The Adventure of the Tired Captain A Sherlock Holmes Case by K. Michael Gaschnitz Read Free Book Online Page A

woman who had just come from Holmes’ bedroom. I spun around and there, still at the entrance of Holmes’ bedroom, stood the landlady. I slowly turned to face the apparition in the doorway.
    “Mrs. Hudson......,” I stammered.
    Behind me I heard Holmes laugh. “Calm yourself, Doctor; you are not in the presence of a doppelganger .”
    I turned and there stood a barely recognizable Holmes. He was dressed in a frock identical to that worn by the landlady and the theatrical makeup was expertly applied. The resemblance to Mrs. Hudson was uncanny. Only the fact that he had removed the gray wig allowed me to identify the detective.
    “I am sorry to startle you, old friend but as you know I can seldom resist a sense of the dramatic.”
    “My God, Holmes it is marvelous,” I said.
    “Yes Mr. Holmes, it is as if I am looking in a mirror,” Mrs. Hudson said giggling girlishly.
    “All thanks to you , dear lady.”
    “But why disguise yourself as Mrs. Hudson?” I asked.
    “If someone should be watching Baker Street, who other than Mrs. Hudson could they expect to see leave these premises. I don’t wish to worry you Watson, but you may also be followed when you leave.”
    “T hat matters little as I have nowhere else to go at the moment. But why the special shoes, Holmes? With that dress on no one can see your feet anyway.”
    “I can disguise my face with an application of exonia paste, attach a wig and alter my wardrobe but I can do little to disguise the fact that I am seven inches taller than Mrs. Hudson. I can take three or four inches off my height by altering my posture. The thin soled shoes will also take another inch off of my normal height. It is a device that I have used before with some success and it should be enough to deceive Moran.”
    As if by example the Holmes-Hudson amalgam seemed to melt in front of my eyes.
    “That’s amazing Holmes. How is it done?”
    “As a physician you will have noted that most old people have rounded shoulders and tend to stoop. This makes them appear to be shorter than they actually are. By doing this and by keeping my knees slightly bent under these voluminous female garments I am able to take about five inches from my normal height. It is not a posture I could maintain for a long period but for the brief time that anyone will see me upright it will be suitable. ”
    “Now if you will hand me those shoes I shall be off. Thank you Mrs. Hudson for your assistance with my little demonstration.”
    I puffed heavily on a cigar as Holmes pulled on the shoes and one of Mrs. Hudson’s mob caps.
    “Will you whistle for a cab Watson, while I finish dressing? When it arrives, see me out and express your condolences and best wishes to my.... or rather Mrs. Hudson’s sister.”
    I went down the stairs and blew on my cab whistle. A few moments later a hansom drew up to the kerb and Holmes, his posture and stride identical to that of Mrs. Hudson, walked out of the front door. I helped him into the cab and expressed my hopes for a speedy recovery for the fictitious ailing sister.
    “Holmes,” I whispered “please give my love to Mary and tell her I will see her soon.”
    “Of course, Watson,” he said quietly and patted my hand with one of his gloved ones.
    I stepped back and the driver was off in a clatter of hooves and wheels.
    The moment the cab was out of sight Billy ran up to me. “Is it done?” I asked him hurriedly.
    “Yes, it is all arranged.”
    “Thank you for your help,” I said slipping a shilling into his protesting hand.
    The lad waved for the cab which he had waiting further down the street. I knew that Holmes would be on his mettle and even though he was in disguise he would take great precautions to ensure that he wasn’t followed, however I had other ideas. I gave the “jarvey” his instructions and implored him to hurry. We virtually flew down Regent Street, past St. James Park and Whitehall, and over Westminster Bridge. In no more than twenty five