May 15, 2025 • 38 mins
Dive into the final volume of Arthur Conan Doyles detective stories, where he bids a heartfelt farewell to his most renowned creation - Sherlock Holmes. These eclectic tales span different stages of Holmess life, including his retirement, and are narrated from varying perspectives, including Watson, Holmes, and an omnipotent narrator. While many stories showcase Holmess famed deductive reasoning, others highlight lesser-known aspects of his character, such as his compassion, empathy, and sense of humor. His rapport with Dr. Watson, while occasionally blunt, is marked by kindness, affection, and professional respect, painting a portrait of a profound and intricate friendship that captivates readers. (Summary by T. A. Copeland).
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Section six of the Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in the
public domain. Read by Thomas Copeland, Story six, The Adventure
of the Three Gerdebs. It may have been a comedy,
or it may have been a tragedy. It cost one
man as reason, it cost me a blood letting, and
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it cost yet another man the penalties of the law.
Yet there was certainly an element of comedy. Well, you
shall judge for yourselves. I remember the date very well,
for it was in the same month that Holmes refused
a knighthood for services which may perhaps some day be described.
I only refer to the matter in passing, for in
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my position of partner and confidante, I am obliged to
be particularly careful to avoid any indiscretion. I repeat, however,
that this enables me to fix the date, which was
the latter end of June nineteen o two, shortly after
the concl illusion of the South African War. Holmes had
spent several days in bed, as was his habit from
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time to time, but he emerged that morning with a
long foolscap document in his hand and a twinkle of
amusement in his austere gray eyes. There is a chance
for you to make some money. Friend Watson, said he,
have you ever heard the name of Geradib? I admitted
that I had not. Well, if you can lay your
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hand upon a Garadib, there's money in it. Why. Ah,
that's a long story, rather a whimsical one too. I
don't think in all our explorations of human complexities, we
have ever come upon anything more singular. The fellow will
be here presently for cross examination, so I won't open
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the matter up until it comes. But meanwhile, that's the
name we want. The telephone directory lay on the table
beside me, and I turned over the pages in a
rather hopeless quest. But to my a maeazement, there was
this strange name in its due place. I gave a
cry of triumph. Here you are Holmes, Here it is Holmes.
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Took the book from my hand geradeb Inn. He read
one thirty six Little Rider Street. W sorry to disappoint you,
my dear Watson, but this is the man himself. That
is the address upon his letter. We want another to
match him. Missus Hudson had come in with her card
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upon a tray. I took it up and glanced at it.
Why here it is, I cried in amazement. This is
a different initial. John GERADEB, Councilor at Law, Mooreville, Kansas, U. S. A.
Holmes smiled as he looked at the card. I am
afraid you must make yet another effort, Watson said. He
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this gentleman is also in the plot already, though I
certainly did not expect to see him this morning. However,
he is in a position to tell us a good deal,
which I want to know. A moment later he was
in the room. Mister John Garadeb, Counselor at Law, was
a short, powerful man with the round, fresh, clean shaven
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face characteristic of so many American men of affairs. The
general effect was chubby and rather childlike, so that one
received the impression of quite a young man with a
broad set smile upon his face. His eyes, however, were arresting.
Seldom in any human head have I seen a pair
which bespoke a more intense inward life. So bright were
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they so alert, so responsive to every change of thought.
His accent was American, but was not accompanied by any
eccentricity of speech. Mister Holmes he asked, glancing from one
to the other. Ah, yes, your pictures are not unlike you, sir,
If I may say so, I believe you have had
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a letter for my namesake, mister Nathan Garadeb, Have you
not pray? Sit down? Said Sherlock Holmes. We shall, I
fancy have a good deal to discuss. He took up
his sheets of foolscap. You are, of course the mister
John Garadeb mentioned in this document. But surely you have
been in England some time. Why do you say that,
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mister Holmes. I seemed to read sudden suspicion in those
expressive eyes. Your whole outfit is English, mister Geradeb forced
to laugh. I've read of your tricks, mister Holmes, but
I never thought I would be the subject of them.
Where do you read that? The shoulder cut of your coat,
the toes of your boots? Could any one doubt it? Well? Well,
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I had no idea. I was so obvious a Britisher.
But business brought me over here some time ago. And
so as you say, my outfit is nearly all London. However,
I guess your time is of value. And we did
not meet to talk about the cut of my socks?
What about getting down to that paper you hold in
your hand? Holmes had in some way ruffled our visitor,
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whose chubby face had assumed a far less amiable expression. Patience, Patience,
mister Garadeb, said my friend, in a soothing voice. Doctor
Watson would tell you that these little digressions of mine
sometimes prove in the end to have some bearing on
the matter. But why did mister Nathan Garredeb not come
with you? Why did he ever drag you into it
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at all? Asked our visitor, with a sudden outflame of anger.
What in thunder had you to do with it? Here
was a bit of professional business between two gentlemen, and
one of them must needs call in a detective. I
saw him this morning and he told me this fool
trick he had played me, and that's why I am here.
But I feel bad about it all the same. There
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was no reflection upon you, mister Garadeb. It was simply
zeal upon his part to gain your end, an end
which is I understand equally vital for both of you.
He knew that I had means of getting information, and
therefore it was very natural that he should apply to
me our visitor's angry face gradually cleared. Well, that puts
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it different, said he. When I went to see him
this morning and he told me he had sent to
a detective. I just asked for your address and came
right away. I don't want police butting into a private matter.
But if you are content just to help us find
the man, there can be no harm in that. Well,
that is just how it stands, said Holmes. And now, sir,
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since you are here, we had best have a clear
account from your own lips. My friend here knows nothing
of the details, mister Garadeb surveyed me, with not too
friendly a gaze. Need he know, he asked, We usually
worked together. Well, there's no reason it should be kept
a secret. I'll give you the facts as short as
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I can make them. If you came from Kansas, I
would not need to explain to you who Alexander Hamilton
Garadeb was. He made his money in a real estate
and afterwards in the wheat pit at Chicago, but he
spent it in buying up as much land as would
make one of your countries. Lying along the Arkansas River
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west of Fort Dodge, its grazing land and lumberland, and
arable land, and mineralized land, and just every sort of
land that brings dollars to the man that owns it.
He had no kith nor kin, or if he had,
I never heard of it. But he took a kind
of pride in the queerness of his name, and that
was what brought us together. I was in the law
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at Topeka, and one day I had a visit from
the old man, and he was tickled to death to
meet another man with his own name. It was his
pet fad, and he was dead set to find out
if there were any more garadevs in the world, find
me another, said he. I told him I was a
busy man and could not spend my life hiking round
the world in search of garadebs. None the less, said he,
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that is just what you will do if things pan
out as I planned them. I thought he was joking,
but there was a powerful lot of meaning in the words,
as I was soon to discover. For he died within
a year of saying them, and he left a will
behind him. It was the queerest will that has ever
been filed in the state of Kansas. His property was
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divided into three parts, and I was to have one
on condition that I found two garadebs who would share
the remainder. It's five million dollars for each if it
is a cent, but we can't lay a finger on
it until we all three stand in a row. It
was so big a chance that I just let my
legal practice slide, and I set forth looking for garadebs.
