Central High School - Almanac Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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The Tanjora Diamond. A Tale of Myltery, involving some Incidents in the Life of the Late Mr. Sherlock Holmes. BY WILLIAM HOYT WORRELL. C H A P T E R I . Was a cold stormy night in December, rough and blustry Without, but cheery enough in the pleasant room Where I sat reading. I was the guest of Mr. Sherlock I-Iolmes, and had been for a Week previous, and as may be Well understood, I Was delighted at the opportunity of enjoying the hospitality of so noted a personage and incidentally of making a study of his remarkable talents. We had met by chance in a corner of the depot and, contrary to the custom of many great men, he recognized me, for I had been an old pupil of his in a public school Which he had taught in the earlier portion of his checkered career. Several days had passed and I Was growing quite famil- iar' with the quaint habits and conversation of this remark- able man. On the particular evening of Which I am speaking We sat back to back, each buried mentally in his book, and physically in the great embracing back and arms of his comfortable chair. My host had not spoken a Word-he never did When reading-but I had noticed a continual and ever increasing air of unrest about him which I knew would require some satisfaction, either in the excitement of a problem to be solved, or, as was more likely, in his hypo- dermic syringe. He arose abruptly, passing over to the mantle, he picked up a small jar-like bottle, removed the

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the Cuban girls, while their assistants, Miss Grofts and Miss Buell, offer such suggestions as may seem fitting. An addition to this scene, is a group of Cuban girls grown neat and even beautiful under such surroundings. Through the dim shadows of the fast fading scene, appears a very lovely home on the banks of the Rhine. On the vine-covered porch is a form with a face as sweet and modest as in her school days, and as her husband, the physician to the Emperor, appears, a lovely smile over-spreads her features and I recognize Ida Moring. With the passing of this scene, I realize that I have witnessed the last of my dear school companions. Once more the room is enveloped in total darkness, leaving only the blue vapor slowly fading away. Once more my prophet, Mephisto, appears to me, then, with a hideous laugh, disappears from sight and with that terrible sound still ringing in my ears, I awake to con- sciousness, to find that the clock has just tolled the hour of one, and that in one short hour I have passed through many experiences, which can never be forgotten. ewes, , w w va I egjfagf - fray 'IQ'-M .p p R

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cork, and took out a portion of the pearly contents upon a spoon. This he carefully heated over the gas flame for a moment, and then nlled the little syringe by drawing the piston back. Rolling up his sleeve he stuck the needle-like point just under the skin, and then down Went the piston- and it was done. After this apparently simple proceeding, I noticed an immediate and decided change in the appearance and man- ner of Mr. Holmes. His eyes became bright, his color heightened, his whole personality seemed re-enforced and intensified, and he talked rapidly and brilliantly upon a variety of subjects, darting here and there but always alighting upon something fresh and novel and delivering it in his own facinating manner. Suddenly-very suddenly indeed-Mr.Holmes arose and went to the window. H That was a stupid thing for me to do,', he said, tak- ing that morphinefi I mentally agreed with him. I might have known beforej' he continued, that I would have something to do tonight and could very well do without itf' What is it, I asked, a case? Yes, a case-a casef' Then rapidly and more to him- selt than to me, he continued: Ten-thirty-Collingwood and Monroe-horses tearing like fury-Twenty-second- Twenty-hrst-Twentieth-Nineteenth-Eighteenth-Jeffer- son-Madison - after a pause - Thirteenth-Twelth- Eleventh- Tenth- Michigan-Ontario-Erie -Huron -Su- periori'-then after a long pause- Cherry-Locust-Elm -don't you hear them? I listened for a moment, No, I said. '4Hade, he called out, a visitor. The stalwart porter, who never hurried, passed along the hallway to the door. At that moment I heard a clatter of hoofs, the whoan of a driver, a sharp slam, and then a