I
Itwasadulldayatthechancellery。HisExcellencytheAmericanAmbassadorwasabsentinScotland，unveilingabusttoBobbyBurns，paidforbythenumerousloversofthatpoetinPittsburg;theFirstSecretarywasabsentatAldershot，observingashambattle;
theMilitaryAttachewasabsentattheCrystalPalace，watchingafoot—ballmatch;theNavalAttachewasabsentattheDukeofDeptford’s，shootingpheasants;andattheEmbassy，theSecondSecretary，havinglunchedleisurelyattheArtz，wasnowalone，butpreparedwithhislifetoprotectAmericaninterests。Accordingly，ontheconditionthatthestoryshouldnotbetracedbacktohim，hehadjustconfidedaStatesecrettohisyoungfriend，AustinFord，theLondoncorrespondentoftheNewYorkREPUBLIC。
\"Iwillcableit，\"Fordreassuredhim，\"ascomingfromaHungariandiplomat，temporarilyresidinginBloomsbury，whileenroutetohispostinPatagonia。Inthatshape，notevenyourastutechiefwillsuspectitsrealsource。AndfurtherfromthetruththanthatI
refusetogo。\"
\"WhatIdroppedintoask，\"hecontinued，\"iswhethertheEnglisharegoingtosendoverapoloteamnextsummertotrytobringbackthecup？\"
\"I’veseveralotheritemsofinterest，\"suggestedtheSecretary。
\"Theweek—endpartiestowhichyouhavebeeninvited，\"Fordobjected，\"canwait。Tellmefirstwhatchancethereisforaninternationalpolomatch。\"
\"Polo，\"sententiouslybegantheSecondSecretary，whohimselfwasacrackerjackatthegame，\"isapropositionofponies！Mencanbetrainedforpolo。Butpoloponiesmustbeborn。Withoutgoodponies\"
James，thepagewhoguardedtheouterwalls，ofthechancellery，appearedinthedoorway。
\"Please，Sir，aperson，\"heannounced，withanotefortheAmbassadorsaysit’simportant。\"
\"Tellhimtoleaveit，saidtheSecretary。\"Poloponies\"
\"Yes，Sir，\"interruptedthepage。\"But’ewon’tleaveit，notunlesshekeepsthe’arf—crown。\"
\"ForHeaven’ssake！\"protestedtheSecondSecretary，\"thenlethimkeepthehalf—crown。WhenIsaypoloponies，Idon’tmean\"
James，althoughalarmedathisowntemerity，refusedtoacceptthedismissal。\"But，please，Sir，\"hebegged;\"Ithinkthe’arf—crownisfortheAmbassador。\"
Theastonisheddiplomatgazedwithopeneyes。
\"Youthink——WHAT！\"heexclaimed。
James，uponthedefensive，explainedbreathlessly。
\"Because，Sir，\"hestammered，\"itwasINSIDEthenotewhenitwasthrownoutofthewindow。\"
Fordhadbeensprawlinginasoftleatherchairinfrontoftheopenfire。Withtheprivilegeofanoldschool—fellowandcollegeclassmate，hebadbeenjabbingthesoftcoalwithhiswalking—stick，causingittoburstintotinyflames。Hiscigarettedroopedfromhislips，hishatwascockedoveroneeye;hewasapictureofindifference，merginguponboredom。Butatthewordsoftheboyhisattitudebothofmindandbodyunderwentaninstantchange。Itwasasthoughhewereanactor，andthewords\"thrownfromthewindow\"werehiscue。Itwasasthoughhewereadozingfox—terrier，andthevoiceofhismasterhadwhisperedinhisear:
Sick’em！\"
Foramoment，withbenignreproach，theSecondSecretaryregardedtheunhappypage，andthenaddressedhimwithlaborioussarcasm。
\"James，\"hesaid，\"peopledonotcommunicatewithambassadorsinnoteswrappedaroundhalf—crownsandhurledfromwindows。Thatisthewayonecorrespondswithanorgan—grinder。\"Fordsprangtohisfeet。
\"Andmeanwhile，\"heexclaimedangrily，\"themanwillgetaway。\"
