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A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA ? llj Sir A. Cimim Doyle. w To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other ' name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All > emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. lie ^ was, 1 take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen; but as a lover, he would have played himself in a false position. He never spoke of the soft er passions, save with a gi.be and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer?excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions. 'Hut for the trained reasonor to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory. 1 had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the home-centered interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment, w'ere sufficient to absorb all my attention; while Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his whole Bohemian soul remained in our lodgings in Haker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition, tlie drowsiness of the drug and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He "was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following out those clews, and clearing up the mysteries, which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to time I heard some vague account of his doings; of his summons to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at TriiKvomalee, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of activity, however, which I merely shared with all the readers of the dally press, 1 knew little of my former friend and companion. One night?it was on the 2 0th of March, 1888?1 was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. His rooms were brilliantly lighted, and even as I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest, and his hands clasped behind him. To me. who know his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his drug-created dreams, and was hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the hell, and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part of my own. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I think to see me. With hardly a word spoken, hut with a kindly eye, ho waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he stood before the fire, and looked me over in his singular fashion. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Seven," I answered. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I oibserve. You did not tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Then how do you know?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?" "My dear Holmes," said T, "this is too much. You would certainly ' have been burned had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful mess: but as I have changed my clothes, I can't imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has given her notice; hut there again T fail to see how you work it out." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long nervous hands tagether. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the inside y of your left shoe, Just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have been caused, by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove rusted mud from it. Hence, you see. my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather. and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slicking specimen of tHo London slavey. As to your practice. it' a gentleman walks into my rooms, smelling of iodoform., with a black mark of nitrate of silver upon his right linger, and a bulge on the side of his tophat to show where he has secreted bis stethoscope, I must be dull indeed if I do not pronounce him to be an active member of the medical profession." 1 could not help laughing at the pfl.RA wttll wfltfftl lio ov?1oln?#l l.l? ? .. .. mm > vit uv VA|/UlIli< U 1 1 1 D I cess of deduction. "When I hear you give your reason," 1 remarked, "the tlii 11 k always appears to me so ridiculously simple that I could esaily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning 1 am baffled. until you explain your process. And yet. I believe that my eyes are as good as yours." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. The distinction Is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." " Frequently." "How often?" "Well, some hundreds of times." "Then how many are there?" "How many? 1 don't know." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you hare seen. That is ;ust my point. Now, 1 know there are seventeen steps, because T have both soon and observed. Hv the way, since you are interested in these little problems, and since you are good enough to chronicle one or two of my 4 ..till ? inning experiences, you may be interested in this." Ho throw over a sheet, of thick pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "It came by the last post," said lie. "Head it aloud." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all quarters received, lie in your chamber, then, at that hour, apd do not take it amiss if your visitc* wears a mask." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that it means?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself?what do you deduce from it?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was written. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, endeavoring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff." "Peculiar?that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." I did so and saw a large "E" with a small "g", a "P" and a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "The name of the maker, no J 1 i . v mmui, or nis monogram, rather." "Not all. Tho 'G' with the small 't' stands for 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company'. It is a customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for 'Papier'. Now for the 'Eg'. Let us glance at our 'Continental Gazetteer'." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Kglow, Eglonitz ?here we are, Egrla. It is a German-speaking country?in TVohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous glass factories and paper mills.' 