twenty minutes past one.


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[Assistant] His suspicions being aroused, the sergeant followed the man, and with the aid of Constable Pollock succeeded, after a most desperate resistance, in arresting him.


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[Assistant] It was at once clear that a daring and gigantic robbery had been committed. Nearly a hundred thousand pounds worth of American railway bonds with a large amount of scrip in mines and other companies was discovered in the bag.


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[Assistant] On examining the premises the body of the unfortunate watchman was found doubled up and thrust into the largest of the safes, where it would not have been discovered until Monday morning had it not been for the prompt action of Sergeant Tooson.


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[Assistant] 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 rifled a large safe, and then made off with his booty.


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[Assistant] His brother, who usually works with him, has not appeared in this job as far as can at present be ascertained, although the police are making energetic inquiries as to his whereabouts.


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[Assistant] Well, we may save the police some little trouble in that direction," said Holmes, glancing at the haggard figure huddled up by the window. Human nature is a strange mixture, Watson.


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[Assistant] You see that even a villain and murderer can inspire such affection that his brother turns to suicide when he learns that his neck is forfeited.


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[Assistant] However, we have no choice as to our action.


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[Assistant] The doctor and I will remain on guard, Mr. Pycroft, if you will have the kindness to step out for the police.


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[Assistant] End of the adventure of the stockbroker's clerk.


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[Assistant] Look little nut-brown hair, I've got orange and blue.


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[Assistant] I hope the flash didn't scare you, Max. This is a keeper.


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[Assistant] Hey honey, just making a fabulous breakfast with Chloe and Max. We're all going to work at the Two Whales.


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[Assistant] Oh, I didn't know you had to get groceries. Of course I'll come pick you up. Now I'll have an excuse to get a mocha. Be there shortly. Love you.


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[Assistant] Now lock up after I leave, play nice, try not to destroy too much of the house. And no Chloe and Max wine tasting session.


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[Assistant] Don't blow it, because tonight your mother promised to make us her world famous salmon surprise with chocolate cake for dessert. Max, you'll be here too, right?


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[Assistant] You mean your college fund? Keys, please.


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[Assistant] Forgot all about you, little buddy. Release the keys! Of course. Last time I ordered from Spy Guy Electronics.


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[Assistant] You sold me already. I'm off to yonder bus stop. Joyce will love this.


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[Assistant] Speaking of, I know she's been dying to see you. Hold on.


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[Assistant] Can you believe this town? The world is on fire, and our big headline is snow! I can hardly wait for next week's big story. Clouds!


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[Assistant] Global warming bullshit. It's the Northwest. Snow happens.


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[Assistant] The paper can only talk about that or about missing girls.


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[Assistant] I guess. I bet she ran away because she was bored. Who wouldn't be here?


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[Assistant] That's okay, I just need to see my truck out there in the lot. Been a long night in the road, and I have to make sure my baby is sleeping right.


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[Assistant] I gotta deliver a load of breakfast to my stomach. Over and out.


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[Assistant] Godium? That's the worst pun I've ever heard. Yet Max has spoken. Sodium it is!


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[Assistant] Asking me for help means you're screwed. Have to add either a bit of potassium or sodium. It's up to you to decide, Dr. Max.


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[Assistant] Potassio Mitchell B. If this works, you get a free hug.


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[Assistant] Okay, let's do this. Can you find five bottles while I prep the shooting range?


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[Assistant] We're gonna shoot all these bottles without wasting a single bullet. Max, you have to help me aim.


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[Assistant] Show me the way, Max. Aim a bit to the right. Sir, yes sir.


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[Assistant] Now for the second bottle. Now Max, where do I aim? You're on target.


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[Assistant] Now Max, where do I aim? Aim slightly above. Right between the eyes.


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[Assistant] Hello, what should I shoot? Let's see you take a crack at that rusty barrel. Sorry Mr. Barrel, your time has come.


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[Assistant] Nice shooting, Tex. Now that's what I'm talking about. Satisfying? Like never. So I want one more uber cool trick shot. How about using that junker for a target now?


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[Assistant] Dude, I need a target before I shoot. I wanna see that windshield go down.


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[Assistant] Dude, I need a target. How about aiming for the left tire? Adios, spinning wheel of death.


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[Assistant] It'll be hard to keep Nathan off my ass. My step-shit will have his other gun sealed in an electrified bunker by now.


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[Assistant] Feels like a different world, huh? I wish we could stay forever.


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[Assistant] But Frank isn't as hardcore as he firms. All he cares about is his cash, stash, and mangy dog. Chloe, are you for reals? Frank just took your gun and threatened us.


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[Assistant] He's armed and clearly dangerous. Max, I know. Crazy shit is the new normal for me. That's why I planned to leave Arcadia Bay without paying Frank off.


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[Assistant] Does he have a last name? Frank Bowers, he's just a dealer, where I get my weed. The one in your joint, remember? Anyway, Frank and I kind of hung out.


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[Assistant] Hung out. You don't mean you... Ah, no, he didn't have sex. Gross, man. He never even tried.


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[Assistant] Without him eyeballing us, okay? Ah, so weird talking to you about this insane crap.


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[Assistant] We haven't hung out this much since we were tweens, and it's like no time has passed. I wish Rachel was here to meet you.


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[Assistant] Railroad tracks always make me feel better. I have no idea why.


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[Assistant] You okay? I got splinters in my ass and legs, so I wish there was a less violent way for you to save me. And now the trains can't get to the lumber mill. Oops.