Withoutseekingpermission，heranpastJames，andthroughtheemptyouteroffices。Intwominuteshereturned，herdingbeforehimanindividual，seedyandsoiled。Inappearancethemansuggestedthatinlifehisplacewastosupportasandwich—board。FordreluctantlyrelinquishedhisholduponafoldedpaperwhichhelaidinfrontoftheSecretary。
\"Thisman，\"heexplained，\"pickedthatoutofthegutterinSowellStreet，It’snotaddressedtoanyone，soyoureadit！\"
IthoughtitwasfortheAmbassador！\"saidtheSecretary。
Thesoiledpersoncougheddeprecatingly，andpointedadirtydigitatthepaper。\"Ontheinside，\"hesuggested。Thepaperwaswrappedaroundahalf—crownandfoldedinateachend。Thediplomatopenedithesitatingly，buthavingreadwhatwaswritten，laughed。
\"There’snothinginTHAT，\"heexclaimed。HepassedthenotetoFord。Thereporterfelluponiteagerly。
Thenotewaswritteninpencilonanunruledpieceofwhitepaper。
Thehandwritingwasthatofawoman。WhatFordreadwas:
\"Iamaprisonerinthestreetonwhichthispaperisfound。Thehousefaceseast。IthinkIamonthetopstory。Iwasbroughtherethreeweeksago。Theyaretryingtokillme。Myuncle，CharlesRalphPearsall，isdoingthistogetmymoney。HeisatGerridge’sHotelinCravenStreet，Strand。HewilltellyouIaminsane。MynameisDosiaPearsallDale。MyhomeisatDalesville，Kentucky，U。
S。A。Everybodyknowsmethere，andknowsIamnotinsane。IfyouwouldsavealifetakethisatoncetotheAmericanEmbassy，ortoScotlandYard。ForGod’ssake，helpme。\"
Whenhehadreadthenote，Fordcontinuetostudyit。Untilhewasquitesurehisvoicewouldnotbetrayhisinterest，hedidnotraisehiseyes。
\"Why，\"heasked，\"didyousaythatthere’snothinginthis？\"
\"Because，\"returnedthediplomatconclusively，\"wegotanotelikethat，ornearlylikeit，aweekago，and\"
Fordcouldnotrestrainagroan。\"Andyounevertoldme！\"
\"Therewasn’tanythingtotell，\"protestedthediplomat。\"Wehandeditovertothepolice，andtheyreportedtherewasnothinginit。
Theycouldn’tfindthemanatthathotel，and，ofcourse，theycouldn’tfindthehousewithnomoretogoonthan\"
\"Andso，\"exclaimedFordrudely，\"theydecidedtherewasnoman，andnohouse！\"
\"Theirtheory，\"continuedtheSecretarypatiently，\"isthatthegirlisconfinedinoneofthenumerousprivatesanatoriumsinSowellStreet，thatsheisinsane，thatbecauseshe’sunderrestraintsheIMAGINESthenursesaretryingtokillherandthatherrelativesareafterhermoney。Insanepeoplearealwaysthinkingthat。It’saverycommondelusion。\"
Ford’seyeswereshiningwithawickedjoy。\"So，\"heaskedindifferently，\"youdon’tintendtodoanythingfurther？\"
\"Whatdoyouwantustodo？\"criedhisfriend。\"Ringeverydoor—bellinSowellStreetandasktheparlor—maidifthey’remurderingaladyonthetopstory？\"
\"CanIkeepthepaper？\"demandedFord。\"Youcankeepacopyofit，\"
consentedtheSecretary。\"Butifyouthinkyou’reonthetrackofabignewspapersensation，Icantellyounowyou’renot。That’stheworkofacrazywoman，orit’sahoax。Youamateurdetectives\"
Fordwasalreadyseatedatthetable，scribblingacopyofthemessage，andmakingmarginalnotes。
\"WhobroughttheFIRSTpaper？\"heinterrupted。
\"Ahansom—cabdriver。\"
\"WhatbecameofHIM？\"snappedtheamateurdetective。
TheSecretarylookedinquiringlyatJames。\"Hedroveaway，\"saidJames。
\"Hedroveaway，didhe？\"’roaredFord。\"Andthatwasaweekago！Yegods！WhataboutDalesville，Kentucky？Didyoucableanyonethere？\"