11a! ha! my boy, what do you make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. I>o you note tho peculiar construction of the sentence?'This account of you we have from all quarters received'? A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that? It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," ho continued, glancing out of the window. "A nice little brougham and n r\t ..11 ? ? ?? ? !' v?i ucauuub, a nundred and fifty guineas a piece. There's money in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "I think I had better go. Holmes." "Not a bit, doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell. And this promises to be inter esting. It would bo a pity to miss it." "Hut your client " "Never mind him. I want your help, and so may ho. Hero ho comes. Sit down in that armchair, doctor, and give us your best attention." A slow and heavy step, which had been upon the stairs and in the passago, paused Immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap. "Come in!" said Holmes. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, )\i\ lnnl/ml in\A?? o #? ? ?? < ^ ? A * i ? I/V lvvnru ii I'V/il <10 cirvill IU U(UI U191U. Heavy bands of astrakham were slashed across tlie sleeves and front of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown ovtr his shoulders was lined with flame-colored silk, and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a singlo flaming beryl, lloots which extended half-way up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a broad-brimmed bat in bi< hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a biaek visard-mask, which ho had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin, suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "You had my note?" he asked, with a deep, harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address. "Pray take a set," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague. Doctor Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honor to address?" "You may address me as the Count von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. i understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honor and discretion, whom 1 may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." The count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then 1 must begin," said he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years, at the end of that time the matter will he of no importance. At present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight that it may have an influence upon European history." "I promise," said Holmes. "And I." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own." "I was aware of it," said Holmes, dryly. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal, and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Hohemia." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his armchair, and closing his eyes. Our visitor danced wHVi or, ** r . - CJJ, parent surprise at the languid, lounging figure of the man who had been, no doubt, depicted to him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic client. "If your majesty would condescend to state your case," he remarked, "I would be better able to advise you." The man sprung from his chair, and paced up and down the room in uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You are right," he cried, "I am the king. Why should I attempt to conceal it?" "Why, Indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your majesty had not spoken before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond vom Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Folstoin, and hereditary King of Bohemia." "Rut you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high, white forehead, "you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. 1 have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known adventuress Irene Adler. The name is no dou'bt familiar to you." "Knly look her up in my Index, doctor," murmured Holmes, without opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system for docketing H M iliilf I JJSTkiV CJt MONT ENEQTS INS INTC CJCUIAkl II I Some of the first photographs brought to America of the fall of Sc utari, which was captures! at so great a loss hy King Nicholas of Mooter <>, arc shown above. The formality of the actual surrender, will h is pictured, took p'a< e in tho old Yeiieii..n ? i;.i '.el. (in the | richt is Prince li.ii'ilo <>f M*>nteMe;.'ro , uu ilit? icfi i^>.ui I aclia, \s 1m co.n 1 tn.iuihd I lie Turkish tro ,ps ai';er the iiimkIi'I' of llassiMi I'i a lie v. The other I>i lure shows (lie l'ori.rd e i.r of the >i >nieiie^rhis in S utari. I'liey :i?c in:ir< hiug over the hritlce \\ h 'i s'vins file Ihiyauu iiiu! eoiiiHv4sTarn bosh with the buKimr. The bullilhiM '' "e buck? givmul was used as a h spit.il. !** -WteWKiiM.MmnuMttMrjtiOfcCijw 1 Jsli figm j and loved ones should he pro aches and pains by always ha NOAH'S LINIMENT?the B NOAH'S LINIMENT is fc external application. Absolut made ifi a modern laboratory z as a physician's prescription. NOAH'S LINIMENT doe; ammonia, alcohol, naptha, ben is an excellent remedy for rheu backache, neuralgia, strains, spra and side, sore feet, etc. Peuetr rn hhi lur NOAH'S LINIMENT Is one throat, coughs, colds, colic and ci sugar will usually relievo those toothache there Is nothing bottorapplied externally. Look for Noah's Ark?tradeago; beware of substitutes. NOAH'S LINIMENT Is sold tlxe cities and out in the country. $1.00 a bottle. Send for booklet Noah Remedy Co., Inc., Rlcl all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it, was difficult to I name a subject or a person on which he could not at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography sandwiched in between that of a '] Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff- 1 commander who had written a mono- 1 graph upon the deep-sea fishes. ? "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! * Horn in New Jersey in the year 1858. Contralto?hum! La Scala?hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera of Warsaw?yes! Retired from operatic I stage?ha! Living in London?quite so! Your majesty, as I understand, 1 became entangled with this your person, wrote her some compromising I letters, and is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Precisely so. Hut how " "Was there a secret marriage?" "None." ^ "No legal papers or certificates?" * "None." "Then I fail to follow your rnajes- c ty. If this young person should pro ..w. iuucid iur mat-miianing or otlier purposes, how is she to prove ' their authenticity?" P "There is the writing-" "Pooh-pooh! Forgery." t "My private note-paper." ( "Stolen." "My own seal." "Imitated." v "My photograph." () "Thought." n "We were both in the photograph." "Oh, dear! That is very had. Your n majesty has indeed committe<l an indiscretion." v "T was mad?insane.' "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I was only crown prince then. I w was young. I am but thirty now." b "It must be recovered." T "We have tried and failed." SCUTARI AND ENTI |imrc ' 'v ' ' *T? V'"V -?,i :' -o--'*" f % ' v v ' ' '* * ., ; ''vV^.^K ?'?- - ... . s . V * >W^% ifv~* - ' i * - , v J , ; r .,;.. 1' e < gpggjffiSr. v rOi^MALI TY Oh 1Mb AC I U/ KVMMMitt/MWIMMMMaMMMmMHMMBnimBB iliHl 4wl^^ "S^i .ESKisisI tected from the every-day ving on hand a bottle of est i'ain Remedy. ** >r internal uses as well as for ely pure and clean to use, md compounded as carefully > not contain any chloroform, zinc or poisonous drugs. Liniment imatism, lameness, stiff Joints, ins, cuts, bruises, pains in chest ates and requires very little of the host remedies for sore ramps. A few drops on a little i troubles Immediately. For ?a little on cotton in cavity and mark-?on every genuine packby all dealers In medicines In In three sizes, at 25c, 50c and s and testimonials, kmond, Va. iSfb aflB "Your majesty must pay. It m >e bought." "She will not sell." "Stolen, then." "Five attempts have been ma Twice burglars in my pay ransacl ior house. Once we diverted 1 uggage when she traveled. Tw die lias been waylaid. There 1 >eeii no result." "No sign of it?" "Absolutely none." Holmes laughed. "It is quite >retty little problem," said he. "But a very serious one to me," urned the king, reproachfully. "Very, indeed. And what does i iropose to do with the photograpl "To ruin me." "Hut how?" "I am about to be married." "So I have heard." "To Clotilde Both man von Sa delningen, second daughter of i <ing of Scandinavia. You may kn ho strict principles of her fami >he is herself the very soul of d< acy. A shadow of a doubt as to onduct would bring the matter to n d." "And Irene Adler?" "Threatens to send them the pi ograph. And she will do it. I kn hat she will do it. You do not km ler, but she has a soul of steel. S ias the face of the most beautiful .omen and the mind of the most r< lute of men. Rather than I slioi larry another woman, there are mgths to which sho would not go one." "You are sure she has not sent et?" "I am sure." "And why?" "Recause she has said that s -ould send it on the day when t etrothal was publicly proclaimc hat will be next Monday." "Oh, then we have three days yet fly OF THE VICTORS. 1 i . . ".K'J BUI - ';- 1. '; i . ",. '. V, " '?? ? #< ?#! %'' *<# ;W/ T * ?'* 'tV* V ''f*f * < / / , - y. * *** ^ y \ * > , < - / \t~liuftw nut to (ji scuta: ; i i ?n i in m m im ii??| \ l''or Itkru mallum ?ud Iniralol* ?"1 havu be*.*ii using Noah s uiiiiiient for morn than a > < ?u\ and tind It the b? st 1 havn ever trb-d for rheumatism, neuralgia and at) ucht a and pains of any kind."? Mrs. A M I>oyl0t Bivhmund, va For told* n it d llimrni-uoiKtr "Noah'a Lininu m (illicitly relieves colds and hoarseness, and I hav< carried a boll It* with me for yearo In travnllri' T. Burton. W11 huii, N. C. % loi Uacki. .?? nn?l slllt .loinla. "1 have used Noah's Liniment for backache and stiff joints and pains, and find It to bo the best liniment 1 ever used."?Mrs. Sanic I'ounn. Ldgar, Va. I<'ur rain Following t'hill*.? "My little Kin was suffering with chills and for the pain following I us d Noah's Liniment, and it gave Instant relief."?A. 11. Clrecu wood. Richmond, Va. 1 For Sore Feet.?"Suffering; for a month with rheumatism in my ankle, Instep and toes, I commenced to use Noah's Liniment, and my foot has Improved wonderfully, and can now walk with v. r> little inconvenience."?C. A. dames, Portsmouth, Va. For I'nln In the flack.? "1 suffered dreadfully for ten years with ta I us In back. Iauis than half a ?. ottle of Noah's Uniment made ft perfect cure."?Mra J. U Bll 11 ii ley. Point Bias tern, Va. jl. ^ r I KMHb JBBBHL JB33W | u st said Holmes, with a yawn. "That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your majesty will, (le. of course, stay in London for tho ced present?" her | "Certainly. You will find me at ice the Langham, under the name of tho nas Count von Kramm." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Pray do so; I shall be all anxiety." ? a "Then, as to money?" "You have carte blanche." re- "Absolutely?" "I tell you that I would give one of she the provinces of my kingdom to have l?" that photograph." "And for present expenses?" The king took a heavy chamois leather hag from under his cloaH, and laid it on the table, xe- "There are three hundred pounds . the | in gold and seven hundred in notes," ow he said. Ily. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sM- sheet of his note-book, and handed it my j to him. an | "And mademoiselle's address?" ho ' asked. "Is Hrlony Ixulge, Serpetine Av^ 1o- nue. St. John's Wood." ow Holmes took a note of it. "Ono ow other question." said he. thoughtful ue ly. vv as tne photograph a cabinet?" of "It was." ps- "Then, good-night, your majesty, lid and I trust that we shall soon havo no ! some good news for you. And gooU?-J night, Watson," he added, as tho i wheels of the royal brougham rolled, it' down the street. "If you will be good I enough to call to-morrow afternoon, < at three o'clock, I should like to chat j this little matter over with you." he (To .bo continued.) he ? id. Senator LaFollette seems to be a hypocrite when it comes to tariff reform. i .j