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There is not one in the United States. I went
through it, sir, with a fine toothed comb, and never
a garadeb could I catch. Then I tried the old country.
Sure enough, there was the name in the London telephone directory.
I went after him two days ago and explained the
whole matter to him. But he is a lone man
like myself, with some women relations but no men. It
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says three adult men in the will. So you see,
we still have a vacancy, and if you can help
to fill it, we will be very ready to pay
your charges. Well, Watson, said Holmes, with a smile. I
said it was rather whimsical, did I not? I should
have thought, sir, that your obvious way was to advertise
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in the agony columns of the papers. I have done that,
mister Holmes, no, replies, dear me. Well, it is certainly
a most curious little problem. I may take a glance
at it in my leisure. By the way, it is
curious that you should have come from Topeka. I used
to have a correspondent. He is dead now, old Lysander Starr,
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who was mayor in eighteen ninety. Good old Star, said
our visitor. His name is still honored. Well, mister Holmes,
I suppose all we can do is to report to
you and let you know how we progress. I reckon
you will hear within a day or two. With this assurance,
our American bowed and departed. Holmes had lit his pipe,
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and he sat for some time with a curious smile
upon his face. Well, I asked at last, I am wondering, Watson,
just wondering at what Holmes took his pipe from his lips.
I was wondering, Watson, what on earth could be the
object of this man in telling us such a rigmarole
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of lives. I nearly asked him so, for there are
times when a brutal, frontal attack is the best policy.
But I judged it better to let him think he
had fooled us. Here is a man with an English
coat freight at the elbow, and trousers bagged at the
knee with a year's wear. And yet by this document
and by his own account, he is a provincial American
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lately landed in London. There have been no advertisements in
the agony columns. You know that I miss nothing there.
They are my favorite covert for putting up a bird,
and I would never have overlooked such a cock pheasant
as that. I never knew a doctor Lysander Starr of Topeka.
Touch him where you would? He is false. I think
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the fellow is really an American, but he has worn
his accent smooth with years of London. What is his game, then,
and what motive lies behind this preposterous search for Garret Evs.
It's worth our attention for granting that the man is
a rascal. He is certainly a complex and ingenious one.
We must now find out of our other correspondent is
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a fraud also adjustering him up, Watson. I did so,
and heard a thin, quavering voice at the other end
of the line. Yes, yes, I am mister Nathan garadab
Is mister Holmes is there? I should very much like
to have a word with mister Holmes. My friend took
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the instrument, and I heard the usual syncopated dialog. Yes,
he has been here. I understand that you don't know him.
How long? Only two days? Yes, yes, of course it
is a most captivating prospect. Will you be at home
this evening? I suppose your namesake will not be there.
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Very good, We will come then, for I would rather
have a chat without him. Doctor Watson will come with me.
I understood from your note that you did not go
out often. Well, we shall be round about six. You
need not mention it to the American lawyer. Very good,
good bye. It was twilight of a lovely spring evening,
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and even Little Rider Street, one of the smaller offshoots
from the Edgeway Road, within a stonecast of old Tyburn
Tree of Evil Memory, looked golden and wonderful in the
slanting rays of the setting sun. The particular house to
which we were directed was a large, old fashioned Early
Georgian edifice with a flat brick face broken only by
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two deep bay windows on the ground floor. It was
on this ground floor that our client lived, and indeed
the low windows proved to be the front of the
huge room in which he spent his waking hours. Holmes
pointed as we passed to the small brass plate which
bore the curious name up some years Watson, he remarked,
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indicating its discolored surface. It's his real name, anyhow, and
that is something to note. The house had a common stare,
and there were a number of names painted in the hall,
some indicating offices and some private chambers. It was not
a collection of residential flats, but rather the abode of
bohemian bachelors. Our client opened the door for us himself
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and apologized by saying that the woman in charge left
at four o'clock. Mister Nathan Garadeb proved to be a
very tall, loose jointed, round backed person, gaunt and bald,
some sixty odd years of age. He had a cadaverous face,
with the dull, dead skin of a man to whom
exercise was unknown. Large round spectacles and a small projecting
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goat's beard combined with his stooping attitude to give him
an expression of peering curiosity. The general effect, however, was amiable,
though eccentric. The room was as curious as its occupant.
It looked like a small museum. It was both broad
and deep, with cupboards and cabinets all round, crowded with specimens,
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geological and anatomical. Cases of butterflies and moths flanked each
side of the entrance. A large table in the center
was littered with all sorts of debris, while the tall
brass tube of a powerful microscope bristled up amongst them.
As I glanced round, I was surprised at the universality
of the man's interests. Here was a case of ancient coins.
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There was a cabinet of flint instruments. Behind his central
table was a large cupboard of fossil bones. Above was
a line of plaster skulls with such names as Neanderthal, Heidelberg,
Chromagnuon printed beneath them. It was clear that he was
a student of many subjects. As he stood in front
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of us. Now he held a piece of chamois leather
in his right hand, with which he was polishing a
coin syrah cusan of the best period, he explained, holding
it up. They degenerated greatly towards the end. At their
best I hold them supreme, though some prefer the Alexandrian school.
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He will find a chair the here, mister Holmes, pray,
allow me to clear these bones, and you sir Ah, Yes,
doctor Watson, if you would have the goodness to put
the Japanese face to one side. You see round me
my little interests in life. My doctor lectures me about
never going out, But why should I go out when
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I have so much to hold me here? I can
assure you that the adequate cataloging of one of these
cabinets would take me three good months. Holmes looked round
him with curiosity. But do tell me you never go out,
he said, now and again, I drive down to Southby's
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or Christie's. Otherwise I very seldom leave my room. I
am not too strong, and my researchers are very absorbing.
But you can imagine, mister Holmes, what a terrific shock,
pleasant but terrific it was for me when I heard
of this and paralleled good fortune. It only needs one
more garadeb to complete the matter, and surely we can
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find one. I had a brother, but he is dead,
and female relatives are disqualified. But there must surely be
others in the world. I had heard that you handled
strange cases, and that was why I sent for you.
Of course, this American gentleman is quite right, and I
should have taken his advice first, but I acted for
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the best. I think you acted very wisely. Indeed, said Holmes,
But are you really anxious to acquire an estate in America?
Certainly not, sir. Nothing would induce me to leave my collection.
But this gentleman has assured me that he will buy
me out as soon as we have established our claim.
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Five million dollars was the sum named. There are a
dozen specimens in the market at the present moment which
fill gaps in my collection, and which I am unable
to purchase for want of a few hundred pounds. Just
think what I could do with five million dollars. Why
I have the nucleus of a national collection. I shall
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be the Hans Sloane of my age. His eyes gleamed
behind his great spectacles. It was very clear that no
pains would be spared by mister Nathan Garadeb in finding
a namesake. I merely called to make your acquaintance, and
there is no reason why I should interrupt your studies,
said Holmes. I prefer to establish personal touch with those
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with whom I do business. There are few questions I
need ask for. I have your very clear narrative in
my pocket, and I filled up the blanks when this
American gentleman called, I understand that up to this week
you were unaware of his existence. That is so he
called last Tuesday. Did he tell you of our interview
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to day? Yes, he came straight back to me. He
had been very angry. Why should he be angry? He
seemed to think it was some reflection on his honor,
But he was quite cheerful again when he returned. Did
he suggest any course of action, No, sir, he did not.
