Yours faithfully,
ROBERT FERGUSON

P S I believe your friend Watson played Rugby for Blackheath when three-quarter for Richmond only personal introduction which give

" I remembered him," said I as I laid down the letter "Big Bob Ferguson, the finest three-quarter Richmond ever had always good-natured chap It's like him so concerned over friend's case "

Holmes looked at me thoughtfully and shook his head

"I never get your limits, Watson," said he " unexplored possibilities about you Take wire down, like good fellow 'Will examine your case with pleasure ' "

"Your case ! "

" not let him think agency is home weak-minded his case that wire and let the matter rest till morning "

Promptly at ten o'clock next morning Ferguson strode into our room I had remembered him as long, slab-sided man with loose limbs and fine turn of speed which had carried him round many an opposing back surely nothing in life more painful than to meet the wreck of fine athlete whom one has known prime His great frame had fallen in, his flaxen hair was scanty, shoulders were bowed that I roused corresponding emotions in him

"Hullo, Watson," said he, voice was still deep and hearty "You don't look quite the man when I threw you over the ropes crowd Old Deer Park I expect changed bit also But it's this last that has aged me by your telegram, Mr Holmes, no use my pretending anyone's deputy "

" simpler to deal direct," said Holmes

" But imagine how difficult speaking one woman whom bound to protect and help What can ? How am I police story ? And yet the kiddies have got protected madness, Mr Holmes ? something blood ? any similar case in your experience ? For God's sake, some advice, for at my wit's end "

"Very naturally, Mr Ferguson Now sit here and pull yourself together and few clear answers assure you that very far from being at my wit's end, confident find some solution First of all, tell me what steps taken Is your wife still near the children ? "

"We had dreadful scene most loving woman, Mr Holmes If ever woman loved man with all her heart and soul, she loves me She was cut heart that discovered this horrible, this incredible, secret not even speak She gave no answer to my reproaches, save to gaze at me with sort of wild, despairing look in her eyes Then she rushed to her room and locked herself in Since then she has refused me She has maid who was with her before her marriage, Dolores by name -- friend rather than servant She takes her food to her "

"Then the child is in no immediate danger ? "

" Mrs Mason, the nurse, has sworn that she will not leave it night or day absolutely trust her more uneasy about poor little Jack, for, as you in my note, he has twice been assaulted by her "

"But never wounded ? "

"No, she struck him savagely more terrible as poor little inoffensive cripple " Ferguson's gaunt features softened as he spoke boy " think dear lad's condition would soften anyone's heart fall in childhood and twisted spine, Mr Holmes But the dearest, most loving heart within "

Holmes had picked up the letter of yesterday and was reading it over "What other inmates are there in your house, Mr Ferguson ? "

"Two servants who long One stablehand, Michael, who sleeps house My wife, myself, my boy Jack, baby, Dolores, and Mrs Mason all "

"I gather that know your wife well of your marriage ? "

"I had only known her few weeks "

"How long had this maid Dolores been with her ? "

" "

"Then your wife's character would really be better known by Dolores than ? "

"Yes, say so "

Holmes made note

"I fancy," said he, "that of more use at Lamberley than here eminently case for personal investigation lady remains in her room, our presence annoy or inconvenience her , stay inn "

Ferguson gave gesture of relief

" what I hoped, Mr Holmes an excellent train at two from Victoria come "

" come lull at present my undivided energies Watson, , comes But points very sure before I start This unhappy lady, as I understand it, has appeared to assault both the children, her own baby and your little son ? "

" so "

"But the assaults take different forms, do they not ? She has beaten your son "

"Once with stick and once very savagely with her hands "

"Did she give no explanation why she struck him ? "

"None save that she hated him Again and again she said so "

"Well, unknown among stepmothers posthumous jealousy, say lady jealous by nature ? "

"Yes, very jealous -- jealous with all the strength of her fiery tropical love "

"But the boy -- fifteen, I understand, and probably very developed in mind, since his body circumscribed in action Did he no explanation assaults ? "

"No, he declared no reason "

"Were they good friends at other times ? "

"No, never any love "

"Yet you say affectionate ? "

"Never could there be so devoted son My life is his life absorbed in what or do "

Once again Holmes made note For he sat lost in thought

" you boy were great comrades before this second marriage You were thrown very close together, were you not ? "

" so "

" boy, having so affectionate nature, was devoted, , memory mother ? "

"Most devoted "

" certainly most interesting lad one other point about these assaults Were the strange attacks baby assaults upon yow son same period ? "

" first case so some frenzy had seized her, and she had vented her rage upon both second case only Jack who suffered Mrs Mason had no complaint baby "

"That certainly complicates matters "

"I don't quite follow you, Mr Holmes "

"Possibly not One forms provisional theories and waits for time or fuller knowledge to explode them bad habit, Mr Ferguson, but human nature is weak that your old friend here an exaggerated view scientific methods However, only say present stage that your problem appear insoluble, expect us at Victoria at two o'clock "