by Arthur Conan Doyle

health friend Mr Sherlock Holmes recovered strain caused by his immense exertions spring of '87 The whole question Netherland-Sumatra Company and colossal schemes of Baron Maupertuis are too recent minds public, too intimately concerned with politics and finance fitting subjects series of sketches They led, however, in an indirect fashion to singular and complex problem which gave my friend an opportunity of demonstrating the value of fresh weapon many he waged his life-long battle against crime

On referring to my notes 14th of April that I received telegram from Lyons which informed me that Holmes was lying ill Hotel Dulong Within twenty-four hours sick-room, and was relieved that nothing formidable symptoms Even his iron constitution, however, had broken down under the strain of an investigation which had extended over two months, during which period he had never worked fifteen hours day, and had more than once, as he assured me, kept task for five days at stretch Even the triumphant issue labours save him from reaction after so terrible an exertion, and when Europe was ringing name and when his room was literally ankle-deep with congratulatory telegrams him prey blackest depression Even the knowledge that he had succeeded where the police of three countries had failed, he had outmanoeuvred at every point the most accomplished swindler in Europe, was insufficient to rouse him nervous prostration

Three days later we were back in Baker Street together; but evident that my friend much the better for change, thought of week of spring time country was full of attractions also My old friend, Colonel Hayter, who had come under my professional care in Afghanistan, had now taken house near Reigate in Surrey, and had frequently asked me down to him upon visit last occasion he had remarked that friend would only come with me to extend his hospitality to him also little diplomacy was needed, but when Holmes understood establishment was bachelor one, allowed the fullest freedom, he fell in with my plans and week after our return from Lyons we were under the Colonel's roof Hayter was fine old soldier who had seen much world, and he soon found, as I had expected, that Holmes and he had much in common

evening arrival we were sitting Colonel's gun-room after dinner, Holmes stretched sofa, while Hayter and I looked over his little armoury of Eastern weapons

" ," said he suddenly, " I'll take pistols upstairs with me an alarm "

"An alarm ! " said I

"Yes, we've had scare part lately Old Acton, county magnates, had his house broken into last Monday No great damage done, but the fellows are still at large "

"No clue ? " asked Holmes, cocking his eye Colonel

"None But the affair is pretty one, little country crimes, seem too small for your attention, Mr Holmes, great international affair "

Holmes waved away the compliment, though his smile showed had pleased him

"Was there any feature of interest ? "

"I fancy not The thieves ransacked the library and got very little for their pains The whole place was turned upside down, drawers burst open, and presses ransacked, result that an odd volume of Pope's 'Homer,' two plated candlesticks, an ivory letter-weight, small oak barometer, and ball of twine are all vanished "

"What an extraordinary assortment ! " I exclaimed

"Oh, the fellows evidently grabbed hold of everything get "

Holmes grunted sofa

"The county police ought something ," said he; "why, surely obvious that--"

But I held up warning finger

" here for rest, my dear fellow For Heaven's sake don't get started on new problem when your nerves are all in shreds "

Holmes shrugged his shoulders with glance of comic resignation towards the Colonel, talk drifted away into less dangerous channels

destined, however, that all my professional caution wasted, for next morning the problem obtruded itself upon us impossible to ignore it, country visit took turn which neither of us anticipated We were at breakfast Colonel's butler rushed in with all his propriety shaken out of him

" heard the news, sir ? " he gasped " Cunningham's sir ! "

"Burglary ! " cried the Colonel, coffee-cup in mid-air

"Murder ! "

The Colonel whistled "By Jove ! " said he "Who's killed, then ? The J P or his son ? "

"Neither, sir William the coachman Shot heart, sir, and never spoke again "

"Who shot him, then ? "

"The burglar, sir off like shot and got clean away He'd just broke in pantry window when William came on him and met his end in saving his master's property "

"What time ? "

" last night, sir, somewhere about twelve "

"Ah, then, we'll step over afterwards," said the Colonel, coolly settling down breakfast again "It's baddish business," he added butler had gone; "he's our leading man about here, is old Cunningham, and very decent fellow too He'll be cut up over this, man service for years and was good servant It's evidently the same villains who broke into Acton's "

"And stole that very singular collection," said Holmes, thoughtfully

"Precisely "

"Hum ! It may prove the simplest matter , but all the same at first glance just little curious, not ? gang of burglars acting country expected to vary the scene operations, and not to crack two cribs same district within spoke last night of taking precautions I remember passed through my mind was probably the last parish in England thief or thieves likely their attention--which shows that still much to learn "

"I fancy it's some local practitioner," said the Colonel " case, , Acton's and Cunningham's are just the places go for, since far the largest about here "

"And richest ? "

"Well, they , but they've had lawsuit sucked the blood out of both , I fancy Old Acton has some claim on half Cunningham's estate, lawyers at it with both hands "

" 's local villain there much difficulty in running him down," said Holmes with yawn "All right, Watson, I don't intend to meddle "

"Inspector Forrester, sir," said the butler, throwing open the door

The official, smart, keen-faced young fellow, stepped room "Good-morning, Colonel," said he; " I don't intrude, but we hear that Mr Holmes of Baker Street is here "

The Colonel waved his hand towards my friend, Inspector bowed

"We thought that perhaps care to step across, Mr Holmes "

"The fates are against you, Watson," said he, laughing "We were chatting came in, Inspector Perhaps few details " As he leaned back chair familiar attitude case was hopeless

"We had no clue Acton affair But here plenty on, and there's same party in The man was seen "

"Ah ! "

"Yes, sir But off like deer shot that killed poor William Kirwan was fired Mr Cunningham saw him bedroom window, and Mr Alec Cunningham saw him back passage quarter to twelve alarm broke out Mr Cunningham had just got into bed, and Mr Alec was smoking pipe dressing-gown They both heard William the coachman calling for help, and Mr Alec ran down the matter The back door was open, and as foot stairs two men wrestling together outside fired shot, the other dropped, murderer rushed across the garden and over the hedge Mr Cunningham, looking out bedroom, saw the fellow as he gained the road, but lost sight of him at once Mr Alec stopped if help the dying man, and so the villain got clean away Beyond the fact that middle-sized man and dressed in some dark stuff, no personal clue; but making energetic inquiries, and if stranger soon find him out "

"What William doing there ? Did he say anything before he died ? "