Has he had or asked for any money from you, No, sir, never.
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You see no possible object he has in view, none
except what he states. Did you tell him of our
telephone appointment? Yes, sir, I did. Holmes was lost in thought.
I could see that he was puzzled. Have you any
articles of great value in your collection? No, sir, I
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am not a rich man. It is a good collection,
but not a very valuable one. You have no fear
of burglars, not the least. How long have you been
in these rooms? Nearly five years. Holmes's cross examination was
interrupted by an imperative knocking at the door. No sooner
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had our client unlatched it than the American lawyer burst
excitedly into the room. Here you are, he cried, waving
a paper over his head. I thought I should be
in time to get you, mister Nathan Garadeb. My congratulations.
You are a rich man, sir. Our business is happily
finished and all is well. As to you, mister Holmes,
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we can only say we are sorry if we have
given you any useless trouble. He handed over the paper
to our client, who stood staring at a marked advertisement.
Holmes and I leaned forward and read it over his shoulder.
This is how it ran, Howard Garadeb, constructor of agricultural machinery, binders, reapers,
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steam and hand plows, drills, harrows, farmers, carts, buckboards, and
all other appliances. Estimates for artesian wells apply. Grosvenor Building's
aston glorious, gasped our host. That makes our third man.
I had opened up inquiries in Birmingham, said the American,
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and my agent there has sent me this advertisement from
a local paper. We must hustle and put the thing through.
I have written to this man and told him that
you will see him in his office tomorrow afternoon at
four o'clock. You want me to see him. What do
you say, mister Holmes, don't you think it would be wiser? Here?
Am I wandering American with a wonderful tale? Why should
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be leave what I tell him? But you are a
Britisher with solid references, and he is bound to take
notice of what you say. I would go with you
if you wished, but I have a very busy day tomorrow,
and I could always follow you if you are in
any trouble. Well, I have not made such a journey
for years. It is nothing, mister Geradeb. I have figured
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out your connections. You leave at twelve and should be
there soon after two. Then you can be back the
same night. All you have to do is to see
this man, explain the matter, and get an affidavit of
his existence by the Lord. He added hotly, considering I've
come all the way from the center of America. It
is surely little enough if you go a hundred miles
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in order to put this matter through. Quite so, said Holmes.
I think what this gentleman says is very true. Mister
Nathan Garadem shrugged his shoulders with a disconsolate air. Well,
if you insist, I shall go, said he. It is
certainly hard for me to refuse you anything, considering the
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glory of hope that you have brought into my life.
Then that is agreed, said Holmes, And no doubt you
will let me have a report as soon as you can.
I'll see to that, said the American. Well, he added,
looking at his watch, I'll have to get on. I'll
call to morrow, mister Nathan and see you off to
Birmingham coming my way, mister Holmes, Well then good bye,
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and we may have good news for you tomorrow night.
I noticed that my friend's face cleared when the American
left the room, and the look of thoughtful perplexity had vanished.
I wish I could look over your collection, mister Garadem,
said he. In my profession, all sorts of odd knowledge
comes useful, and this room of yours is a storehouse
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of it. Our client shone with pleasure, and his eyes
gleamed from behind his big glasses. I had always heard, sir,
that you were a very intelligent man, said he. I
could take you round now, if you have the time.
Unfortunately I have not. But these specimens are so well
labeled and classified that they hardly need your personal explanation.
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If I should be able to look in tomorrow. I
presume that there would be no objection to my glancing
over them, none at all. You are most welcome. The
place will of course be shut up. But missus Saunders
is in the basement up to four o'clock and would
let you in with their key. Well, I happen to
be clear tomorrow afternoon. If you would say a word
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to missus Saunders, it would be quite in order. By
the way, who is your house agent? Our client was
amazed at the sudden question. Holloway and Steel in the
Edgeware Road. But why, I am a bit of an
archeologist myself when it comes to houses, said Holmes, laughing.
I was wondering if this was Queen Anne or Georgian.
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Georgian beyond doubt. Really I should have thought a little earlier. However,
it is easily ascertained. Well, good bye, mister garadeb, and
may you have every success in your Birmingham journey. The
house agents was close by, but we found that it
was closed for the day, so we made our way
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back to Baker Street. It was not till after dinner
that Holmes reverted to the subject. Our little problem draws
to a close, said he no doubt you have outlined
the solution in your own mind. I can make neither
head nor tail of it. The head is surely clear enough,
and the tale we should see tomorrow. Did you notice
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nothing curious about that advertisement? Oh? I saw that the
word plow was misspelled? Oh you did notice that? Did
you come, Watson? You improve all the time? Yes, it
was bad English, but good American. The printer had set
it up as received. Then the buckboards that is American also,
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and Artesian wells are commoner with them than with us.
It was a typical American advertisement, but purporting to be
from an English firm. What do you make of that?
I can only suppose that this American lawyer put it
in himself. What his object was I failed to understand. Well,
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there are alternative explanations. Anyhow, he wanted to get this
good old fossil up to Birmingham, that is very clear.
I might have told him that he was clearly going
on a wild goose chase, but on second thoughts, it
seemed better to clear the stage by letting him go
to morrow. Watson, Well, to morrow, we'll speak for itself.
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Holmes was up and out early when he returned at
lunch time. I noticed that his face was very grave.
This is a more serious matter than I had expected,
Watson said he it is fair to tell you so,
though I know it will only be an additional reason
to you for running your head into danger. I should
know my Watson by now. But there is danger, and
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you should know it well. It is not the first
we have shared, Holmes, I hope it may not be
the last. What is the particular danger? This time? We
are up against a very hard case. I have identified
mister John garadeb counselor at law. He is none other
than Killer Evans, of sinister and murderous reputation. I fear
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I am none the wiser. Ah, it is not part
of your profession to carry about a portable newgot calendar
in your memory. I have been down to see friendless
Strade at the yard. There may be an occasional want
of imaginative intuition down there, but they lead the world
for thoroughness and method. I had an idea that we
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might get on the track of our American friend in
their records. Sure enough I found his chubby face smiling
up at me from the Rogue's portrait gallery. James Winter
alias Morecraft, alias Killer Evans was the inscription below. Holmes
drew an envelope from his pocket. I scribbled down a
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few points from his dossier. Aged forty four, native of Chicago,
known to have shot three men in the States, escaped
from penitentiary through political influence, came to London in eighteen
ninety three. A shot a man over cards in a
nightclub in the Waterloo Road in January eighteen ninety five.
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Man died, but he was shown to have been the
aggressor in the row. Dead man was identified as Roger Prescott,
famous as Forger and Corner in Chicago. Killer Evans, released
in nineteen o one, has been under police supervision since,
but so far, as known, has led an honest life.
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A very dangerous man usually carries arms and is prepared
to use them. That is our bird, Watson, A sporting bird,
as you must admit. But what is his game? Well,
it begins to define itself. I have been to the
house agents. Our client, as he told us, has been
there five years. It was unlet for a year before then.
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The previous tenant was a gentleman at large named Waldron.
Waldron's appearance was well remembered at the office. He had
suddenly vanished and nothing more had been heard of him.
He was a tall, bearded man with very dark features.
