Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 92, Number 236, 4 October 1922 — Page 8

0 THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, RICHMOND, IND.. MONDAY, SEPT. 11, 1922.

AST BOW By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Copyright, 1922, by The McClure Newspaper Syndicate.

It -was 9 o'clock at night upon the second of August the most terrible August in the history of the -world. One might have thought already that God's curse hung heavy over a degenerate world, for there was an awesome hush and a feeling of vague expectancy in the sultry and stagnant air The eun had long set, one blood-red gash like an open wound lay low in the distant west Above, the stars were shining brightly; and below, the light3 of the shipping glimmered in the bay. The two famous Germans stood beside the stone parapet of the garden walk, with the long, low heavily gabled house behind them, and they looked down upon the broad sweep of the beach at the foot of the great chalk cliff on which Von Bork, like some wandering eagle, had perched himself four years before. A remarkable man this Von Bork a man who could hardly be matched among all the devoted agents of the Kaiser. ,lt was his talents which had first recommended him for the Eglisa mission, the most important mission of all. but since he had taken it over, those talents had become more and more manifest to the half-dozen people in the world who were really in touch with the truth. One of these was his present companion, Baron von Herling, the chief secretary of the legation, whose huge 100-horse-power Eenz car was blocking the country lane ts it waited to waft its owner back to London. "So far as I can judge the trend of events, you will probably be back in Berlin within the week," the secretary was saying. "When you get there, my dear Von Bork, I think you will be surprised at the welcome you will receive. I happen to know what is thought in the highest quarters of your work in this country-" He was a huge man, the secretary, deep, broad, and tall, with a slow, heavy fashion of speech

which had been his main asset in his

political career.

"They are not very hard to deceive," he remarked. A more docile, simple

folk could not be imagined."

"I don't know about that," said the

other thoughtfully. "They have strange limits and one must learn to observe them. It is that surface simplicity of theirs which makes a trap for the stranger. One's first impression is that they are entirely soft. Then one comes suddenly upon something very hard, and you know that you have reached the limit, and must adapt yourself to the fact. They have, lor example, their insular conventions which simply must be observed." "Meaning, 'good form' and that sort of things" Von Bork sighed, as one who had suffered much. "Meaning British prejudice in all its Queer manifestations. As an example I may quote one of my own worst blunders I can afford to talk of my blunders, for you know my work well enough to be aware of my successes. It was on my first arrival. I was invited to a week-end gathering at the

country house of a cabinet minister. The conversation was amazingly indiscreet." Von Bork nodded. "I've been there," said he dryly. "Exactly. Well, I naturally cent a resume of the information to Berlin. Unfortunately our good Chancellor is a little heavy-handed in these matters, and he transmitted a remark which showed that he was aware of what had been said. This, of course, took

Irish civil war, window-breaking Furies, and God knows what to keep her thoughts at home."

She must think of her future. "Ah, that Is another matter. I fancy

that in the future, we have our own very definite plans about England, and that your Information will be very vital to us. It is today or tomorrow with Mr. John Bull. If he prefers today we are perfectly ready. If It is tomorrow we shall be more ready still. I should think they would be

wiser to fight with allies than without

them, but that Is their own affair. This week is their week of destiny. But you were speaking of your papers." He sat in the armchair with the light

shining upon his broad bald head.

while he puffed sedately at his cigar.

The large oak-pannelled, book-lined room had a curtain hung in the further corner. When this was drawn it dis-' closed a large, brass-bound safe. Von Bork detached a small key from his

watch chain, and after some consider

able manipulation of the lock he swung open the heavy door. "Look!" said he, standing clear, with a wave of his hand. The light shone vividly into the opened safe, and the secretary of the embassy gazed with an absorbed inter

est at the rows of stuffed pigeon-holes

with which it was furnished. Each pigeon-hole had its label, and his eyes

as he glanced along them read a long series of such titles as "Fords," "Harbor Defences," "Aeroplanes," "Ire

land," "Egypt," "Portsmouth Forts,

"The Channel," "Rosythe," ana a score of others. Each compartment

was bristling with papers and plans.

