“Unfortunately, I have not. But these specimens are so welllabelled and classified that they hardly need your personalexplanation. If I should be able to look in to-morrow, I presumethat there would be no objection to my glancing over them?”
“None at all. You are most welcome. The place will, of course,be shut up, but Mrs. Saunders is in the basement up to four o’clockand would let you in with her key.”
“Well, I happen to be clear to-morrow afternoon. If you wouldsay a word to Mrs. Saunders it would be quite in order. By the way,who is your house-agent?”
Our client was amazed at the sudden question.
“Holloway and Steele, in the Edgware Road. But why?”
“I am a bit of an archaeologist myself when it comes to houses,”
said Holmes, laughing. “I was wondering if this was Queen Anneor Georgian.”
“Georgian, beyond doubt.”
“Really. I should have thought a little earlier. However, it iseasily ascertained. Well, good-bye, Mr. Garrideb, and may youhave every success in your Birmingham journey.”
The house-agent’s was close by, but we found that it was closedfor the day, so we made our way back to Baker Street. It was nottill after dinner that Holmes reverted to the subject.
“Our little problem draws to a close,” said he. “No doubt youhave outlined the solution in your own mind.”
“I can make neither head nor tail of it.”
“The head is surely clear enough and the tail we should see tomorrow.
Did you notice nothing curious about that advertisement?”
“I saw that the word ‘plough’ was misspelt.”
“Oh, you did notice that, did you? Come, Watson, you improveall the time. Yes, it was bad English but good American. Theprinter had set it up as received. Then the buckboards. That isAmerican also. And artesian wells are commoner with themwith us. It was a typical American advertisement, but purportingto be from an English firm. What do you make of that?”
“I can only suppose that this American lawyer put it in himself.
What his object was I fail to understand.”
“Well, there are alternative explanations. Anyhow, he wantedto get this good old fossil up to Birmingham. That is very clear.
I might have told him that he was clearly going on a wild-goosechase, but, on second thoughts, it seemed better to clear the stageby letting him go. To-morrow, Watson—well, to-morrow will speakfor itself.”
Holmes was up and out early. When he returned at lunchtime Inoticed that his face was very grave.
“This is a more serious matter than I had expected, Watson,” saidhe. “It is fair to tell you so, though I know it will only be an additionalreason to you for running your head into danger. I should know myWatson by now. But there is danger, and you should know it.”
“Well, it is not the first we have shared, Holmes. I hope it maynot be the last. What is the particular danger this time?”
“We are up against a very hard case. I have identified Mr. JohnGarrideb, Counsellor at Law. He is none other than ‘Killer’ Evans,of sinister and murderous reputation.”
“I fear I am none the wiser.”
“Ah, it is not part of your profession to carry about a portableNewgate Calendar in your memory. I have been down to seefriend Lestrade at the Yard. There may be an occasional wantof imaginative intuition down there, but they lead the world forthoroughness and method. I had an idea that we might get onthe track of our American friend in their records. Sure enough, Ifound his chubby face smiling up at me from the rogues’ portraitgallery. ‘James Winter, alias Morecroft, alias Killer Evans,’ was theinion below.” Holmes drew an envelope from his pocket.
“I scribbled down a few points from his dossier: Aged forty-four.
Native of Chicago. Known to have shot three men in the States.
Escaped from penitentiary through political influence. Cameto London in 1893. Shot a man over cards in a night-club in theWaterloo Road in January, 1895. Man died, but he was shown tohave been the aggressor in the row. Dead man was identified asRodger Prescott, famous as forger and coiner in Chicago. KillerEvans released in 1901. Has been under police supervision since,but so far as known has led an honest life. Very dangerous man,usually carries arms and is prepared to use them. That is our bird,Watson—a sporting bird, as you must admit.”
“But what is his game?”
“Well, it begins to define itself. I have been to the houseagent’s.
Our client, as he told us, has been there five years. It was unlet for1322 The Complete Sherlock Holmes
year before then. The previous tenant was a gentleman at largenamed Waldron. Waldron’s appearance was well remembered atthe office. He had suddenly vanished and nothing more been heardof him. He was a tall, bearded man with very dark features. Now,Prescott, the man whom Killer Evans had shot, was, accordingto Scotland Yard, a tall, dark man with a beard. As a workinghypothesis, I think we may take it that Prescott, the Americancriminal, used to live in the very room which our innocent friendnow devotes to his museum. So at last we get a link, you see.”
“And the next link?”
“Well, we must go now and look for that.”
He took a revolver from the drawer and handed it to me.
“I have my old favourite with me. If our Wild West friend triesto live up to his nickname, we must be ready for him. I’ll give youan hour for a siesta, Watson, and then I think it will be time forour Ryder Street adventure.”
It was just four o’clock when we reached the curious apartmentof Nathan Garrideb. Mrs. Saunders, the caretaker, was aboutto leave, but she had no hesitation in admitting us, for the doorshut with a spring lock, and Holmes promised to see that all wassafe before we left. Shortly afterwards the outer door closed, herbonnet passed the bow window, and we knew that we were alonein the lower floor of the house. Holmes made a rapid examinationof the premises. There was one cupboard in a dark cornerwhich stood out a little from the wall. It was behind this thatwe eventually crouched while Holmes in a whisper outlined hisintentions.