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out if there were any more Garridebs 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 Garridebs。 'None the
less；' said he； '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 divided into three parts； and I was to have
one on condition that I found two Garridebs 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 Garridebs。 There is not one in the
United States。 I went through it； sir； with a fine…toothed comb and
never a Garrideb 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 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 in the agony columns of the papers。〃
〃I have done that； Mr。 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 Dr。 Lysander Starr； who was mayor in 1890。〃
〃Good old Dr。 Starr！〃 said our visitor。 〃His name is still honoured。
Well； Mr。 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； and he sat for some time with a curious
smile upon his face。
〃Well？〃 I asked at last。
〃I a 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 of lies。 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 frayed 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 lately landed in London。
There have； been no advertisements in the agony columns。 You know that
I miss nothing there。 They are my favourite covert for putting up a
bird； and I would never have overlooked such a cock pheasant as
that。 I never knew a Dr。 Lysander Starr； of Topeka。 Touch him where
you would he was false。 I think 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
Garridebs？ 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 if our other correspondent is a fraud also。 Just ring him up；
Watson。〃
I did so； and heard a thin； quavering voice at the other end of
the line。
〃Yes； yes； I am Mr。 Nathan Garrideb。 Is Mr。 Holmes there？ I should
very much like to have a word with Mr。 Holmes。〃
My friend took the instrument and I heard the usual syncopated
dialogue。
〃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？。。。 Very good； we will come then； for I
would rather have a chat without him。。。。 Dr。 Watson will come with
me。。。。 I understand 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； and even Little Ryder
Street； one of the smaller offshoots from the Edgware Road； within a
stone…cast 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 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； indicating its discoloured
surface。 〃It's his real name； anyhow； and that is something to note。〃
The house had a common stair； 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
and apologized by saying that the woman in charge left at four
o'clock。 Mr。 Nathan Garrideb 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 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； geological and anatomical。 Cases of
butterflies and moths flanked each side of the entrance。 A large table
in the centre was littered with all sorts of debris； while the tall
brass tube of a powerful microscope bristled up among them。 As I
glanced round I was surprised at the universality of the man's
interests。 Here was a case of ancient coins。 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；〃 〃Cro…Magnon〃 printed beneath them。 It was
clear that he was a student of many subjects。 As he stood in front
of us now； he held a piece of chamois leather in his right hand with
which he was polishing a coin。
〃Syracusan… of the best period；〃 he explained； bolding it up。
〃They degenerated greatly towards the end。 At their best I hold them
supreme； though some prefer the Alexandrian school。 You will find a
chair here； Mr。 Holmes。 Pray allow me to