"Colossal!" said the secretary. Put

ting down his cigar he softly clapped his fat hands. "And all in four years, Baron. Not such a bad show for the hard-drinking, hard-riding country squire. But the gem of my collection is coming, and there is the setting read for it." He pointed to a space over which "Naval Signals" was printed. "But you have a good dossier there already." .

"Out of date and waste paper. The Admiralty in some way got the alarm and every code has been changed. It was a blow. Baron the worst set-back in my whole campaign. But thanks to my cheque-book and the good Altamont all will be well tonight." "Well, I really can wait no longer. You can imagine that things are moving at present in Carlton Terrace, and that we have all to be at our posts. I had hoped to be able to bring news of

your great coup. Did Altamont name no hour?" Von Bork pushed over a telegram. "Will come without fail tonight and bring new sparking plugs. Altamont." "Sparking plugs, eh?" "You see he poses as a motor expert and I keep a full garage. In our code everything likely to come up is named after some spare part. If he talks of a radiator it is a battleship, of an oil pump a cruiser, and so on.

Sparking plugs are naval signals. "From Portsmouth at mid-day," said the secretary, examining the superscription. "Ey the way, what do you give him?" "Five hundred pounds for this particular job. Of course he has a salary as well." "The greedy rogue. They are useful, these traitors, but I grudge them their blood money." "I grudge Altamont nothing. He

who had lingered in the kitchen, he I

had the whole place to himself. There

was a good deal of tidying up to do in-1

side nis study and he set himself to do it, until his keen, handsome face

was flushed with the heat of the burn

ing papers. A leather valise stood beside his table, and into this he began to pack very neatly and systematically the precious contents of his safe. He had hardly got started with the work, however, when his quick ears caught the sound of a distant car. Instantly he gave an exclamation of satisfaction, strapped up the valise, shut the safe, locked it, and hurried out on to the terrace. He was just in time to see the lights of a small car come to a halt at the gate. A passenger sprang out of it and advanced swiftly towards him, while the chauffeur, a heavily built, elderly man, with a grey moustache settled down, like one who resigns himself to a long vigil. "Well?" asked Von Bork eagerly, running forward to meet his visitor. "You can give me the glad hand tonight, Mister," he cried. "I'm bringing home the bacon at last." "The signals?" "Same as I said in my cable. Every last one of them, semaphone, lamp code, Marconi a copy, mind you, not the original. That, was too dangerous. But it's the real goods, and you can lay to that," he slapped the German upon the shoulder with a rough familiarty from which the other winced. "Come in," he said. "I'm all alone

darned country all on my lomesome. In a week or less from what I see,

John Bull will be on his hind legs and

fair ramping. I'd rather watch him from over the water." Hut -viwi'ra Q-n Ameripnn ritlTfn?"

"Well, so was Jack James an American citizen, but he's doing time in Portland all the same. It cuts no ice with a British copper to tell him you're an American citizen. 'It's British law and order over here,' say she. By the way, Mister, talking of Jack James, it seems to me you don't do much to cover your men." "What do you mean?" Von Bork asked sharply. "Well, you are their employer, ain't you? It's up to you to see that they don't fall down. But they do fall down, and when did you ever pick them up? There's James " "It was James's own fault. You know that yourself. He was too selfwilled for the job." "James was a bonehead I give you that. Then there was Hollis." "The man was mad." "Well, he went a bit woozy towards

the end. It's enough to make a man

bughouse when he has to play a part from morning to night with a hundred guys all ready to see the copper wise to him. But now there is Steiner " "WTiat about Steiner?" "Well, they've got him, that's all.

They raided his store last night, and he and his papers are all in Ports

mouth gaol. You'll go off and he, poor

ness. "You don't sem to have a very high opinion of my honor," said he, "you want the money before you give up the book." "Well. Mister, it is a business pro

position.