Now Prescott, the man whom killer Evans had shot, was,
according to Scotland Yard, a tall dark man with a beard.
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As a working hypothesis, I think we may take it
that Prescott, the American criminal used to live in the
very room which our innocent friend now devotes to his museum.
So at last we see a link, you see and
the next link, well, we must go now and look
for that. He took a revolver from the drawer and
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handed it to me. I have my old favorite with me.
If our wild West friend tries to live up to
his nickname, we may be ready for him. I'll give
you an hour for a siesta, Watson, and then I
think it will be time for our riders street adventure.
It was just four o'clock when we reached the curious
apartment of Nathan GARADEB. Missus Saunders, the caretaker, was about
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to leave, but she had no hesitation in admitting us,
for the door shut with a spring lock, and Holmes
promised to see the all was safe before we left.
Shortly afterwards, the outer door closed, her bonnet passed the
bow window, and we knew that we were alone. In
the lower floor of the house. Holmes made a rapid
examination of the premises. There was one cupboard in a
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dark corner which stood out a little from the wall.
It was behind this that we eventually crouched while Holmes,
in a whisper outlined his intentions. He wanted to get
our amiable friend out of his room. That is very clear,
and as the collector never went out, it took some
planning to do it. The whole of this garadab invention
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was apparently for no other end. I must say, Watson,
that there is a certain devilish ingenuity about it, even
if the queer name of the tenant did give him
an opening which he could hardly have expected. He wove
his plot with remarkable cunning. But what did he want? Well,
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that is what we are here to find out. It
has nothing whatever to do with our client, so far
as I can read the situation. It is something connected
with the man he murdered, the man who may have
been his confederate in crime. There is some guilty secret
in the room, that is how I read it. At first,
I thought our friend might have something in his collection
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more valuable than in you, something worth the attention of
a big criminal. But the fact that Roger Prescott of
evil memory inhabited these rooms points to some deeper reason. Well, Watson,
we can but possess our souls of patience and see
what the hour may bring. That hour was not long
(31:43):
in striking. We crouched closer in the shadow as we
heard the outer door open and shut. Then came the
sharp metallic snap of a key, and the American was
in the room. He closed the door softly behind him,
took a sharp glance around him to see that all
was safe, threw off his overcoat and walked up to
the central table with the brisk manner of one who
(32:05):
knows exactly what he has to do and how to
do it. He pushed the table to one side, tore
up the square of carpet on which it rested, rolled
it completely back, and then, drawing a jemmy from his
inside pocket, he knelt down and worked vigorously upon the floor.
Presently we heard the sound of sliding boards, and an
(32:26):
instant later a square had opened in the planks. Killer
Evans struck a match lit a stump of candle and
vanished from our view. Clearly our moment had come. Holmes
touched my wrist as a signal, and together we stole
across to the open trap door. Gently as we moved, However,
(32:47):
the old floor must have creaked under our feet, for
the head of our American, peering anxiously round, emerged suddenly
from the open space. His face turned upon us with
a glare of baffled rage, which gradually softened into a
rather shamefaced grin as he realized that two pistols were
pointed at his head. Well, well, said he coolly, as
(33:09):
he scrambled to the surface. I guess you have been
one too many for me. Mister Holmes saw through my game,
I suppose, and played me for a succor from the
first Well, sir, I handed to you, you have me beat,
And in an instant he had whisked out of revolver
from his breast and had fired two shots. I felt
a sudden hot seer, as if a red hot iron
(33:30):
had been pressed to my thigh. There was a crash
as Holmes's pistol came down on the man's head. I
had a vision of him sprawling upon the floor, with
blood running down his face, while Holmes rummaged him for weapons.
Then my friend's wiry arms were around me, and he
was leading me to a chair. You're not hurt, Watson,
for God's sake, say that you are not hurt. It
(33:52):
was worth a wound, It was worth many wounds to
know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind
that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for
a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the
one and only time, I caught a glimpse of a
great heart as well as of a great brain. All
my years of humble but single minded service culminated in
(34:14):
that moment of revelation. It's nothing, Holmes, It's a mere scratch.
He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket knife.
You are right, he cried, with an immense sigh of relief.
It is quite superficial. His face set like flint as
he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with
a dazed face. By the Lord, it is as well
(34:37):
for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not
have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what
have you to say for yourself? He had nothing to
say for himself. He only lay and scowled. I leaned
on Holmes's arm, and together we looked down into the
small cellar which had been disclosed by the secret flap.
(34:57):
It was still illuminated by the candle, which ever had
taken down with him. Our eyes fell upon a mass
of rusted machinery, the great rolls of paper, a litter
of bottles, and neatly arranged upon a small table, a
number of neat little bundles, a printing press, a counterfeitters outfit,
(35:18):
said Holmes. Yes, sir, said our prisoner, staggering slowly to
his feet, and then sinking into the chair. The greatest
counterfeiter London ever saw. That's Prescott's machine. And those bundles
on the table are two thousand of Prescott's notes, worth
a hundred each, and fit to pass anywhere. Help yourselves, gentlemen,
(35:40):
call it a deal, and let me eat it, Holmes laughed.
We don't do things like that, mister Evans. There is
no bolt hole for you in this country. You shot
this man Prescott, did you not, Yes, sir, and got
five years for it, though it was he who pulled
on me five years when I should have had a
(36:02):
medal the size of a soup plate. No living man
could tell a prescot from a bank of England. And
if I hadn't put him out, he would have flooded
London with them. I was the only one in the
world who knew where he made them? Can you wonder
that I wanted to get to the place? And can
you wonder that when I found this crazy boob of
(36:22):
a bug hunter with the queer name squatting right on
top of it and never quitting his room, I had
to do the best I could to shift him. Maybe
I would have been wiser if I had put him away.
It would have been easy enough. But I'm a soft
hearted guy that can't begin shooting unless the other man
has a gun. Also, But say, mister Holmes, what have
(36:46):
I done wrong anyhow? I've not used this plant, I
have not hurt this old stiff. Where do you get me?
Only attempted murder so far as I can see, said Holmes.
But that's not our job. They take that at the
next stage. What we wanted at present was just your
sweet self. Please give the yard to call Watson. It
(37:08):
won't be entirely unexpected. So those were the facts about
Killer Evans and his remarkable invention of the Three Garadibs.
We heard later that our poor old friend never got
over the shock of his dissipated dreams. When his castle
and the air fell down. It buried him beneath the ruins.
He was last heard of at a nursing home in Brixton.
(37:32):
It was a glad day of the yard when the
Prescott outfit was discovered, for though they knew that it existed,
they had never been able after the death of the
man to find out where it was. Evans had indeed
done great service and caused several worthy c. I d.
Men to sleep the sounder, for the counterfeiter stands in
a class by himself as a public danger. They would
(37:53):
willingly have subscribed to that soup plate metal of which
the criminal had spoken, But an unappreciative took a less
favorable view, and the killer returned to those shades from
which he had just emerged. End of the Adventure of
the Three Garadebs.
Section six of the Case Book of Sherlock Holmes by
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in the
public domain. Read by Thomas Copeland, Story six, The Adventure
of the Three Gerdebs. It may have been a comedy,
or it may have been a tragedy. It cost one
man as reason, it cost me a blood letting, and
(00:23):
it cost yet another man the penalties of the law.
