Sherlock Holmes and the Discarded Cigarette by Fred Thursfield Read Free Book Online Page B

question.
    â€œHolmes” I started “are you seriously considering the fact that not only does Druitt have a working time machine, but that he is somehow employing it to make fairly good forgeries.” “If so” I continued “that would mean that he has the ability to travel back and forth in time.”
    I was waiting for my friend to put the paper down and break out in raucous laughter revealing that he had played some elaborate joke on me. “Not back in time Watson but forward” I could tell by the seriousness of his look that this was not some joke after all.
    â€œBut how can you be sure?” I asked suddenly feeling the need to be seated. “Up until recently I had a number of separate of leads I could have followed that might have lead to finding out where these mysterious paintings have come from.”
    One by one Holmes listed them “One” he said as he raised the first long finger of his hand...”Druitt being at the lecture then after questioning Wells about his at the time theoretical machine...two” and up went a second finger “Mr. Wells confiding in us that he had...again at the time a set of mechanical drawings for his machine”
    â€œThree” and the ring finger of his hand went up “the sudden appearance of the forgeries which at the beginning may have had nothing to do with Druitt having a time machine, but with more and more painting showing up proves that he does have use of a time machine now.”
    â€œFour” and all of the digits of his hand were up “the ex Mrs. Wells being seen in the company of Druitt and the apparent exchange of a copy of the mechanical drawing for a...what I would think was a considerable sum of money.”
    Five” and with that all five digits of his hand were up and as if to prove his point he spread all five out slightly “here is where all the previous facts are connected to this last one Druitt suddenly taking leave of his lodgings for a trip to the continent. Along with the usual luggage he was seen carrying a very large roll of paper...which we fatefully have to assume Watson was copy of Wells mechanical drawings for his machine.”
    â€œWell I certainly agree with you Holmes and Wells that Druitt has to be stopped before he does irreparable damage to the art world, but even given that he is using a machine of some size how do we begin to locate him, let alone stop him?”
    Here Holmes gave me a smile of some confidence “with the help of the Baker Street Irregulars” he answered. Here I must stop and explain who Holmes had just made reference to.

Chapter 19
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    About five years ago Holmes had been asked to help solve a rash of shop lifting and pick pocketing. The fact that the Metropolitan Police could not find any clues or even suspects to these crimes they had asked Holmes to bring his powers of reason and deduction into play to halt this disturbing trend.
    Holmes had learned a very long time ago that to catch a criminal you have to think like one a look like one. It didn’t take too long in disguise to find out there was a band of young boys, who through sheer financial and social necessity had been forced to turn to a life of petty crime.
    When they were apprehended by Holmes and he realized they were not hardened criminals Holmes seeing an opportunity offered them a much more pleasant alternative to prison or the work house. I remember Holmes telling me of the moment the Baker Street Irregulars coming into existence.
    Standing among the boys Holmes offered them a future. His exact words to them were “Gentlemen a consulting detective such as myself can only be in one place at any time. I need to have eyes and ears everywhere to watch and report on criminals and any criminal behavior.
    The number of and the average age of the Baker Street Irregulars depended on the financial situation each of the boys found themselves in. At its smallest there were only