"All right. Have your way." He

sat down at the table and scribbled a cheque, which he tore from the book, but he refrained from handing it to his companion. "After all, since we are to be on such terms, Mr. Altamont," said he, "I don't see why I should trust you any more than you trust me. Do

you understand? he added, looking back over his shoulder at the American. "There's the cheque upon the table. I claim the right to examine that parcel before you pick the mon

ey up." The American passed it over without a word. Von Bork undid a winding of string and two wrappers of paper. Then he sat gazing for a moment in silent amazement at a small blue book which lay before him. Across the cover was printed in golden letters "Practical handbook of Be Culture. Only for one instant did the master spy glare at this strangely irrelevant inscription. The next he was gripped at the back of his neck by a grasp of iron, and a chloroformed sponge was held in front of his writhing face. "Another glass, Watson!" said Mr. Sherlock Holmes, as he extended the bottle of Imperial Tokay. "It is a good wine, Holmes." "A remarkable wine, Watson. Our friend upon the sofa has assured me that it is from Franz Joseph's special nll o of Vt a C! -Va AATt Vvn T-i "Do Iqia

Might I trouble you to open the win-

ihe trail straight up to me. ioave no is a -wonderful worker. If I pay him

idea the harm that it did me. There j -vrell, at least he delivers the good3, was nothing soft about our British to use his own phrase. Besides he is hosts on that occasion, I can assure not a traitor. I assure you that our you. I was two years living it down, j most pan-Germanic Junker is a suckNow you, with this sporting pose of j jng dove jn his feelings towards Engyours." land as compared with a real bitter "No, no, don't call it a pose. A pose . Irish-American." is an artificial thing. Thi3 is quite! "Oh, an Irish-American?" natural. I am a born sportsman. I : "if you heard him talk you would

snjoy it."

! not doubt it. Sometimes I assure you

"Well, that makes it the more eftec-i i can hardly understand him. He five. You yacht against them, you:seeniS to have declared war on the

aunt with them, you play polo, you! King's English as well as on the Eng-

mateh them in every game, your four

:n-hand takes the prize at Olympia. I 5a ve even heard that you go the length of boxing vith the young officers. What is the result? Nobody takes you seriously. You are a 'good

He

tacK of ros tLfcK

in trortt

in the house. I was only waiting for this. Of course a copy is better than the original. If an original wer missing they would change the whole

lish King. Must you really go

may be her any moment." "No. I'm sorry, but I have already overstayed my time. We shall expect you early tomorrow and when you get that signal book through the little

old sport,' 'quite a decent fellow for door on the Duke of York's steps you a German, a hard-drinking, night club can put a triumphant Finis to your knock-about-town, d e v i 1-m a y-c a r e record in England. What! Tokay!" j-oung fellow. And all the time this ; He indicated a heavily sealed dustquiet country house of yours is the covered bottle which stood with two centre of half the mischief in England, i hih glasses upon a salver.

and the sporting squire the most as-! "May I offer you a glass before your tute secret-service man in Europe. ! journey?" Genius, my dear Von Bork genius:"! -xo .thanks. But it looks like rev"You flatter me. Baron. But cer-: dry." tainlv I mav claim that niv four years! "Aitamnnt has a nice taste in wines.

in this country have not been unpro- i and he took a fancv to my Tokay. He j thing. You think it's all safe about ductive. I've never shown you my ; js a touchv fellow and needs humoring i tne copy?"

little store. Would you mind stepping i n small things. 1 have to study him, in for a moment?" ji assure you." They had strolled out The door of the study opened on to the" terrace again, and along it straight on to the terrace. Von Bork ; to the further md where at a touch pushed it back, and, leading the way,! frPm the baron's chauffeur the great he clicked the switch of the electric j car shivered and chuckled. "Those light. He then closed the door behind ; are the lights of Harwich, I suppose," the bulk form which followed him, andlajd the secretary, pulling on his dust carefully adjusted the heavy curtain coat. "How still and peaceful it all over the latticed window. i seems. There may be other lights "Some of my papers have gone." j wnhin the week, and the English coast said ho, "when my wife and the house-; a less tranquil place! The heavens, hold left yesterday for Flushing they too, may not be quite so peaceful if took the les important with them. I jail that the good Zeppelin promises must, of course, claim the protect ion of ! us comes true. By the way, who is the embassy for the others." ithat?"

