by Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes

I don't think that any adventures with Mr Sherlock Holmes opened quite so abruptly, or so dramatically, which I associate Three Gables I seen Holmes for some days and had no idea new channel into which his activities directed in chatty mood that morning, however, and had just settled me well-worn low armchair on one side fire, while he had curled down pipe mouth opposite chair, when our visitor arrived If I had said that mad bull had arrived it would give clearer impression of what occurred

The door had flown open and huge negro had burst room He comic figure if he terrific, for dressed in very loud gray check suit with flowing salmon-coloured tie His broad face and flattened nose were thrust forward, as his sullen dark eyes, with smouldering gleam of malice , turned from one of us other

"Which of you gen'l'men is Masser Holmes ? " he asked

Holmes raised his pipe with languid smile

"Oh ! it's you, ? " said our visitor, coming with an unpleasant, stealthy step round the angle table "See here, Masser Holmes, you keep your hands out of other folks' business Leave folks to manage their own affairs Got that, Masser Holmes ? "

"Keep on talking," said Holmes "It's fine "

"Oh ! it's fine, ? " growled the savage "It won't be so damn fine if to trim you up bit I've handled your kind before now, didn't look fine when through Look , Masser Holmes ! "

He swung huge knotted lump of fist under my friend's nose Holmes examined it closely with an air of great interest

"Were you born so ? " he asked "Or did it come by degrees ? "

It may the icy coolness friend, or it may the slight clatter which as I picked up the poker In any case, our visitor's manner became less flamboyant

"Well, I've given you fair warnin'," said he "I've friend that's interested out Harrow way -- what I'm meaning -and he don't intend no buttin' in Got that ? You ain't the law, and I ain't the law either, and come in I'll be on hand also Don't you forget it "

"I've wanted to meet you for ," said Holmes "I won't to sit down, for I don't like the smell of you, but aren't you Steve Dixie, the bruiser ? "

"That's my name, Masser Holmes, and you'll get put through it for sure me any lip "

" certainly the last thing ," said Holmes, staring at our visitor's hideous mouth "But it killing of young Perkins outside the Holborn -- Bar What ! you're not going ? "

The negro had sprung back, face was leaden "I won't listen to no such talk," said he "What have I 'ere Perkins, Masser Holmes ? trainin' Bull Ring in Birmingham boy done gone get into trouble "

"Yes, you'll tell the magistrate , Steve," said Holmes "I've been watching you and Barney Stockdale --"

"So help me the Lord ! Masser Holmes --"

"That's enough Get out of it I'll pick you up when you "

"Good-mornin', Masser Holmes there ain't no hard feelin's 'ere visit ? "

" unless you tell me who sent you "

"Why, there ain't no secret , Masser Holmes It same gen'l'man that just done gone mention "

"And who set him on ? "

"S'elp me I don't know, Masser Holmes He just say, 'Steve, you go see Mr Holmes, and tell him his life ain't safe if he go down Harrow way ' That's the whole truth " Without waiting for any further questioning, our visitor bolted room almost as precipitately as he had entered Holmes knocked out the ashes pipe with quiet chuckle

" you forced to break his woolly head, Watson I observed your manoeuvres poker But really rather harmless fellow, great muscular, foolish, blustering baby, and easily cowed, seen Spencer John gang and has taken part in some dirty work of late which clear up when time His immediate principal, Barney, is more astute person They specialize in assaults, intimidation, like What is, back panicular occasion ? "

"But why do to intimidate you ? "

"It Harrow Weald case It decides me to look matter, for worth anyone's while trouble, something "

"But it ? "

" going you when we had this comic interlude Mrs Maberley's note care with me wire her and go out at once "

SHERLOCK HOLMES [ ]: succession of strange incidents occur in connection house, and much value your advice find me at home to-morrow The house is within short walk Weald Station I believe that my late husband, Mortimer Maberley, was one of your early clients Yours faithfully, MARY MABERLEY

The address was "The Three Gables, Harrow Weald "

" 's that ! " said Holmes "And now, spare the time, Watson, get upon our way "

short railway journey, and shorter drive, brought us house, brick and timber villa, standing in its own acre of undeveloped grassland Three small projections above the upper windows made feeble attempt to justify its name Behind was grove of melancholy, half-grown pines, whole aspect place was poor and depressing None the less, the house well furnished, lady who received us was most engaging elderly person, who bore every mark of refinement and culture

"I remember your husband well, madam," said Holmes, "though since he used my services in some trifling matter "

"Probably more familiar name son Douglas "

Holmes looked at her with great interest

"Dear me ! the mother of Douglas Maberley ? him slightly But all London knew him What magnificent creature ! Where is he now ? "

"Dead, Mr Holmes, dead ! attache at Rome, and he died there of pneumonia last month "

" sorry One connect death man never known anyone so vitally alive He lived intensely -every fibre of him ! "

"Too intensely, Mr Holmes That ruin of him You remember him as -- debonair and splendid the moody, morose, brooding creature into which he developed His heart was broken In single month I seemed my gallant boy turn into worn-out cynical man "

"A love affair -- woman ? "

"Or fiend Well, not poor lad that I asked you , Mr Holmes "

"Dr Watson and I are at your service "

" been some very strange happenings house more than year now, and as I wished to lead retired life little neighbours Three I had call from man who said that house agent house would exactly suit client , if part with it money no object It seemed very strange as several empty houses market which appear equally eligible, but naturally interested in what I therefore named price five hundred pounds more than He at once closed offer, but added that his client desired the furniture and would I put price upon it furniture is from my old home, and , as , , I named good round sum also he at once agreed I had always wanted to travel, bargain was so good one really seemed that my own mistress rest life

"Yesterday the man arrived agreement all drawn out Luckily I showed it to Mr Sutro, my lawyer, who lives in Harrow , ' very strange document aware that sign it legally take anything house -- not even your own private possessions ? ' man came again evening I pointed this out, and that I meant only the furniture

" 'No, no, everything,' said he

" 'But my clothes ? My jewels ? '