The Story Teller.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 151, 24 June 1892, Page 6

The Story Teller.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER’S THUMB. ®F ALL the problems which have been submitted to my friend Mr Sherlock Holmes for solution during the years of our intimacy, there were only two which 1 was the means of introducing to his notice, that of Mr Hatheriev’s thumb and that, of Colonel Warburtou’s madness. Of these the latter may 1 are off' rded a finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was so strange in its inception and the more worthy of be big placed upon record, even if it gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story lias, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when set forth on bloc in a single half-column of print than when the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes and the mystery clears gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which Lads on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a deep impressi@n on me, and the lapse of two years has hardly served to weaken the effect.

It was in the summer of ’B9, not long after my marriage, that the events occurred which lam now about to surmise. I had returned to civil practice, and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker-street rooms although 1 continually visited him, and occasionally even persuaded him to forego his Bohemian habits so far as to come and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Station. I got a few patients from among the officials. One of these whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was never weary of advertising my virtues, and of endeavouring to send me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. One morning, at a little before seven o’clock, 1 was awakened by the maid tap ping at the door, to announce that two men had come from Paddington, and were waiting in the consulting room, I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my old ally, the guard, came out of the room, and closed the door tightly behind him. ‘ I’ve got him here,’ he whispered, jerking his thumb over bis shoulder ; “ lie’s all right.' • vd: ■ < ‘ i 1 s' el, for Isis man i si- -iic. ested i inii u, was sum strange creature •- ’ '• 1 ged up in my room ■ ‘lt’s a new patient,’ he whispered. 4 I fi- < r-.i i • ’ - - ’ - 'f ; then r is •di s we u r.v, doctor, I have my U s.j as ' v u And off he went., trusty tout without even giving me time to thank him. I entered my consulting room, and found a o-entleman seated by the table He was quietly dressed in a suit of Leather tweed, with a soft cloth cap, which lie had laid down upon my books. Round one of his hands he bad a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all over with blood stains. He was young, not more than five and twenty, I should say, with a strong masculine face ; hut he was exceedingly pale, and gave me the impression ol a man who was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his strength of mind to control. ‘ I am sorry to knock you up so early, doctor,’ said he. 4 But I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in bv train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I might find a doctor a worthy fellow kindly escorted me here, I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the side table.’ I took it up and glanced at it. £ Mr Victor Hatherley, hydraulic engineer, 16a, Victoria-street (3rd floor).’ That was the name, style and abode of my morning visitor. < I regret I have kept you waiting,’ said I sitting down in my library chair, £ You are fresh from a night journey, I understand which in itself is a monotonous occupation.’ 4 Oh, my night could not be called monotonous,’ said lie, and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high ringing note, leaning back in his chair, and shaking bis sides. Ad my medical instincts rose up against that laugh.

‘ Stop it !’ I cried. ‘ Pull yourself to gether !’ and I poured out some water from a cara He. It was useless, however. He was off in one of this hysterical outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very weary and blushing hotly. ‘ I’ve been making a fool of myself,’ he gasped, ‘Not at all. Drink this ! ’ I dashed some brandy into the water, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. ‘ That’s better !’ said he. ‘ And now, doctor, perhaps you would kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where the thumb used to be.’ He unwound the kerchief and held out his hand. It gave even my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four protruding fingers and a horrid red spongy surface where the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the roots. ‘ Good heavens !’ I cried, this is a terrible injury. It must have bled considerably,’ 4 Yes it did. I fainted when it was done ; and I think that I must have been senseless for a long time- When I came to, I found I was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very tightly round the wrist, and braced it up with a twig,’ ‘Excellent! You should have been a surgeon.’ “ it is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own province,’ ‘ This has been done,’ said I, examining the wound, 4 by a very heavy and sharp instrument.’ ‘ A thing like a cleaver,’ said be. ‘ An accident, I presume ? ’ - By no means.’ 4 What, a murderous attack ! ’ ‘ Very murderous indeed.’ ‘ You horrify me.’ I sponged the. wound, cleaned it, dressed it ; and, finally covered it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time, ‘ How is that ? ’ I asked when I had finished. • Capital ! Between your brandy an 1 your bandage, I feel a new man. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to

go through.’ ‘ Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently trying to your nerves.’ 4 Ob, no ; not now, I shall have to tell my tale to the police ; but, between ourselves if it were not for the convincing evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up. And, even if they believe me the clues which I can give them are so vague that it is a question whether justice will be done.’ ‘ Ha ! ’ cried I, if it is anything in the nature of a problem which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to come to my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes before you go to the official police.’ 4 On, 1 have heard of that fellow,’ answered my visitor, ‘ and I should be very glad if be would take the matter up, though of course I must use the official police as well. Would you give mean introduction to him. , I’ll do better. I’ll take you round to him myself,’ 4 I should be immensely obliged to you,’ £ We’ll call a cab, and go together. We shall just be in time to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it ? ’ 4 Yes, I shall not feel easy until I have told my story.’ 4 Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall he with you in an instant.’ 1 rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my rvife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my new acquaintance to Baker—street. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about bis sitting room in his dres-sing-gown, reading the agony column of The Times, and smoking his before-break-fast pipe, which was composed of all the plugs and dottles left from his smoke of the day before, all carefully dried and collected on the end of the mantle-piece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of brandy and water within his reach.

| -It is easy to see that vour experience i has been no common one, Mr Hatherley,’ said be, 4 Pray lie down there and make yourself absolutely at homo. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are tired, and keep up your strength with a little stimulant.’

4 Thank you,’ said my patient, ‘ but I have felt another man since the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar experiences,’ Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, w-hile I sat opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story which our visitor detailed to us. ‘ You must know,’ said he, 4 that I am an orphan and a bachelor, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am an hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience ol my work during the seven years that-1 was apprenticed to Venner and Matheson, the well known firm of Greenwich. Two years ago, having served my time, and having also come into a failsum of money through my poor father’s death, I determined to start in business for myself, and took professional chambers in Victoria-street.

‘ Suppose that every one finds his first independent start in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. During two years I have had three consultations and one small job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought me. My gross takings amount to twenty-seven pounds ten. Every day, from nine in the morning until four iu the afternoon, 1 waited in my little den, until at Inst my heart began to sink, and I came to believe that I should never have any practise at all. ‘ Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving my office, my clerk entered to sa/ there was a gentleman waiting who wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the name of 4 Colonel Lysander Stark ’ engraved upon it. Close at his heels came the Colonel himself, a man rather over the middle size but of an exceeding thinness. Ido not think that I have ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly dressed, and his age I should judge would be nearer forty than thirty. 4 Mr. Hatherley ? ’ said he, with something of a German accent. 4 You have been recommended to me, Mr Hatherley, as a man who is not only proficient in his profession, but is also discreet and capable of preserving a secret,’ 4 I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an address. May 1 ask who it was who gave me so good a character ? ’ I asked. ‘ Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you just at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both an orphan and a bachelor, and are residing alone in London.’

4 That is quite correct.’ I answered, 4 but you will excuse mo if I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional qualifications, I understood that it was on a professional matter that you wished to speak to me 1 ’ 4 Undoubtedly so. But yon will find that all I say is really to the point. I have a professional co mmission for you, but absolute secrecy is quite essential—absolute secrecy, you understand, and of course wo may expect that more from a man who is alone than one who lives in the bosom of his family.’ (To be Continued.)