Thedignityofthediplomatwasbecomingruffled。
\"Wedidnot！\"heanswered。\"Ifitwasn’ttruethatherunclewasatthathotel，itwasprobablyequallyuntruethatshehadfriendsinAmerica。\"
\"But，\"retortedhisfriend，\"youdidn’tforgettocabletheStateDepartmentthatyouallwentinyoureveningclothestobowtothenewKing？Youdidn’tneglecttocablethat，didyou？\"
\"TheStateDepartment，\"returnedtheSecretary，withwitheringreproof，\"doesnotexpectustocrawlovertheroofsofhousesandspydownchimneystoseeifbyanychanceanAmericancitizenisbeingmurdered。\"
\"Well，\"exclaimedFord，leapingtohisfeetandplacinghisnotesinhispocket，\"fortunately，mypaperexpectsmetodojustthat，andifitdidn’t，I’ddoitanyway。AndthatisexactlywhatIamgoingtodonow！Don’ttelltheothersintheEmbassy，and，forHeaven’ssake，don’ttellthepolice。Jimmy，getmeataxi。Andyou，\"hecommanded，pointingattheonewhohadbroughtthenote，arecomingwithmetoSowellStreet，toshowmewhereyoupickedupthatpaper。\"
OnthewaytoSowellStreetFordstoppedatanewspaperagency，andpaidfortheinsertionthatafternoonofthesameadvertisementinthreenewspapers。Itread:\"Ifhansom—cabdriverwholastweekcarriednote，foundinstreet，toAmericanEmbassywillmailhisaddresstoX。X。X。，careofGLOBE，hewillberewarded。\"
Fromthenearestpost—officehesenttohispaperthefollowingcable:\"Queryourlocalcorrespondent，Dalesville，Kentucky，concerningDosiaPearsallDale。Issheofsoundmind，issheheiress。Whocontrolshermoney，whatherbusinessrelationswithheruncleCharlesRalphPearsall，whatherpresentaddress。Ifanyquestions，sayinquiriescomefromsolicitorsofEnglishmanwhowantstomarryher。Rushanswer。
SowellStreetisadark，dirtylittlethoroughfare，runningforonlyoneblock，paralleltoHarleyStreet。Likeit，itisdecoratedwiththebrassplatesofphysiciansandtheredlampsofsurgeons，but，justasthemedicalmeninHarleyStreet，inkeepingwiththatthoroughfare，arebroad，open，andwithnothingtoconceal，sothoseofSowellStreet，liketheirhiding—place，shrinkfromobservation，andtheirlivesareassombre，secret，anddarkasthestreetitself。
WithintwoturnsofitForddismissedthetaxicab。Givingthesoiledpersonahalf—smokedcigarette，hetoldhimtowalkthroughSowellStreet，andwhenhereachedtheplacewherehehadpickedupthepaper，todropthecigaretteasnearthatspotaspossible。HethenwastoturnintoWeymouthStreetandwaituntilFordjoinedhim。AtadistanceoffiftyfeetFordfollowedtheman，andsawhim，wheninthemiddleoftheblock，withoutapparenthesitation，dropthecigarette。Thehouseinfrontofwhichitfellwasmarked，likemanyothers，bythebrassplateofadoctor。AsFordpassedithehitthecigarettewithhiswalking—stick，anddroveitintoanarea。Whenheovertooktheman，Fordhandedhimanothercigarette。
\"Tomakesure，\"hesaid，C4gobackand\"dropthisintheplaceyoufoundthepaper。Foramomentthemanhesitated。
\"Imightaswelltellyou，\"Fordcontinued，\"thatIknockedthatlastcigarettesofarfromwhereyoudroppeditthatyouwon’tbeabletouseitasaguide。So，ifyoudon’treallyknowwhereyoufoundthepaper，you’llsavemytimebysayingso。\"Insteadofbeingconfusedbythetest，themanwasamusedbyit。Helaughedappreciativelyadmitted。\"You’vecaughtmeoutfair，governor，\"\"I