Yet there was certainly an element of comedy. Well, you
shall judge for yourselves. I remember the date very well,
for it was in the same month that Holmes refused
a knighthood for services which may perhaps some day be described.
I only refer to the matter in passing, for in
(00:44):
my position of partner and confidante, I am obliged to
be particularly careful to avoid any indiscretion. I repeat, however,
that this enables me to fix the date, which was
the latter end of June nineteen o two, shortly after
the concl illusion of the South African War. Holmes had
spent several days in bed, as was his habit from
(01:06):
time to time, but he emerged that morning with a
long foolscap document in his hand and a twinkle of
amusement in his austere gray eyes. There is a chance
for you to make some money. Friend Watson, said he,
have you ever heard the name of Geradib? I admitted
that I had not. Well, if you can lay your
(01:27):
hand upon a Garadib, there's money in it. Why. Ah,
that's a long story, rather a whimsical one too. I
don't think in all our explorations of human complexities, we
have ever come upon anything more singular. The fellow will
be here presently for cross examination, so I won't open
(01:47):
the matter up until it comes. But meanwhile, that's the
name we want. The telephone directory lay on the table
beside me, and I turned over the pages in a
rather hopeless quest. But to my a maeazement, there was
this strange name in its due place. I gave a
cry of triumph. Here you are Holmes, Here it is Holmes.
(02:09):
Took the book from my hand geradeb Inn. He read
one thirty six Little Rider Street. W sorry to disappoint you,
my dear Watson, but this is the man himself. That
is the address upon his letter. We want another to
match him. Missus Hudson had come in with her card
(02:30):
upon a tray. I took it up and glanced at it.
Why here it is, I cried in amazement. This is
a different initial. John GERADEB, Councilor at Law, Mooreville, Kansas, U. S. A.
Holmes smiled as he looked at the card. I am
afraid you must make yet another effort, Watson said. He
(02:50):
this gentleman is also in the plot already, though I
certainly did not expect to see him this morning. However,
he is in a position to tell us a good deal,
which I want to know. A moment later he was
in the room. Mister John Garadeb, Counselor at Law, was
a short, powerful man with the round, fresh, clean shaven
(03:12):
face characteristic of so many American men of affairs. The
general effect was chubby and rather childlike, so that one
received the impression of quite a young man with a
broad set smile upon his face. His eyes, however, were arresting.
Seldom in any human head have I seen a pair
which bespoke a more intense inward life. So bright were
(03:35):
they so alert, so responsive to every change of thought.
His accent was American, but was not accompanied by any
eccentricity of speech. Mister Holmes he asked, glancing from one
to the other. Ah, yes, your pictures are not unlike you, sir,
If I may say so, I believe you have had
(03:56):
a letter for my namesake, mister Nathan Garadeb, Have you
not pray? Sit down? Said Sherlock Holmes. We shall, I
fancy have a good deal to discuss. He took up
his sheets of foolscap. You are, of course the mister
John Garadeb mentioned in this document. But surely you have
been in England some time. Why do you say that,
(04:18):
mister Holmes. I seemed to read sudden suspicion in those
expressive eyes. Your whole outfit is English, mister Geradeb forced
to laugh. I've read of your tricks, mister Holmes, but
I never thought I would be the subject of them.
Where do you read that? The shoulder cut of your coat,
the toes of your boots? Could any one doubt it? Well? Well,
(04:42):
I had no idea. I was so obvious a Britisher.
But business brought me over here some time ago. And
so as you say, my outfit is nearly all London. However,
I guess your time is of value. And we did
not meet to talk about the cut of my socks?
What about getting down to that paper you hold in
your hand? Holmes had in some way ruffled our visitor,
(05:05):
whose chubby face had assumed a far less amiable expression. Patience, Patience,
mister Garadeb, said my friend, in a soothing voice. Doctor
Watson would tell you that these little digressions of mine
sometimes prove in the end to have some bearing on
the matter. But why did mister Nathan Garredeb not come
with you? Why did he ever drag you into it
(05:28):
at all? Asked our visitor, with a sudden outflame of anger.
What in thunder had you to do with it? Here
was a bit of professional business between two gentlemen, and
one of them must needs call in a detective. I
saw him this morning and he told me this fool
trick he had played me, and that's why I am here.
But I feel bad about it all the same. There
(05:49):
was no reflection upon you, mister Garadeb. It was simply
zeal upon his part to gain your end, an end
which is I understand equally vital for both of you.
He knew that I had means of getting information, and
therefore it was very natural that he should apply to
me our visitor's angry face gradually cleared. Well, that puts
(06:12):
it different, said he. When I went to see him
this morning and he told me he had sent to
a detective. I just asked for your address and came
right away. I don't want police butting into a private matter.
But if you are content just to help us find
the man, there can be no harm in that. Well,
that is just how it stands, said Holmes. And now, sir,
(06:36):
since you are here, we had best have a clear
account from your own lips. My friend here knows nothing
of the details, mister Garadeb surveyed me, with not too
friendly a gaze. Need he know, he asked, We usually
worked together. Well, there's no reason it should be kept
a secret. I'll give you the facts as short as
(06:58):
I can make them. If you came from Kansas, I
would not need to explain to you who Alexander Hamilton
Garadeb was. He made his money in a real estate
and afterwards in the wheat pit at Chicago, but he
spent it in buying up as much land as would
make one of your countries. Lying along the Arkansas River
(07:18):
west of Fort Dodge, its grazing land and lumberland, and
arable land, and mineralized land, and just every sort of
land that brings dollars to the man that owns it.
He had no kith nor kin, or if he had,
I never heard of it. But he took a kind
of pride in the queerness of his name, and that
was what brought us together. I was in the law
(07:40):
at Topeka, and one day I had a visit from
the old man, and he was tickled to death to
meet another man with his own name. It was his
pet fad, and he was dead set to find out
if there were any more garadevs in the world, find
me another, said he. I told him I was a
busy man and could not spend my life hiking round
the world in search of garadebs. None the less, said he,
(08:04):
that is just what you will do if things pan
out as I planned them. I thought he was joking,
but there was a powerful lot of meaning in the words,
as I was soon to discover. For he died within
a year of saying them, and he left a will
behind him. It was the queerest will that has ever
been filed in the state of Kansas. His property was
(08:26):
divided into three parts, and I was to have one
on condition that I found two garadebs who would share
the remainder. It's five million dollars for each if it
is a cent, but we can't lay a finger on
it until we all three stand in a row. It
was so big a chance that I just let my
legal practice slide, and I set forth looking for garadebs.
(08:49):
There is not one in the United States. I went
through it, sir, with a fine toothed comb, and never
a garadeb could I catch. Then I tried the old country.
Sure enough, there was the name in the London telephone directory.
