No. 2 The Adventure of the Cardboard Box by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 2 The Adventure of the Cardboard Box by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Arthur Conan Doyle

choosing few typical cases which illustrate the remarkable mental qualities of_my friend , Sherlock Holmes, I_have endeavoured, far possible , select those which presented the minimum sensationalism , while offering fair field for_his talents it_is , however , unfortunately impossible entirely separate the from_the criminal , and chronicler left in_the dilemma that he_must either sacrifice details which are essential to_his statement and give false impression of_the problem , he_must use matter which chance , and not choice , has provided him with with_this short preface I_shall turn notes what proved to_be strange , though peculiarly terrible , chain events

it_was blazing hot day August baker street was like oven , and_the glare of_the sunlight upon_the yellow brickwork of_the house across the road was painful to_the eye it_was hard to_believe that_these were the same walls which loomed gloomily through_the fogs winter our blinds were half - drawn , and Holmes lay curled sofa , reading and re-reading letter which had received by_the morning post for_myself , term service India had trained stand heat better than cold , and thermometer ninety was hardship but the morning paper was uninteresting parliament had risen everybody was out town , and I yearned for_the glades of_the new forest the shingle Southsea depleted bank account had caused postpone holiday , and as_to companion , neither the country nor the sea presented the slightest attraction him loved lie in_the very centre five millions people , with_his filaments stretching out and running through them , responsive every little rumour suspicion unsolved crime appreciation nature found place among his many gifts, and_his only change was when turned his mind from_the evil -doer of_the town track down his brother of_the country

Finding that Holmes was too absorbed for conversation I had tossed aside the barren paper , and leaning back chair I fell into brown study suddenly companion 's voice broke upon thoughts:

" you_are right , Watson," said " does seem most preposterous way settling dispute "

" most preposterous ! " I exclaimed , and then suddenly realizing how had echoed the inmost thought of_my soul , I sat chair and stared him amazement

" what_is this , Holmes ? " I cried " this_is beyond anything which I_could_have imagined "

laughed heartily perplexity

" you remember ," said , " that some little time ago when I_read you the passage one Poe's sketches in_which reasoner follows the unspoken thoughts of_his companion , you were inclined treat the matter mere tour -de- force of_the author remarking that i_was constantly in_the habit doing the same thing you expressed incredulity "

"Oh, ! "

" perhaps not with your tongue , dear Watson, but certainly with your eyebrows when I_saw you throw down your paper and enter upon train thought , i_was very happy to_have the oportunity reading off , and eventually breaking into_it , proof that I had_been rapport with_you "

but i_was still far from satisfied " in_the example which you read to_me ," said I, " the reasoner drew his conclusions from_the actions of_the man whom observed I remember right , stumbled over heap stones, looked at_the stars, and but I_have_been seated quietly chair , and what clues can I_have_given you ? "

" you_do yourself injustice the features are given man as_the means by_which shall express his emotions, and yours are faithful servants "

" do_you_mean to_say that you read train thoughts from features ? "

" your features and especially your eyes perhaps you_cannot yourself recall how your reverie commenced ? "

" , I_cannot "

" then i_will tell you after throwing down your paper , which_was the action which drew attention to_you , you sat for half minute with vacant expression then your eyes fixed themselves upon your newly framed general Gordon , and I_saw by_the alteration your face that train thought had_been started but did_not lead very far your eyes flashed across to_the unframed portrait Henry ward Beecher which stands upon_the top your books then you glanced at_the wall , and of_course your meaning was obvious you were thinking that if_the were framed would just cover that bare space and correspond with Gordon 's over there "

" you_have followed wonderfully ! " I exclaimed

" so_far I_could hardly have_gone astray but now your thoughts went back Beecher, and you looked hard across if_you were studying the character in_his features then your eyes ceased pucker , but you continued look across , and your face was thoughtful you were recalling the incidents Beecher's career i_was well aware that you_could_not do_this without thinking of_the mission which undertook on_behalf of_the north at_the_time of_the civil war , for I remember your expressing your passionate indignation at_the way in_which he_was received by_the more turbulent of_our people you felt strongly about_it that I_knew you_could_not think Beecher without thinking of_that also when moment later I_saw your eyes wander away from_the , I suspected that your mind had now turned to_the civil war , and when I observed that your lips set , your eyes sparkled , and your hands clenched i_was positive that you were indeed thinking of_the gallantry which_was shown both sides in_that desperate struggle but then , again , your face grew sadder ; you shook your head you were dwelling upon_the sadness and horror and useless waste life your hand stole towards your own old wound and smile quivered on_your lips, which showed that_the ridiculous side of_this method settling international questions had forced itself upon your mind at_this point I agreed with_you that_it_was preposterous and was glad to_find that all deductions had_been correct "

" absolutely ! " said I " and now that you_have explained , I confess that I_am amazed before "

" it_was very superficial , dear Watson, I assure you I should_not have intruded upon your attention had you not shown some incredulity the other day but I_have hands here little problem which_may prove to_be more difficult solution than small essay thought reading have_you observed in_the paper short paragraph referring to_the remarkable contents packet sent through_the post miss Cushing, cross street , Croydon ? "

" , I_saw nothing "