"Your name has already been filed; Only one window showed a light be-

ft llyfKfei1 - :&r

you get to work

Tfte rtext kfi wif

- -

rtf ped at tlte

of kes wriihlu .-face.

as one of the personal suUe. There will be r " difficulties for you or your baggage. Of course, it is just possible that we may not have to go. England may leave France to her fate. We are sure that there is no binding treaty between them." "And Belgium?" "Yes, and Belgium, too." Von Bork shook his head. "I don't Fee how that could be. There is a definite treaty there. She could never recover from such a humiliation."

"She would at least have peace for the moment." "But her honor?" "Tut, my dear sir, we live in a utilitarian age. Honor is a mediaeval conception. Besides England is not ready. It is an inconceivable thing, but even our special war tax of 50 million, which one would think made our purpose as clear as if we had advertised it on the front page of the Times, has not aroused these people from their slumbers. Here and there one hears a question. It is my business to find an answer. Here and there also there is an irritation. It is my business to foothe it. But I can assure you that so far as the essentials go the storage of munitions, the preparation for submarine attack, the arrangements for making high explosives nothing

hind them; in it there stood a lamp, and beside it, seated at a table, was a dear old ruddy-faced woman in a country cap. She was bending over her knitting and .stopping occasionally to stroke a large black cat upon a stool beside her. "That is Martha, the only servant I have left." "She might almost ilrsonify Britannia," said he, "with her complete self-absorption and general air of comfortable somnolence. Well, au revolr.

Von Bork!" with a final wave of his hand he sprang into the car, and a moment later the two golden cones from the headlights shot forward through the darkness. The secretary lay back in the cushions of the luxurious limousine, with his thoughts so full of the impending European tragedy that he hardly observed that as his car swung round the village street it nearly passed over a little Ford coming in the opposite direction.

Von Bork walked slowly back to

the study when the last gleams of the motor lamps had faded into the distance. As he passed he observed that

his old housekeeper had put out her lamp and retired. It was a new exper

ience to him, the silence and darkness of his widespread house, for Ms fam

ily and household had been a large

nrenared. How, then, can England one. It was a reiiet to mm, however

come in, especially when we have to think that they were all in safety, stirred her up such a devil's brew of land that, but for that one old woman

The Irish-Ameriran had entered the study and stretched his long limbs from the armchair. He was a tall, gaunt man of 60, with clear-cut features and a small goatee beard, which gave him a general resemblance to the caricature of Uncle Sam. A halfsmoked, sodden cigar hung from the corner of his mouth, and as ho sat down he struck a match and relit it. "Making ready for a move?" he remarked as he looked round him. "Say, Mister," he added, as his eyes fell upon the safe from which the curtain

was now removed, "you don't tell me j

you keep your papers in that?"

"Why not?" "Gosh, in a wide-open contraption

like that! And they reckon you to be

some spy. Why, a Yankee crook would be into that with a can-opener. If I'd known that any letter of mine was

devil, will have to stand the racket, and lucky if he gets off with his life. That's why I want to get over the water as soon as you do." "How could they have got on to Steiner?" he muttered. "That's the worst blow yet." "Well, you nearly had a wors-j one, for I believe they are not far off me." "You don't mean that-" "Sure thing. My landlady down Fratton way had some inquiries, and when I heard of it I guessed it was time for me to hustle. But what I

want to know. Mister, is how the cop

pers know these things? Steiner is the fifth man you've lost since I signed

on with you, and I know the name of the sixth if I don't get a move on. How do you explain it, and ain't you asham

ed to se your men go down like this?" "How dare you speak in such a way?" "If I didn't dare things, Mister, I wouldn't be in your service. But I'll tell you straight what is in my mind. I've heard that with you German poli

ticians when an agent has done his

goin' to lie loose in a thing like that work you are not sorry to see him put

I d have been a mug to write to you away

at all.