I went after him two days ago and explained the
whole matter to him. But he is a lone man
like myself, with some women relations but no men. It
(09:12):
says three adult men in the will. So you see,
we still have a vacancy, and if you can help
to fill it, we will be very ready to pay
your charges. Well, Watson, said Holmes, with a smile. I
said it was rather whimsical, did I not? I should
have thought, sir, that your obvious way was to advertise
(09:32):
in the agony columns of the papers. I have done that,
mister Holmes, no, replies, dear me. Well, it is certainly
a most curious little problem. I may take a glance
at it in my leisure. By the way, it is
curious that you should have come from Topeka. I used
to have a correspondent. He is dead now, old Lysander Starr,
(09:55):
who was mayor in eighteen ninety. Good old Star, said
our visitor. His name is still honored. Well, mister Holmes,
I suppose all we can do is to report to
you and let you know how we progress. I reckon
you will hear within a day or two. With this assurance,
our American bowed and departed. Holmes had lit his pipe,
(10:17):
and he sat for some time with a curious smile
upon his face. Well, I asked at last, I am wondering, Watson,
just wondering at what Holmes took his pipe from his lips.
I was wondering, Watson, what on earth could be the
object of this man in telling us such a rigmarole
(10:39):
of lives. I nearly asked him so, for there are
times when a brutal, frontal attack is the best policy.
But I judged it better to let him think he
had fooled us. Here is a man with an English
coat freight at the elbow, and trousers bagged at the
knee with a year's wear. And yet by this document
and by his own account, he is a provincial American
(11:01):
lately landed in London. There have been no advertisements in
the agony columns. You know that I miss nothing there.
They are my favorite covert for putting up a bird,
and I would never have overlooked such a cock pheasant
as that. I never knew a doctor Lysander Starr of Topeka.
Touch him where you would? He is false. I think
(11:23):
the fellow is really an American, but he has worn
his accent smooth with years of London. What is his game, then,
and what motive lies behind this preposterous search for Garret Evs.
It's worth our attention for granting that the man is
a rascal. He is certainly a complex and ingenious one.
We must now find out of our other correspondent is
(11:46):
a fraud also adjustering him up, Watson. I did so,
and heard a thin, quavering voice at the other end
of the line. Yes, yes, I am mister Nathan garadab
Is mister Holmes is there? I should very much like
to have a word with mister Holmes. My friend took
(12:06):
the instrument, and I heard the usual syncopated dialog. Yes,
he has been here. I understand that you don't know him.
How long? Only two days? Yes, yes, of course it
is a most captivating prospect. Will you be at home
this evening? I suppose your namesake will not be there.
(12:28):
Very good, We will come then, for I would rather
have a chat without him. Doctor Watson will come with me.
I understood from your note that you did not go
out often. Well, we shall be round about six. You
need not mention it to the American lawyer. Very good,
good bye. It was twilight of a lovely spring evening,
(12:52):
and even Little Rider Street, one of the smaller offshoots
from the Edgeway Road, within a stonecast of old Tyburn
Tree of Evil Memory, looked golden and wonderful in the
slanting rays of the setting sun. The particular house to
which we were directed was a large, old fashioned Early
Georgian edifice with a flat brick face broken only by
(13:13):
two deep bay windows on the ground floor. It was
on this ground floor that our client lived, and indeed
the low windows proved to be the front of the
huge room in which he spent his waking hours. Holmes
pointed as we passed to the small brass plate which
bore the curious name up some years Watson, he remarked,
(13:35):
indicating its discolored surface. It's his real name, anyhow, and
that is something to note. The house had a common stare,
and there were a number of names painted in the hall,
some indicating offices and some private chambers. It was not
a collection of residential flats, but rather the abode of
bohemian bachelors. Our client opened the door for us himself
(13:59):
and apologized by saying that the woman in charge left
at four o'clock. Mister Nathan Garadeb proved to be a
very tall, loose jointed, round backed person, gaunt and bald,
some sixty odd years of age. He had a cadaverous face,
with the dull, dead skin of a man to whom
exercise was unknown. Large round spectacles and a small projecting
(14:24):
goat's beard combined with his stooping attitude to give him
an expression of peering curiosity. The general effect, however, was amiable,
though eccentric. The room was as curious as its occupant.
It looked like a small museum. It was both broad
and deep, with cupboards and cabinets all round, crowded with specimens,
(14:46):
geological and anatomical. Cases of butterflies and moths flanked each
side of the entrance. A large table in the center
was littered with all sorts of debris, while the tall
brass tube of a powerful microscope bristled up amongst them.
As I glanced round, I was surprised at the universality
of the man's interests. Here was a case of ancient coins.
(15:10):
There was a cabinet of flint instruments. Behind his central
table was a large cupboard of fossil bones. Above was
a line of plaster skulls with such names as Neanderthal, Heidelberg,
Chromagnuon printed beneath them. It was clear that he was
a student of many subjects. As he stood in front
(15:30):
of us. Now he held a piece of chamois leather
in his right hand, with which he was polishing a
coin syrah cusan of the best period, he explained, holding
it up. They degenerated greatly towards the end. At their
best I hold them supreme, though some prefer the Alexandrian school.
(15:51):
He will find a chair the here, mister Holmes, pray,
allow me to clear these bones, and you sir Ah, Yes,
doctor Watson, if you would have the goodness to put
the Japanese face to one side. You see round me
my little interests in life. My doctor lectures me about
never going out, But why should I go out when
(16:11):
I have so much to hold me here? I can
assure you that the adequate cataloging of one of these
cabinets would take me three good months. Holmes looked round
him with curiosity. But do tell me you never go out,
he said, now and again, I drive down to Southby's
(16:32):
or Christie's. Otherwise I very seldom leave my room. I
am not too strong, and my researchers are very absorbing.
But you can imagine, mister Holmes, what a terrific shock,
pleasant but terrific it was for me when I heard
of this and paralleled good fortune. It only needs one
more garadeb to complete the matter, and surely we can
(16:55):
find one. I had a brother, but he is dead,
and female relatives are disqualified. But there must surely be
others in the world. I had heard that you handled
strange cases, and that was why I sent for you.
Of course, this American gentleman is quite right, and I
should have taken his advice first, but I acted for
(17:15):
the best. I think you acted very wisely. Indeed, said Holmes,
But are you really anxious to acquire an estate in America?
Certainly not, sir. Nothing would induce me to leave my collection.
But this gentleman has assured me that he will buy
me out as soon as we have established our claim.
(17:37):
Five million dollars was the sum named. There are a
dozen specimens in the market at the present moment which
fill gaps in my collection, and which I am unable
to purchase for want of a few hundred pounds. Just
think what I could do with five million dollars. Why
I have the nucleus of a national collection. I shall
(17:58):
be the Hans Sloane of my age. His eyes gleamed
behind his great spectacles. It was very clear that no
pains would be spared by mister Nathan Garadeb in finding
a namesake. I merely called to make your acquaintance, and
there is no reason why I should interrupt your studies,
said Holmes. I prefer to establish personal touch with those
(18:21):
with whom I do business. There are few questions I
need ask for. I have your very clear narrative in
my pocket, and I filled up the blanks when this
American gentleman called, I understand that up to this week
you were unaware of his existence. That is so he
called last Tuesday. Did he tell you of our interview
(18:41):
to day? Yes, he came straight back to me. He
had been very angry. Why should he be angry? He
seemed to think it was some reflection on his honor,
But he was quite cheerful again when he returned. Did
he suggest any course of action, No, sir, he did not.
Has he had or asked for any money from you, No, sir, never.
(19:08):
You see no possible object he has in view, none
except what he states. Did you tell him of our
telephone appointment? Yes, sir, I did. Holmes was lost in thought.