Wantthe’arf—crown，andIdroppedthecigaretteasneartheplaceasIcould。ButIcan’tdoitagain。Itwasthisway，\"heexplained。\"Iwasn’ttakingnoticeofthehouses。Iwaswalkingalonglookingintothegutterforstumps。Iseethispaperwrappedaboutsomethinground。’It’sacopper，’Ithinks，’juckedoutofawindertoaorgan—grinder。’Isnatchesit，andruns。Ididn’ttakenotimetolookatthehouses。Butitwasn’tsofarfromwhereI
showedyou;aboutthemiddlehouseinthestreetandontheleft’andside。\"
Fordhadneverconsideredthemanasaseriouselementintheproblem。Hebelievedhimtoknowaslittleofthematterasheprofessedtoknow。Butitwasessentialheshouldkeepthatlittletohimself。
\"Noonewillpayyoufortalking，\"Fordpointedout，\"andI’llpayyoutokeepquiet。So，ifyousaynothingconcerningthatnote，attheendoftwoweeks，I’llleavetwopoundsforyouwithJames，attheEmbassy。\"
Theman，whobelievedFordtobeanagentofthepolice，wasonlytoohappytoescapeonsucheasyterms。AfterFordhadgivenhimapoundonaccount，theyparted。
FromWimpoleStreettheamateurdetectivewenttothenearestpublictelephoneandcalledupGerridge’sHotel。HeconsideredhisfirststepshouldbetodiscoverifMr。Pearsallwasatthathotel，orhadeverstoppedthere。Whenthe’phonewasanswered，herequestedthatamessagebedeliveredtoMr。Pearsall。
\"Pleasetellhim，\"heasked，\"thattheclothesheorderedarereadytotryon。\"
Hewasinformedthatnoonebythatnamewasatthehotel。InavoiceofconcernFordbeggedtoknowwhenMr。Pearsallhadgoneaway，andhadheleftanyaddress。
Hewaswithyouthreeweeksago，\"Fordinsisted。\"He’sanAmericangentleman，andtherewasaladywithhim。Sheorderedariding—habitofus:thesametimehewasmeasuredforhisclothes。\"
Afterashortdelay，thevoicefromthehotelrepliedthatnooneofthenameofPearsallhadbeenatthehotelthatwinter。
InapparentgreatdisgustFordrangoff，andtookataxicabtohisroomsinJermynStreet。Therehepackedasuit—caseanddrovetoGerridge’s。Itwasaquiet，respectable，\"old—established\"houseinCravenStreet，athoroughfarealmostentirelygivenovertosmallfamilyhotelsmuchfrequentedbyAmericans。
Afterhehadregisteredandhadlefthisbaginhisroom，Fordreturnedtotheoffice，andinanassuredmanneraskedthatacardonwhichhehadwritten\"HenryW。Page，Dalesville，Kentucky，\"
shouldbetakentoMr。Pearsall。
Inatoneofobviousannoyancetheproprietorreturnedthecard，sayingthattherewasnooneofthatnameinthehotel，andaddedthatnosuchpersonhadeverstoppedthere。Fordexpressedtheliveliestdistress。
\"HeTOLDmeI’dfindhimhere，\"heprotested。，\"heandhisniece。\"
WiththegarrulousnessoftheAmericanabroad，heconfidedhistroublestotheentirestaffofthehotel。\"We’refromthesametown，\"heexplained。\"That’swhyImustseehim。He’stheonlymaninLondonIknow，andI’vespentallmymoney。Hesaidhe’dgivemesomeheowesme，assoonasIreachedLondon。IfIcan’tgetit，I’llhavetogohomebyWednesday’ssteamer。And，complainedbitterly，\"Ihaven’tseenthenortheTower，norWestminsterAbbey。\"
Inamoment，Ford’sanxietytomeetMr。Pearsallwasapparentlylostinawaveofself—pity。Inhisdisappointmentheappealing，patheticfigure。
Realdetectivesandrivalnewspapermen，evenwhiletheyadmittedFordobtainedfactsthatweredeniedthem，claimedthattheyweregivenhimfromcharity。Wheretheybullied，browbeat，andadministeredathirddegree，Fordwasembarrassed，deprecatory，anearnest，ingenuous，wide—eyedchild。Whathecalledhis\"working\"