"It would puzzle any crook to force that safe," Von Bork answered. "You won't cut that metal with any tool." "But the lock?" "No, it's a double combination lock. You know what that is?" "Search me," said the American. "Well, you need a word as well as a set of figures before you can get the lock to work." He rose and showed a double-radiating disc round the keyhole. "This outer one is for the letters, the inner one for the figures." "Well, well, that's fine." "So it's not quite as simple as you thought. It was four years ago that I had it made, and what do you think I chose for the word and figures?" "It's beyond me." "Well, I chose August for the word, and 1914 for the figures, and here we are. "My but that was smart! You had it down to a fine thing." "Yes, a few of us even then could have guessed the date. Here it is, and I'm shutting down tomorrow morning." "Well. I guess you'll have to lix me up also. I'm not staying in this gol-

"Do you dare to suggest that I have

given away my own agents?" "I don't stand for that, Mister, but there's a stool pigeon or a cross somewhere, and it's up to you to find out where it is. Anyhow, I am taking no

chances. It s me for little Holland, and the sooner the better." "We have been allies too long to quarrel now at the very hour' of victory," he said. "You've done splendid work, and taken risks and I can't forget it. By all means go to Holland, and you can get a boat from Rotterdam to New York. No other line will be safe a week from now. I'll take that book and pack it with the rest." "What about the dough?" he asked. "The what?" "The boodle.' The reward. The 500. The gunner turned damned nasty at the last, and I had to square him with an extra hundred dollars or it would have been nltsky for you and me. 'Nothin' dcin'!' says he, and he meant it, too, but the last hundred did it. It's cost me two hundred pounds from first to last, so it isn't likely I'd give it up without gettin' my wad." Von Bork smiled with some bitter-

dow, for chloroform vapor does not

help the palate."

The safe was ajar, and Holmes

standing in front of it was removing

dossier after dossier, swiftly examin

ing each, and then packing it neatly in Von Bork's valise. The German lay upon the sofa, sleeping stentorously, with a strap round his upper arms and another round his legs. "We need no.t hurry ourselves, Watson. We are safe from interruption. Would mind touching the bell? There is no one in the house except old Martha, who has played her part to admiration. I got her the situation here when first I took the matter up. Ah, Martha, you will be glad to hear that all is well." "It is all right, Martha. He has not been hurt at all." "I am glad of that, Mr. Holmes. According to his lights he has been a kind master. He wanted me to go with his wife to Germany yesterday.

but that would hardly have suited your plans, would it, sir?" "No, indeed, Martha. So long as you were here I was easy in my mind. We waited some time for your signal tonight."

"It was the secretary-, sir." j "I know. His car passed ours." "I thought he would never go. I knew that it would not suit your plans, sir, to find him here." "No, indeed. W7ell, it only meant that we waited half an hour or so until I saw your lamp go out and knew that the coast was clear. You can report to me tomorrow in London, Martha, at Claridge's Hotel." "Very good, sir." "I suppose you have everything ready to leave."

"Yes, sir. He posted seven letters todav. I have the addresses as usual." "Very good, Martha, I will look into them tomorrow. Goodnight. These papers," he continued, as the old lady vanished, "are not of very great importance for, of course, the information which they represent has been sent off long ago to the German government. These are the originals which could hot safely be got out of the country." "Then they are of no use?" "I should not go so far as to say that, WTatson. They will at least show our people what is known and what is not. I may say that a good many of these papers have come through me, and I need not add are thoroughly untrustworthy. It would brighten my de

clining years to see a German cruiser

navigating the Solen according to the minefield plans which I have fu: ; - -

ed. But you, Watson," he stopped his work and took his old friend by thei shoulder, "I've hardly seen you in the light ,yet. How have the years used you? You look the same blithe boy as ever." "I feel twenty years younger, Holmes. I have seldom felt so happy as when I got your wire asking me to meet you at Harwich with the car. But you. Holmes you have changed very little save for that horrible goatee." "These are the sacrifices one makes for one's country, Watson," pulling at his little tuft "Tomorrow it will be but a dreadful memory. With my hair cut and a few other superficial

changes I shall no doubt reappear at Claridge's tomorrow as I was before

this American stunt I beg your pardon, Watson, my well of English seems

to be permanently defiled before this

American job came my way."

"But you had retired, Holmes. We heard of you as living the life of a hermit among your bees and your

books in a small farm down upon the South Downs." "Exactly, Watson. Here is the fruit of my leisure ease, the magnum opus of my latter years!" He picked up the volume from the table and read out the title, "Practical Handbook of Bee Culture, with some Observations upon the Segregation of the Queen." Alone I did it Behold the fruit of pensive nights and laborous days when I watched the little working gangs as once I watched the criminal world of London."