I could see that he was puzzled. Have you any
articles of great value in your collection? No, sir, I
(19:30):
am not a rich man. It is a good collection,
but not a very valuable one. You have no fear
of burglars, not the least. How long have you been
in these rooms? Nearly five years. Holmes's cross examination was
interrupted by an imperative knocking at the door. No sooner
(19:51):
had our client unlatched it than the American lawyer burst
excitedly into the room. Here you are, he cried, waving
a paper over his head. I thought I should be
in time to get you, mister Nathan Garadeb. My congratulations.
You are a rich man, sir. Our business is happily
finished and all is well. As to you, mister Holmes,
(20:12):
we can only say we are sorry if we have
given you any useless trouble. He handed over the paper
to our client, who stood staring at a marked advertisement.
Holmes and I leaned forward and read it over his shoulder.
This is how it ran, Howard Garadeb, constructor of agricultural machinery, binders, reapers,
(20:33):
steam and hand plows, drills, harrows, farmers, carts, buckboards, and
all other appliances. Estimates for artesian wells apply. Grosvenor Building's
aston glorious, gasped our host. That makes our third man.
I had opened up inquiries in Birmingham, said the American,
(20:55):
and my agent there has sent me this advertisement from
a local paper. We must hustle and put the thing through.
I have written to this man and told him that
you will see him in his office tomorrow afternoon at
four o'clock. You want me to see him. What do
you say, mister Holmes, don't you think it would be wiser? Here?
Am I wandering American with a wonderful tale? Why should
(21:17):
be leave what I tell him? But you are a
Britisher with solid references, and he is bound to take
notice of what you say. I would go with you
if you wished, but I have a very busy day tomorrow,
and I could always follow you if you are in
any trouble. Well, I have not made such a journey
for years. It is nothing, mister Geradeb. I have figured
(21:40):
out your connections. You leave at twelve and should be
there soon after two. Then you can be back the
same night. All you have to do is to see
this man, explain the matter, and get an affidavit of
his existence by the Lord. He added hotly, considering I've
come all the way from the center of America. It
is surely little enough if you go a hundred miles
(22:01):
in order to put this matter through. Quite so, said Holmes.
I think what this gentleman says is very true. Mister
Nathan Garadem shrugged his shoulders with a disconsolate air. Well,
if you insist, I shall go, said he. It is
certainly hard for me to refuse you anything, considering the
(22:21):
glory of hope that you have brought into my life.
Then that is agreed, said Holmes, And no doubt you
will let me have a report as soon as you can.
I'll see to that, said the American. Well, he added,
looking at his watch, I'll have to get on. I'll
call to morrow, mister Nathan and see you off to
Birmingham coming my way, mister Holmes, Well then good bye,
(22:45):
and we may have good news for you tomorrow night.
I noticed that my friend's face cleared when the American
left the room, and the look of thoughtful perplexity had vanished.
I wish I could look over your collection, mister Garadem,
said he. In my profession, all sorts of odd knowledge
comes useful, and this room of yours is a storehouse
(23:07):
of it. Our client shone with pleasure, and his eyes
gleamed from behind his big glasses. I had always heard, sir,
that you were a very intelligent man, said he. I
could take you round now, if you have the time.
Unfortunately I have not. But these specimens are so well
labeled and classified that they hardly need your personal explanation.
(23:30):
If I should be able to look in tomorrow. I
presume that there would be no objection to my glancing
over them, none at all. You are most welcome. The
place will of course be shut up. But missus Saunders
is in the basement up to four o'clock and would
let you in with their key. Well, I happen to
be clear tomorrow afternoon. If you would say a word
(23:52):
to missus Saunders, it would be quite in order. By
the way, who is your house agent? Our client was
amazed at the sudden question. Holloway and Steel in the
Edgeware Road. But why, I am a bit of an
archeologist myself when it comes to houses, said Holmes, laughing.
I was wondering if this was Queen Anne or Georgian.
(24:16):
Georgian beyond doubt. Really I should have thought a little earlier. However,
it is easily ascertained. Well, good bye, mister garadeb, and
may you have every success in your Birmingham journey. The
house agents was close by, but we found that it
was closed for the day, so we made our way
(24:36):
back to Baker Street. It was not till after dinner
that Holmes reverted to the subject. Our little problem draws
to a close, said he no doubt you have outlined
the solution in your own mind. I can make neither
head nor tail of it. The head is surely clear enough,
and the tale we should see tomorrow. Did you notice
(24:58):
nothing curious about that advertisement? Oh? I saw that the
word plow was misspelled? Oh you did notice that? Did
you come, Watson? You improve all the time? Yes, it
was bad English, but good American. The printer had set
it up as received. Then the buckboards that is American also,
(25:23):
and Artesian wells are commoner with them than with us.
It was a typical American advertisement, but purporting to be
from an English firm. What do you make of that?
I can only suppose that this American lawyer put it
in himself. What his object was I failed to understand. Well,
(25:44):
there are alternative explanations. Anyhow, he wanted to get this
good old fossil up to Birmingham, that is very clear.
I might have told him that he was clearly going
on a wild goose chase, but on second thoughts, it
seemed better to clear the stage by letting him go
to morrow. Watson, Well, to morrow, we'll speak for itself.
(26:08):
Holmes was up and out early when he returned at
lunch time. I noticed that his face was very grave.
This is a more serious matter than I had expected,
Watson said he it is fair to tell you so,
though I know it will only be an additional reason
to you for running your head into danger. I should
know my Watson by now. But there is danger, and
(26:31):
you should know it well. It is not the first
we have shared, Holmes, I hope it may not be
the last. What is the particular danger? This time? We
are up against a very hard case. I have identified
mister John garadeb counselor at law. He is none other
than Killer Evans, of sinister and murderous reputation. I fear
(26:55):
I am none the wiser. Ah, it is not part
of your profession to carry about a portable newgot calendar
in your memory. I have been down to see friendless
Strade at the yard. There may be an occasional want
of imaginative intuition down there, but they lead the world
for thoroughness and method. I had an idea that we
(27:16):
might get on the track of our American friend in
their records. Sure enough I found his chubby face smiling
up at me from the Rogue's portrait gallery. James Winter
alias Morecraft, alias Killer Evans was the inscription below. Holmes
drew an envelope from his pocket. I scribbled down a
(27:36):
few points from his dossier. Aged forty four, native of Chicago,
known to have shot three men in the States, escaped
from penitentiary through political influence, came to London in eighteen
ninety three. A shot a man over cards in a
nightclub in the Waterloo Road in January eighteen ninety five.
(27:58):
Man died, but he was shown to have been the
aggressor in the row. Dead man was identified as Roger Prescott,
famous as Forger and Corner in Chicago. Killer Evans, released
in nineteen o one, has been under police supervision since,
but so far, as known, has led an honest life.
(28:19):
A very dangerous man usually carries arms and is prepared
to use them. That is our bird, Watson, A sporting bird,
as you must admit. But what is his game? Well,
it begins to define itself. I have been to the
house agents. Our client, as he told us, has been
there five years. It was unlet for a year before then.
(28:42):
The previous tenant was a gentleman at large named Waldron.
Waldron's appearance was well remembered at the office. He had
suddenly vanished and nothing more had been heard of him.