smilebeggedofyounottobecrosswithhim。Hissimplicitywasapparentlysohopeless，hisconfidenceinwhomeverheaddressedsocomplete，thatofteneventhemanhewaspursuingfeltforhimapityingcontempt。Nowashestooduncertainlyinthehallofthehotel，hishelplessnessmovedtheproudladyclerktoshakehercylindersoffalsehairsympathetically，theGermanwaiterstoregardhispredicamentwithrespect;eventheproprietor，Mr。
Gerridgehimself，wasillatease。Fordreturnedtohisroom，onthesecondfloorofthehotel，andsatdownontheedgeofthebed。
InconnectingPearsallwithGerridge’s，boththepoliceandhimselfhadfailed。Ofthistherewerethreepossibleexplanations:thatthegirlwhowrotetheletterwasinerror，thattheletterwasahoax，thattheproprietorofthehotel，forsomereason，wasprotectingPearsall，andhaddeceivedbothFordandScotlandYard。
Ontheotherhand，withoutknowingwhythegirlbelievedPearsallwouldbefoundatGerridge’s，itwasreasonabletoassumethatinsothinkingshehadbeenpurposelymisled。Thequestionwas，shouldheornotdismissGerridge’sasapossibleclew，andatoncedevotehimselftofindingthehouseinSowellStreet？Hedecidedforthemomentatleast，toleaveGerridge’soutofhiscalculations，but，asanexcuseforreturningthere，tostillretainhisroom。HeatoncestartedtowardSowellStreet，andinordertofindoutifanyonefromthehotelwerefollowinghim，hesetforthonfoot。Assoonashemadesurehewasnotspiedupon，hecoveredtheremainderofthedistanceinacab。
Hewasactingonthesuppositionthattheletterwasnopracticaljoke，butagenuinecryforhelp。SowellStreetwasascenesetforsuchanadventure。Itwasnarrow，mean—looking，thestuccohouse—fronts，soot—stained，cracked，anduncared—for，thestepsbrokenandunwashed。Asheentereditacoldrainwasfalling，andayellowfogthatrolledbetweenthehousesaddedtoitsdreariness。Itwasnowlateintheafternoon，andsoovercasttheskythatinmanyroomsthegaswaslitandthecurtainsdrawn。
Thegirl，apparentlyfromobservingthedailyprogressofthesun，hadwrittenshewasonthewestsideofthestreetand，shebelieved，inanupperstory。Themanwhopickedupthenotehadsaidhehadfounditoppositethehousesinthemiddleoftheblock。Accordingly，Fordproceededonthesuppositionthattheentireeastsideofthestreet，thelowerstoriesofthewestside，andthehousesateachendwereeliminated。Thethreehousesinthecentreoftherowwereoutwardlyalike。Theywereoffourstories。
Eachwastheresidenceofaphysician，andineach，intheupperstories，theblindsweredrawn。Fromthefronttherewasnothingtobelearned，andinthehopethattherearmightfurnishsomeclew，FordhastenedtoWimpoleStreet，inwhichthehousestotheeastbackeduponthosetothewestinSowellStreet。Thesehousesweregivenovertofurnishedlodgings，andunderthepretextofrentingchambers，itwaseasyforFordtoenterthem，andfromtheapartmentsinthereartoobtainseveralhastyglimpsesofthebacksofthethreehousesinSowellStreet。Butneitherfromthisview—pointdidhegatheranyfactofinterest。InoneofthethreehousesinSowellStreetironbarswerefastenedacrossthewindowsofthefourthfloor，butinprivatesanatoriumsthiswasneitherunusualnorsuspicious。Thebarsmightcoverthewindowsofanurserytopreventchildrenfromfallingout，ortheroomofsometimidhouseholderwithalivelyfearofburglars。