"But how did a ?ain ?

"Ah, I have often marvelled at it

myself. The Foreign Minister alone I could have withstood, but when the Premier also designed to visit my humble roof ! The fact is, Watson, that this gentleman upon the sofa was a bit too good for our people. He was in a class by himself. Things were going wrong, and no one could understand why they were going wrong. Agents were suspected or even caught!; but there was evidence of some strong

and secret central force. It was absolutely necessary to expose it. Strong pressure was brought upon me to look into the matter. It has cost me two years, Watson, but they have not been

devoid of excitement. When I say

that I started my pilgrimage at Chica

go, graduated in an Irish secret society at Buffalo, gave serious trouble to the

constabulary at Skibbareen and so

eventually caught the eye of a subor

dinate agent of Von Bork, who rec

ommended one as a likely man, you will realize that the matter was com

plex. Since then I have been honored

by his confidence which has not prevented most of his plans going subtly

wrong and five of his best agents being in prison. I watched them, Watson, and I picked them as they ripened. Well, sir, I hope that you are none the worse!" The last remark was addressed to Von Bork himself, who after much

gasping and blinking had lain quietly listening to Holmes's statement. "Though unmusical, German is the most expressive of all languages," he observed, when Von Bork had stopped from pure exhaustion. "Hullo! Hullo!" he added, as he looked hard at the corner of a tracing before putting it in the box. "This should, put another bird in the cage. I had no idea that the paymaster was such a rascal, though I have long had an eye upon

him. Mister Von Bork, you have a great deal to answer for." "I shall get level with you, Altamont," he said, speaking with slow deliberation, "if it takes me all my life I shall get level wiTh you!" "The old sweet song," said Holmes. "How often have I heard it in days gone by. it was a favorite ditty of the late lamented Professor Moriarty. Colonel Sebastian Moran has also been known to warble it. And yet I live and keep bees upon the South Downs." "Curse you, you double traitor!" cried the German, straining against his bonds and glaring murder from his furious eyes. "No, no, it is not so bad as that," said Holmes, smiling. "As my speech surely shows you, Mr. Altamont of

Chicago had no existence in fact. I used him and he is gone." "Then who are you?" "It is really immaterial who I am, but since the matter seems to interest you, Mr. Von Bork, I may say that this is not my first acquaintance with the

members of your family. I have done a good deal of business in Germany

in the past and my name is probably familiar to you." "I would wish to know it," said the Prussian grimly. "It was I who brought about the separation between Irene Adler and the late King of Bohemia when your

cousin Heinrich was the Imperial Envoy. It was I who saved from murder, by the Nihilist Klopman, Count Von und Zu Grafenstein, who was your mother's elder brother. It was I " "There is only one man," he cried. "Exactly," said Holmes. Von Bork groaned and sank on the sofa. "And most of that information

came through you, he cried. "What

is it worth? What have I done? It is my ruin for ever!" "It is certainly a little untrustworthy," said Holmes. "It will require some checking and you have little time to check it. Your admiral may find the new guns rather larger than he expects, and the cruisers perhaps a trifle faster.' "There are a good many other points of detail which will, no doubt, come

to light in good time. But you have one quality which is very rare in a German, Mr. Von Bork; you are a sportsman and you will bear me no illwill when you realize that you, who have outwitted so many other people, have at last been outwitted yourself. After all, you have done your best for your country, and I have done my best for mine, nd what could be more natural? Besides." he added, not. unkindly, as he laid his hand upon the shoulder of the prostrate man, "it is better than to fall before some more ignoble foe. These papers are now ready. Watson. If you will help me with our prisoner, I think that we may get started for London at once." "I trust you are as comfortable as circumstances will permit,'' said Holmes, when the final arrangements were made. ' "Should I be guilty of a liberty if I lit a cigar and placed it between your Hps?" "I suppose you realize. Mr. Sherlock

