by Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes

It may comedy, or it may tragedy It cost one man his reason, it cost me blood-letting, and it cost yet another man the penalties law Yet certainly an element of comedy Well, you shall judge for yourselves

I remember the date , for same month that Holmes refused knighthood for services perhaps some day be described I only refer matter in passing, for in my position of partner and confidant obliged particularly careful to avoid any indiscretion I repeat, however, enables me to fix the date, the latter end of June, 1902, shortly conclusion South African War Holmes had spent in bed, as was his habit , but he emerged that morning with long foolscap document hand and twinkle of amusement austere gray eyes

" chance some money friend Watson," said he " ever heard the name of Garrideb ? "

I admitted that I

"Well, lay your hand upon Garrideb, there's money "

"Why ? "

"Ah, that's long story -- rather whimsical one, too I don't think in all our explorations of human complexities ever come upon anything more singular The fellow here presently for cross-examination, so I won't open the matter up till he comes But, meanwhile, that's the name "

The telephone directory lay table beside me, and I turned over the pages in rather hopeless quest But to my amazement this strange name in its due place cry of triumph

"Here , Holmes ! Here ! "

Holmes took the book from my hand

" 'Garrideb, N ,' " he read, " '136 Little Ryder Street, W ' Sorry to disappoint you, my dear Watson, but man himself address upon his letter another to match him "

Mrs Hudson had come in with card upon tray it up and glanced at it

"Why, here ! " I cried in amazement " different initial John Garrideb, Counsellor at Law, Moorville, Kansas, U S . "

Holmes smiled as he looked card " afraid make yet another effort, Watson," said he "This gentleman is also plot already, though I certainly expect him However, us which "

moment later room Mr John Garrideb, Counsellor at Law, was short, powerful man round, fresh, clean-shaven face characteristic of American men of affairs The general effect was chubby and rather childlike, one received the impression of quite young man with broad set smile upon his face His eyes, however, were arresting Seldom in any human head have I seen pair which bespoke more intense inward life, so bright were they, so alert, so responsive to every change of thought His accent was American, but was not accompanied by any eccentricity of speech

" Mr Holmes ? " he asked, glancing from one other "Ah, yes ! Your pictures unlike you, sir, if say so I believe letter from my namesake, Mr Nathan Garrideb, not ? "

"Pray sit down," said Sherlock Holmes " , I fancy, have to discuss " up his sheets of foolscap " , , the Mr John Garrideb mentioned document But surely in England ? "

"Why say that, Mr Holmes ? " I seemed to read sudden suspicion in those expressive eyes

"Your whole outfit is English "

Mr Garrideb forced laugh "I've read of your tricks, Mr Holmes, but I never thought the subject Where read that ? "

"The shoulder cut of your coat, the toes of your boots -- could anyone doubt it ? "

"Well, well, I had no idea so obvious Britisher But business brought me over here , and so, say, my outfit is nearly all London However, I guess your time is of value, and meet cut socks What about getting down paper you hold in your hand ? "

Holmes had in some way ruffled our visitor, whose chubby face had assumed far less amiable expression

"Patience ! Patience, Mr Garrideb ! " said my friend in soothing voice "Dr Watson would tell you little digressions sometimes prove end some bearing matter But why did Mr Nathan Garrideb not come ? "

"Why did he ever drag you at all ? " asked our visitor with sudden outflame of anger "What in thunder had you with it ? Here was bit of professional business between two gentlemen, and must needs call in detective ! him , and me this fool-trick he had played me, 's why here But bad , all the same "

" no reflection upon you, Mr Garrideb simply zeal upon his part to gain your end -- an end , I understand, equally vital for both of you that I had means of getting information, and, therefore, very natural that apply "

Our visitor's angry face gradually cleared

"Well, that puts it different," said he "When I went him and me he had sent to detective, I just asked for your address and came right away I don't want police butting into private matter But content just to find the man, there no harm "

"Well, just how it stands," said Holmes "And now, sir, since here, we had best have clear account from your own lips My friend here knows nothing details "

Mr Garrideb surveyed me with not too friendly gaze

"Need he know ? " he asked

"We usually work together "

"Well, there's no reason it kept secret I'll the facts as short as make them came from Kansas need to explain who Alexander Hamilton Garrideb was his money in real estate, and afterwards wheat pit at Chicago, but he spent it in buying up land as would make one of your counties, lying along the Arkansas River, west of Fort Dodge It's grazing-land and lumber-land and arable-land and mineralized-land, and just every sort of land that brings dollars man that owns it

"He had no kith nor kin -- or, if he had, I never heard of it But kind of pride queerness name That was what brought us together law at Topeka, and one day I had visit old man, and tickled to death to meet another man own name his pet fad, and dead set out if there were any more Garridebs 'Find me another ! ' said he him busy man and spend my life hiking round the world in search of Garridebs 'None the less,' said he, ' just what do if things pan out as I planned them ' joking, but powerful lot of meaning words, as soon to discover

"For he died within year of saying them, and he left will behind him It queerest will that has ever been filed State of Kansas His property was divided into three parts and one on condition that two Garridebs share the remainder It's five million dollars for each cent, but 't lay finger until we all three stand in row

" so big chance that I just let my legal practice slide and I set forth looking for Garridebs not one United States I went through it, sir, with fine-toothed comb and never Garrideb could I catch Then I tried the old country Sure enough the name London telephone directory I went after him two and explained the whole matter to him But lone man, like myself, with some women relations, but no men It says three adult men will So we still have vacancy, and help it very ready your charges "

"Well, Watson," said Holmes with smile, "l said rather whimsical, did I not ? thought, sir, that your obvious way was to advertise agony columns papers "

" that, Mr Holmes No replies "