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[Assistant] It's not like I don't own all the original Apes films. Hey Brooke, how are you? I'm here as usual. By the way...


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[Assistant] Thanks for helping Kate down. Are you okay?


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[Assistant] But you're going to the drive-in with Warren, so you don't have time to fly my drone. Really?


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[Assistant] I can't fly your drone because I'm going to see eighth movies with Warren. You are perceptive, Max. Now, excuse me. My drone needs me.


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[Assistant] Ask Warren. I mean, you're going to the movies with him and everything.


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[Assistant] I saw Nathan pissed and walking off campus earlier. Good luck getting that date, Max.


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[Assistant] We'd get the Nobel Prize if we could explain this phenomenon, but even Miss Grant has no clue.


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[Assistant] Oh, look. The Wonder Twins. You shoulda come alone.


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[Assistant] So let's get to business. Where's my fucking money?


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[Assistant] Oh, I'm truly touched, Chloe. Now why are you losers really here?


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[Assistant] No, you don't look like the type. Not like Chloe here. So what do you hearty boys want?


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[Assistant] Oh, is that all? Oh, well why didn't you just tell me? How about I just give you the keys to my RV while I'm at it?


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[Assistant] Are you actually threatening me again, little girl? No, no, I'm not, I-


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[Assistant] Okay, there, you're safe. Now what do you want?


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[Assistant] Oh, is that all? Oh, well why didn't you just tell me? How about I just give you the keys to my RV while I'm at it?


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[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, well it always starts with just a little. Chloe here knows all about that, don't you?


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[Assistant] Yeah, right, okay. Both of you are giving me a headache. No deal.


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[Assistant] Oh yea, you didn't come here to fight. A day after you pulled a fucking gun on me.


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[Assistant] But my dog isn't. And if you try any shit, he will bite your head off. He's done it before.


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[Assistant] Shit, you wouldn't have time. You like dogs?


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[Assistant] Yeah, he had a bad trainer before. Real bad. But he's dead now. And I trained Pompidou how to be my friend.


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[Assistant] Rachel, is that why you're really here?


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[Assistant] You and Chloe do not know Rachel like I did, and I couldn't even help her. You're in way over your heads. Why don't you just go play in your clubhouse?


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[Assistant] How the hell did you know about that photo? That's my favorite picture of her.


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[Assistant] Well if there's a chance in hell, you two dorks can find Rachel. Yeah, I'll take it. My dog isn't barking at you, so I guess that's a good sign.


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[Assistant] It's hard to take you characters seriously, but I want to. Good luck.


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[Assistant] He's always treated us badly, but now things are worse. He demanded that we give him a child.


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[Assistant] Oh, well I was just about to go for a slide. Hehe, into the cool water!


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[Assistant] So, shall we keep going to the flowery field now?


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[Assistant] I brought you a gift to celebrate your new Buddhist treasure.


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[Assistant] I made it just for you. It will make you live forever.


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[Assistant] I'm supposed to go with him too. You are?


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[Assistant] Guan Yin said I would be forgiven if I helped protect the Tang Monk.


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[Assistant] How can we save him? That wind was too powerful.


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[Assistant] Tell the demon to come out, I'll do the rest.


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[Assistant] I'll bring him to Buddha to be punished, Wukong. You may go find your companions. Good luck.


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[Assistant] There's a ginseng tree at this abbey. They said it's fruit is delicious and valuable.


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[Assistant] This tree was older than heaven and earth. The monkey must be very powerful.


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[Assistant] We're going to fry these criminals. Let's start with Sun Wukong.


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[Assistant] He made that statue look like himself! That rotten monkey!


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[Assistant] I'm sure he's playing in a field of flowers right now. Meanwhile, we're trapped here.


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[Assistant] It's bad enough that Sun Wukong wanted to escape. But did he really have to break my frying pan too?


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[Assistant] I will give you until the end of the day to fix my ginseng tree.


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[Assistant] If you can't, the Tang Monk goes into the frying pan.


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[Assistant] I would like to share some ginseng fruit with everyone here.


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[Assistant] I want my daughter back. And I want that monster destroyed!


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[Assistant] The young man is probably just the monster in disguise.


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[Assistant] We need to defeat him and save our companions. But how?


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[Assistant] You must find Wukong. He can help us.


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[Assistant] Plus I kept telling Master to use the tight headband spell. I'll bet the monkey is really mad at me.


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[Assistant] The Wood Wolf Star is a wolf spirit who lives in heaven.


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[Assistant] He escaped thirteen days ago, and I've been looking all over for him.


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[Assistant] Yes, let's go. I'll help you catch the Wood Wolf Star.


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[Assistant] Didn't your friends tell you? He's really a tiger.


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[Assistant] You have my permission to close the gate and dim the stars. I don't want any more trouble from that monkey.


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[Assistant] I will have you arrested for making up such a story.


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[Assistant] That coin belongs to my father. It's a royal treasure.


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[Assistant] Your story must be true. My poor father.


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[Assistant] All this time, people thought that evil Taoist was him.


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[Assistant] I wish we could bring him back to life. Wukong can bring him back to life.


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[Assistant] That monkey will definitely come back and cause trouble.


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[Assistant] I've missed you. It's time for you to return to your palace.


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[Assistant] Alyssa, move your head. If you insist, Matt.


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[Assistant] That was close. Jock, assholes. If I was a member of the Vortex Club, they'd never pull that. Would you want to be a member? You're smart. We should hang out more. Now I have to finish this stupid book.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think you scared him for once. I have to go, but thank you. It means a lot.