i Holmes," said he, "that if your Gov

ernment bears you out In this treatment it becomes an act of war?" "What about your Government and all this treatment?" said Holmes, tapping the valise. "You are a private individual. You have no warrant for my arrest. The whole proceeding is absolutely illegal and outrageous.' "Absolutely," said Holmes. "Kidnapping a German subject." "And, stealing his private papers." "Well, you realize your position, you and your accomplice here. If I were to shout for help as we pass through the village " "My dear sir, if you did anything so foolish you would probably enlarge

tne two limited titles of our village inns by giving us 'The Dangling Prussian' as a signpost. The Englishman is a patient creature, but at present his temper is a little inflamed and it would be as well not to try him too far. No. Mr. Von Bork, you will go with us in a quiet, sensible fashion to Scotland Yard, whence you can send

for your friend, Baron Von Herling. and see if even now you may not fill that place which he has reserved for you in the ambassadorial suite. As to you, Watson, you are joining us with your old service, as I understand, so London won't be out of your way. Stand with me here upon the terrace for it may be the last quiet talk that we shall ever have." "There's an east wind coming, Watson. "I think not, Holmes. It is very warm. "Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point In a changing era There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never, blew on, England yet. It will be cold and better,

Watson, and a good many of us may

wither before its blast. But It's God's

own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared. Start her up, Watson, for it's time that we were on our way. I have a cheque for five hundred pounds which should be cashed early, for the drawer is quite capable of stopping it, if he can."

ILLITERATE SPANISH PUBLIC MAKES POOR MARKET FOB BOOKS (From La Prensa, Buenos Aires) Our masses (in Spain) do not know how to read, although they have begun to spell. They clamor for pseudoscience or pornographic literature. The authors who cater to this public have hardly evolved beyond the illiterate story tellers of an earlier age. They create nothing of their own. They recast only that which has reached their ears. But, while the illiterate authors of old listened to tne voice of learned authority, the ignorant and half educated writers who appeal to the public .ear today flatter themselves in underrating true scholarship and art. That is why I say that the real author, the author who labors to endow a nation's soul with a universal conscience, to create pure science and pure art, does not exist today in Spain,,

except potentially. Like bishops in

partibus bishops without a diocese

they are authors without a public.

No Market For Books. You may argue that though these authors exist in partibus they are still real authors. I partially admit this. We have a3 many and as excellent authors in Spain as in the most fruitful period of Spanish literature, but they are inhibited authors inhibited by two conditions. The first of these conditions is an . economic servitude that robs them of leisure for creative work. This in turn is due to the excessive and hasty production of books, and to the flood of cheap periodicals. A scribbler who does not know how to write, but who catches the ear of a large public, may earn enough by a singly book or halt a dozen books to emancipate himself economically. But the author with a conscience with a double conscience, national and universal has to ransom his leisure for artistic creation by a toll of hasty and half-baked popular writing. According to Musset, three thins

are absurd beyond all other things; a battle without a charge, a journey without a book, and a life without a love. On a Spanish train, a traveler who carries a book is stared at as an unheard-of oddity, like a priest not crossing himself and mumbling over his breviary.

SAYS GLAND CAUSES

WHITE, BLACK SKINS From the Detroit News. Prof. L. Bolk. director of the department of anatomy in the University of Amsterdam, says the white man is indebted for his uncolored skin to a gland, probably the suprarenal body, a small gland above the kidneys, which interpor-ed its influence to put a stop to the pigmentation of the skin in man. In cases of Addison's disease, the pigmentation reappears as it probab ly was in primitive man. This disease is an affliction of the superarenal gland, which is taken as proof that the

healthy gland exercises a repressive influence on the skin-coioring proces". It is on this same hypothesis that a Brazilian physician based his claim, until now undemonstrated, that he could turn a Negro white by gland transplantation.

Navajo Indians Believe Pipe-smoking Rules Rain According to the Navajo Indians rainfall is controlled by the pipe-smoking gods. There are four : of ihesu deities. They are always shown earning an elaborately decorated t'.bacco pouch on which is a figure of a stone pipe. In the pouch they say each god has placed a ray of sunlight to use as a pipe lighter. When one of them is ready to smoke he lights hi? pipe and puffs it until the smoke is dens enough to form clouds in the sky When he finishes his pipe the rain descends.

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