"Ah ! then you_must_have overlooked just toss over to_me here it_is , under the financial column perhaps you_would_be good enough read aloud "

I picked the paper which had thrown back to_me and read the paragraph indicated it_was headed "A gruesome packet "

" miss Susan Cushing, living cross street , Croydon, has_been made the victim what must_be regarded peculiarly revolting practical joke unless some more sinister meaning should prove to_be attached to_the incident two o'clock yesterday afternoon small packet , wrapped brown paper , was handed by_the postman cardboard box was inside , which_was filled with coarse salt emptying this , miss Cushing was horrified to_find two human ears, apparently quite freshly severed the box had_been sent parcel post from Belfast upon_the morning before there_is indication as_to_the sender , and_the matter is_the more mysterious miss Cushing, who_is maiden lady fifty, has led most retired life , and has few acquaintances correspondents that_it_is rare event for her receive anything through_the post some_years_ago , however , when she resided Penge, she let apart ments her house three young medical students, whom she was obliged to_get rid account of_their noisy and irregular habits the police are opinion that_this outrage may have_been perpetrated upon miss Cush ing by_these youths , who owed her grudge and who hoped frighten her sending her these relics of_the dissecting-rooms some probability lent to_the theory by_the fact that one_of_these students came from_the north Ireland, and , to_the best miss Cushing's belief , from Belfast in_the meantime , the matter being actively investigated , Mr Lestrade, very smart EST of_our detective officers, being charge of_the case "

" so_much for_the daily chronicle ," said Holmes I finished reading " now for_our friend Lestrade I had note from_him this_morning , in_which he_says :

" i_think that this_case very_much your line we_have every hope clearing the matter , but we_find little difficulty getting anything work upon we_have , of_course , wired to_the Belfast post - office , but large number parcels were handed upon that day , and they_have means identifying this particular one , remembering the sender the box half - pound box honeydew tobacco and does_not help_us any_way the medical student theory still appears to_me to_be the most feasible , but you_should_have few hours spare i_should_be very happy to_see you out here I_shall_be either at_the house in_the police - station all day

what say you , Watson ? can_you rise superior to_the heat and run down Croydon with on_the off chance case for your annals ? "

" i_was longing for something to_do "

" you_shall_have then ring for_our boots and tell them order cab I'll back moment when I_have changed dressing- gown and filled cigar - case "

shower rain fell while were in_the train , and_the heat was far less oppressive Croydon than town Holmes had sent wire , so_that Lestrade, wiry , dapper , and ferret - like ever , was waiting for_us at_the station walk five minutes took cross street , where miss Cushing resided

it_was very long street two - story brick houses, neat and prim , with whitened stone steps and little groups aproned women gossiping at_the doors halfway down , Lestrade stopped and tapped door , which_was opened small servant girl miss Cushing was sitting in_the front room , into which were ushered she was placid - faced woman , with large , gentle eyes , and grizzled hair curving down over her temples each side worked antimacassar lay upon her lap and basket coloured silks stood upon stool beside her

" they_are in_the outhouse, those dreadful things ," said she Lestrade entered " i_wish that you_would take them away altogether "

" I_shall , miss Cushing I only kept them here until friend , Mr Holmes, should_have seen them your presence "

" why presence , sir ? "

" in_case he_wished ask any questions "

" what_is the use asking questions when I tell you I_know nothing whatever about_it ? "

" quite , madam ," said Holmes in_his soothing way " I_have no_doubt that you_have_been annoyed more than enough already over this business "

" indeed , I_have , sir I_am quiet woman and live retired life it_is something new for_me to_see name in_the papers and to_find the police house I won 't have those things here , Mr Lestrade if_you_wish to_see them you_must to_the outhouse "

it_was small shed in_the narrow garden which ran behind the house Lestrade went and brought out yellow cardboard box , with piece brown paper and some string there_was bench at_the end of_the path , and all sat down while Holmes examined , one one , the articles which Lestrade had handed him

" the string exceedingly interesting," remarked, holding up_to_the light and sniffing " what do_you make of_this string , Lestrade ? "

" it_has_been tarred "

" precisely it_is piece tarred twine you_have also , no_doubt , remarked that miss Cushing has cut the cord with scissors , can_be seen by_the double fray each side this_is importance "

"I cannot_see the importance ," said Lestrade

" the importance lies in_the fact that_the knot left intact , and that_this knot peculiar character "

" it_is very neatly tied I had already made note to_that effect ," said Lestrade complacently

" so_much for_the string , then ," said Holmes, smiling, " now for_the box wrapper brown paper , with distinct smell coffee what , did you not observe ? i_think there can_be no_doubt address printed rather straggling characters: ' miss S Cushing, cross street , Croydon ' done with broad - pointed pen , probably J, and with very inferior ink the word 'Croydon' has_been originally spelled with 'i,' which_has been changed 'y ' the parcel was directed , then , man -- the printing distinctly masculine -- limited education and unacquainted with_the town Croydon so_far , good ! the box yellow half - pound honeydew box , with nothing distinctive save two marks at_the left bottom corner it_is filled with rough salt of_the quality used for preserving hides and other of_the coarser commercial purposes and embedded in_it are these very singular enclosures "

he_took out the two ears

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