POOR OLD SHERLOCK.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9110, 1 April 1908, Page 7

POOR OLD SHERLOCK.

It was evident to the labourers who had found the man that a, tragedy had occurred, for he was bruised and battered, with a rope twisted round his body, and an open claspknife in his hand. Therefore they at once fetched the village policeman. ' “Stand back,” commanded that officer, “an’ lemme look for clues !” He groped and peered about with a magnifying-glass for some time, then straightened himself with a self-satisfied smirk. “The case is quite clear to me,” he announced, in a loud voice. ‘ ‘ The victim was waylaid last night, bound with that rope an’ battered as you see. ’E defended of ’isself, as the knife in ’is ’and shows. This pore victim—” The village Sherlock Holmes’s jaw dropped at this point, in company with the jaws of the spectators, for the “pore victim.” after a convulsive shudder, sat up and opened his eyes. “You’re an ass, constable!” he said'to Sherlock, “and I’m Professor Parachuta! Something went wrong with my balloon last night, aud I got mixed up with the ropes when I tried to right things. I tried to cut myself free, kut the balloon burst, and I dropped here. If you’ll take the trouble to look over the hedge, constable, you’ll see the balloon!”