Sherlock Holmes sat for in silence, head sunk forward eyes bent red glow fire Then he lit his pipe, and leaning back chair he watched the blue smoke-rings chased ceiling

" , Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases none more fantastic than this " Josef Friedrich, 1906

"Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four "

"Well, yes Save, perhaps, that And yet this John Openshaw seems walking amid even greater perils than did the Sholtos "

"But ," I asked, "formed any definite conception what these perils are ? "

"There no question as nature," he answered

"Then they ? Who K K K , and why does he pursue this unhappy family ? "

Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows arms chair, finger-tips together "The ideal reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown single fact in all its bearings, deduce all the chain of events which led up but also all the results which would follow As Cuvier could correctly describe whole animal contemplation of single bone, so the observer who has thoroughly understood one link in series of incidents able to accurately state all the other ones, both before and after grasped the results which the reason alone can attain to Problems solved study baffled all those sought solution aid senses To carry the art, however, to its highest pitch, necessary reasoner able to utilize all the facts come knowledge; and this in itself implies, readily see, possession of all knowledge, which, even days of free education and encyclopaedias, is somewhat rare accomplishment so impossible, however, that man should possess all knowledge likely useful to him work, and this endeav- oured in my case If I remember rightly, you on one occasion, early days friendship, defined my limits in very precise fashion "

"Yes," I answered, laughing " singular document Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco Those, , were the main points analysis "

Holmes grinned last item "Well," , " now, as then, that man should keep his little brain-attic stocked with all the furniture that likely to use, rest put away lumber-room library, where get it if it Now, for such case one been submitted to-night, certainly to muster all our resources Kindly hand me down the letter K American Encyclopaedia which stands shelf beside you Now consider the situation what deduced first place, start with strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong rea- son for leaving America Men at his time of life change all their habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida lonely life of an English provincial town His extreme love of solitude in England suggests the idea that in fear of someone or something, so assume as working hypothesis fear of someone or something which drove him from America what he feared, only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself successors Did you remark the postmarks letters ? "

"The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, third from London "

"From East London What deduce ? "

" all seaports writer was on board of ship "

"Excellent already clue There probability -- the strong probability -- is writer was on board of ship And now consider another point case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed threat and its fulfillment, in Dundee only some three or four days Does that suggest anything ? "

"A greater distance to travel "

"But the letter had also greater distance "

"Then the point "

" presumption vessel man or men are is sailing-ship It looks as always seni their singular warning or token before them when starting upon their mission how quickly the deed followed the sign when it came from Dundee had come from Pondicherry in steamer arrived almost their letter But, as matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed seven weeks represented the difference mail- boat which brought the letter sailing vessel which brought the writer "

" possible "

"More than that probable And now the deadly urgency new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to caution The blow has always fallen end time which it would senders to travel the distance But comes from London, and therefore count upon delay "

"Good God ! " I cried "What can it mean, this relentless persecution ? "

"The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital importance person or persons sailing-ship quite clear that more than single man have carried out two deaths deceive coroner's jury There must several , and been men of resource and determination Their papers they mean , be the holder who it may K K K ceases the initials of an individual and becomes the badge of society "

"But of what society ? "

" never --" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and sinking his voice --" never heard Ku Klux Klan ? "

"I never have "

Holmes turned over the leaves book upon his knee "Here ," said he presently:

"Ku Klux Klan name derived fanciful resem- blance sound produced by cocking rifle This terrible secret society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers Southern states Civil War, and it rapidly formed local branches in different parts country, notably in Tennessee, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida Its power was used for political purposes, principally terrorizing negro vot- ers murdering and driving country who were opposed to its views Its outrages were usually preceded by warning sent marked man in some fantastic but generally recognized shape -- sprig of oak-leaves in some parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others On receiving this the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might fly country If he braved the matter out, death would unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and unforeseen manner So perfect organization society, upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with impunity, or any outrages were traced home perpetrators the organization flourished efforts United States government and better classes community South Eventually, year 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although been sporadic outbreaks same sort since that date

" observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, " sudden breaking up society was coincident disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers It may well cause and effect no wonder that he family have more implacable spirits upon their track understand register and diary may implicate first men South, many sleep easy at night until recovered "

"Then the page seen --"