Category: Guest Authors

The detective raised a hand but not an eye while scanning hungrily over the remainder of the doctors notes which read:

Mr. Adams and the 2nd Stenographer are leaders of the young unmarried set

The Janitor, a miser, has occupied the attic of the firm since boyhood

Miss. Hill looks forward to lunching with the president of the Y.U.S.

The fashionable Teller is the son-in-law of the 1st Stenographer.

Mr. Jones secretly gives his discarded clothing to the elderly Bookkeeper Evans

“I have them all and I have the key to unlock the door,”

“We make for Mr. Adams residence”

Holmes devoured the good Doctors notes in two gulps punctuated by a single question of clarification. First section read:

The President’s neighbors are Mrs. Kane, Mr. Grant and Mr. Long.

Mrs. Brown and the Assistant Teller dislike the President’s pampered grandson the 3rd Vice President.

The Assistant Teller and the 2nd Stenographer’s father just passed away

Mr. Grant told Miss. Hill to send him a Stenographer.

The 1st Vice President and Cashier live at the exclusive Bachelor’s Club.

“Watson was there anything said about a failed engagement?”

“Yes, between the 2nd Vice President and the Bookkeeper.

“How did you ….”

“We are too late Holmes all have gone.”

“But the one who is most informative remains. I want you to inquire about local lodgings of the night maid. Be sure to inform her of your profession Take note of everything she says about the firm Make sure to ask no question during your time with her. Off you go gentle Angle of Healing.”

An hour later ….

“The only way I could pry myself from that woman was with a liberal amount of laudanum. But as requested here are 10 references she made as to the goings-on at the firm.

“I’ve arranged passage on the Sloop Noval Joe. She sails in the morn …. But first.”

“The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards is up to some unsavory business. What do you know brother?”

“That the King’s protection is with them

so tread lightly, where we can not tread.

“So you need information?

“And you need a 12 knot vessel

to make the channel crossing.”

“I promise little and most likely will deliver less”

“Humility suites you ill.

“What suit would?”

“Spades”

“Tell the boys in back this is not going to go well.”

“It never does. Goodbye Sherlock”

From pinprick of light to steam belching leviathan the train came to a rest just before the detective. A door opened, the two travelers entered. Down the tracks a switch pulled to the hard left. Slowly the train followed a course through a valley few eyes had seen. Within two miles the train was moving at an alarming speed, but this was unnoticeable to the occupants, who were already is deep discussion with Mycroft himself.

“You live brother, is this your seventh of eight?”

“I’ve lost track sometime ago. I need to be in Paris before the Easter bureaucratic ellipses.”

Watson thought a moment. He knew he had seen that number while tramping about in the woods for quail. But it hadn’t seemed very important.

“10DS it returns to Dorshire Summers.”

“Think Watson 10 D S the single more important place in the Umpire.

“Downing Street, are you telling me the PM has a private train that runs at his pleasure four times a day?”

“Money well spent, more that a war and revolution has been curtailed because of that train. Now it will serve both our needs and the Umpire, for this affair is like a dark curtain descending.

“The cottage we abide was once Mycroft’s”

“But Mycroft never leaves his club.”

“Not noticed. He came often to meet with a close ring of men who have like cottages through out this village. These men were called the Shadows of the Crown. They maintained a direct route to London.”

At that moment the hackney arrived at the crossing, a distance whistle sounded, Holmes jumped from the carriage, pulled a heavy iron lever buried in the under brush.

Nearly a mile down the tracks a 20 foot red star appeared.

“Haven’t you wondered at the number designation of the train?”

“This is troubling Holmes, how did you know I was dipping into your …. Never mind I hear Mr. Zackman horses.”

“And I have both our day bags. Ready to the crossroads.”

The doctor had always wondered why Holmes had moved to such a seemingly remote part of the midlands. Oddly his friend always found the statement amusing and the slightest curve at the corner of this mouth would betray to only the most intimate of his acquaintances this fact.

“It is time dear friend to let you in on state secrets.”

This is not good thought the doctor.

Mycroft

Holmes pocketed the ribbon, bent to observer the Turk’s index finger. A noticeable stain of tobacco, a mix well known to the detective, his. Straight as an arrow Holmes flew through the door to the oak at the fence. At its base was the remains of the Turkish cigarette.

Carefully lifting it with tweezers one gentle sniff told the tale of the Turk. His end was for lack of knowledge for his employers failed to reveal that the tobacco to be place in the home of the beekeeper was laced with poison

“One gram of tobacco would hardly be missed.”