He was a tall, bearded man with very dark features.
Now Prescott, the man whom killer Evans had shot, was,
according to Scotland Yard, a tall dark man with a beard.
(29:05):
As a working hypothesis, I think we may take it
that Prescott, the American criminal used to live in the
very room which our innocent friend now devotes to his museum.
So at last we see a link, you see and
the next link, well, we must go now and look
for that. He took a revolver from the drawer and
(29:28):
handed it to me. I have my old favorite with me.
If our wild West friend tries to live up to
his nickname, we may be ready for him. I'll give
you an hour for a siesta, Watson, and then I
think it will be time for our riders street adventure.
It was just four o'clock when we reached the curious
apartment of Nathan GARADEB. Missus Saunders, the caretaker, was about
(29:52):
to leave, but she had no hesitation in admitting us,
for the door shut with a spring lock, and Holmes
promised to see the all was safe before we left.
Shortly afterwards, the outer door closed, her bonnet passed the
bow window, and we knew that we were alone. In
the lower floor of the house. Holmes made a rapid
examination of the premises. There was one cupboard in a
(30:16):
dark corner which stood out a little from the wall.
It was behind this that we eventually crouched while Holmes,
in a whisper outlined his intentions. He wanted to get
our amiable friend out of his room. That is very clear,
and as the collector never went out, it took some
planning to do it. The whole of this garadab invention
(30:39):
was apparently for no other end. I must say, Watson,
that there is a certain devilish ingenuity about it, even
if the queer name of the tenant did give him
an opening which he could hardly have expected. He wove
his plot with remarkable cunning. But what did he want? Well,
(31:00):
that is what we are here to find out. It
has nothing whatever to do with our client, so far
as I can read the situation. It is something connected
with the man he murdered, the man who may have
been his confederate in crime. There is some guilty secret
in the room, that is how I read it. At first,
I thought our friend might have something in his collection
(31:22):
more valuable than in you, something worth the attention of
a big criminal. But the fact that Roger Prescott of
evil memory inhabited these rooms points to some deeper reason. Well, Watson,
we can but possess our souls of patience and see
what the hour may bring. That hour was not long
(31:43):
in striking. We crouched closer in the shadow as we
heard the outer door open and shut. Then came the
sharp metallic snap of a key, and the American was
in the room. He closed the door softly behind him,
took a sharp glance around him to see that all
was safe, threw off his overcoat and walked up to
the central table with the brisk manner of one who
(32:05):
knows exactly what he has to do and how to
do it. He pushed the table to one side, tore
up the square of carpet on which it rested, rolled
it completely back, and then, drawing a jemmy from his
inside pocket, he knelt down and worked vigorously upon the floor.
Presently we heard the sound of sliding boards, and an
(32:26):
instant later a square had opened in the planks. Killer
Evans struck a match lit a stump of candle and
vanished from our view. Clearly our moment had come. Holmes
touched my wrist as a signal, and together we stole
across to the open trap door. Gently as we moved, However,
(32:47):
the old floor must have creaked under our feet, for
the head of our American, peering anxiously round, emerged suddenly
from the open space. His face turned upon us with
a glare of baffled rage, which gradually softened into a
rather shamefaced grin as he realized that two pistols were
pointed at his head. Well, well, said he coolly, as
(33:09):
he scrambled to the surface. I guess you have been
one too many for me. Mister Holmes saw through my game,
I suppose, and played me for a succor from the
first Well, sir, I handed to you, you have me beat,
And in an instant he had whisked out of revolver
from his breast and had fired two shots. I felt
a sudden hot seer, as if a red hot iron
(33:30):
had been pressed to my thigh. There was a crash
as Holmes's pistol came down on the man's head. I
had a vision of him sprawling upon the floor, with
blood running down his face, while Holmes rummaged him for weapons.
Then my friend's wiry arms were around me, and he
was leading me to a chair. You're not hurt, Watson,
for God's sake, say that you are not hurt. It
(33:52):
was worth a wound, It was worth many wounds to
know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind
that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for
a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the
one and only time, I caught a glimpse of a
great heart as well as of a great brain. All
my years of humble but single minded service culminated in
(34:14):
that moment of revelation. It's nothing, Holmes, It's a mere scratch.
He had ripped up my trousers with his pocket knife.
You are right, he cried, with an immense sigh of relief.
It is quite superficial. His face set like flint as
he glared at our prisoner, who was sitting up with
a dazed face. By the Lord, it is as well
(34:37):
for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not
have got out of this room alive. Now, sir, what
have you to say for yourself? He had nothing to
say for himself. He only lay and scowled. I leaned
on Holmes's arm, and together we looked down into the
small cellar which had been disclosed by the secret flap.
(34:57):
It was still illuminated by the candle, which ever had
taken down with him. Our eyes fell upon a mass
of rusted machinery, the great rolls of paper, a litter
of bottles, and neatly arranged upon a small table, a
number of neat little bundles, a printing press, a counterfeitters outfit,
(35:18):
said Holmes. Yes, sir, said our prisoner, staggering slowly to
his feet, and then sinking into the chair. The greatest
counterfeiter London ever saw. That's Prescott's machine. And those bundles
on the table are two thousand of Prescott's notes, worth
a hundred each, and fit to pass anywhere. Help yourselves, gentlemen,
(35:40):
call it a deal, and let me eat it, Holmes laughed.
We don't do things like that, mister Evans. There is
no bolt hole for you in this country. You shot
this man Prescott, did you not, Yes, sir, and got
five years for it, though it was he who pulled
on me five years when I should have had a
(36:02):
medal the size of a soup plate. No living man
could tell a prescot from a bank of England. And
if I hadn't put him out, he would have flooded
London with them. I was the only one in the
world who knew where he made them? Can you wonder
that I wanted to get to the place? And can
you wonder that when I found this crazy boob of
(36:22):
a bug hunter with the queer name squatting right on
top of it and never quitting his room, I had
to do the best I could to shift him. Maybe
I would have been wiser if I had put him away.
It would have been easy enough. But I'm a soft
hearted guy that can't begin shooting unless the other man
has a gun. Also, But say, mister Holmes, what have
(36:46):
I done wrong anyhow? I've not used this plant, I
have not hurt this old stiff. Where do you get me?
Only attempted murder so far as I can see, said Holmes.
But that's not our job. They take that at the
next stage. What we wanted at present was just your
sweet self. Please give the yard to call Watson. It
(37:08):
won't be entirely unexpected. So those were the facts about
Killer Evans and his remarkable invention of the Three Garadibs.
We heard later that our poor old friend never got
over the shock of his dissipated dreams. When his castle
and the air fell down. It buried him beneath the ruins.
He was last heard of at a nursing home in Brixton.
(37:32):
It was a glad day of the yard when the
Prescott outfit was discovered, for though they knew that it existed,
they had never been able after the death of the
man to find out where it was. Evans had indeed
done great service and caused several worthy c. I d.
Men to sleep the sounder, for the counterfeiter stands in
a class by himself as a public danger. They would
(37:53):
willingly have subscribed to that soup plate metal of which
the criminal had spoken, But an unappreciative took a less
favorable view, and the killer returned to those shades from
which he had just emerged. End of the Adventure of
the Three Garadebs.
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