You're sure our cause yes Alex do it is my name I must talk to I'm in desperate need
of your advice come in my lad come in. Oh let me introduce my friend and colleague
Dr Watson. Watson.
Watson.
Come just as I suspect when I oh oh my goodness me
a patient oh I do beg your pardon me that you standing there like that most remiss on me
there if you sit down I'll be with you in a moment my dear doctor Mr Dougal is not your
patient he's come to see me.
About a matter which I imagine has something to do with the injury you sustained
about
a matter which might prove even more disastrous to a certain young lady if she's
allowed to marry this man without somebody telling her but on the other hand how can
I tell when you're jumping about rather a lot Mr Dougal mentally of course yes yes
forgive me I'd better begin by telling you that I'm known to most people by name
other than Alex Dougal yes.
I'm.
Not. I'm not.
I write under that name in the daily Observer I'm
a columnist but I'm not I know it was the boss's idea I'm really
a sports writer don't ask me why I was assigned the job but I do and it bites for
the love law and column I see you mean the readers write into you getting you that
problems and I answer them the boss thought they'd be more apt to listen to a nice
sweet old aunt Lottie than Alex Dougal well of course he may have
a point there Mr Dougal they listen to me all right act on every word I say and
that's what started all the trouble you'll have to go back with me two weeks I'd
received a letter from a young lady who identified herself only with the initials
S.D. She said that her father just died and she had nobody to advise but me it
seems that her fiance was a man of violent temper and had on one occasion almost
throttled another man for even looking at she wanted to know if be wise to marry
him I answered her and a day later in the editorial room I came to know what I
touched off. Where can I
find out. She better be around just point out now wait a minute.
It just so happens that I'm on to Lottie and I want to know how you got in here
you're on the last day that's correct and you can be certain that if you come with
any problem I shall be most uncooperative Are you sure you're on the last day that
is my pen name Have you any objections none none at all I'm absolutely delighted
to find that on the lot he is a man really why because I would never dream of
doing this to a woman.
What's the meaning of this you received a letter the other day from
a young lady asking whether it was wise to marry her fiance a man of violent
temper that's right you replied in your column yesterday that it would be most
unwise it is but what you've got to do with you. I know
don't tell me. You are the field say I'm lucky you have a lot of mending to do
men do in your column tomorrow I want you to take back every word it's impossible
my publishers would never allow it right then you'll go and see her personally
and name is Susan daring and I dress is a hundred and sixteen Chatham Hills Road
Bob Hampton. When you get back I should expect to hear that she has really fixed
the wedding date now wait a minute you can't intimidate me I gave her my honest
advice and I intend to stick to it what did you say I intend.
To. Say.
I just wanted to know what the address was again.
The.
The steering and the housekeeper your name is not
a lot. No I have not been drinking.
Come in. Wait
a.
I'd hardly expected when I left London and Miss Susan daring to be living in
surroundings such as this most of my readers were shop girls girls from modest
background anyway but Susan daring was
an heiress I realized this when I recognized the subject in the painting above
the fireplace he was all of
a daring the chemical manufacturer who six months ago had suffered
a heart attack while pursuing his favorite sport bicycling he was undoubtedly her
father.
How do you do. How do you do
are you ready on I'm afraid so my editor felt it would inspire more confidence for
the name like Alex Dugal which is my own but I don't agree with your editor at all
a really I never failed to read your columns there was still full of wisdom and
understanding. Almost like father used to talk before he died. Thank you.
If I didn't think so I never would have written to you never have called off my
wedding. As a matter of fact that's what I came to talk to you about this
daring. You mind if we sit down.
Oh please yes. Just
a little accident nothing at all. Yet. Oh no no thank you what bothers me more than
any little ache is the advice that I gave you in my column the advice you gave but
every word of it was so true it cleared up everything well I felt the same thing at
the time also but after meeting your fiance Mr Murdoch. Quite by accident.
He struck you I know he forced you to come here and see me no no not at all. Then
how are you hurt. I fell down the stairs it was an accident forgive me it's quite
obvious that. That a man like you could never be forced to do anything against
his will well I should hope not but it anyway after meeting Mr Murdoch I felt it
my responsibility to come here and retract my original advice forgive me Mr
Ring. That's what I've been telling her no one is perfect naturally but Mr Murdoch
is eligible in every other way. He has gold mines in Africa that's what Tilda
means and I could be sure he wasn't marrying me for my inheritance. Mr Dugald
you've never seen him when he loses his temper. Miss Dearing have you ever heard
of a doctor Freud no a young Viennese he's invented a new science called
psychoanalysis he says that a temper is a perfectly healthy normal outlet for
emotions it's quite normal. Mr Dugald you know so much. That's my job. I'll write to
Jack immediately and tell him it's all right again. Good and if you have a
picture of the two of you I'll see that it's published in the society page under.
Under soon to be betrothed to Google what's the matter something happened to my
back when I fell I wonder would you mind putting one hand on my shoulder and one
in the small of my back and.
Thank you Mr Dugald you must do something about your back. When you get home
tonight have your wife rub it with liniment I'm afraid that's not entirely
possible but I'll have the man at the club do it anyway. You mean to say that.
You're not married I'm afraid not it seems that every time I meet a girl that
interests me she's not available but then that's life there's always tomorrow and
well who knows I might be as lucky as you and Mr Murdoch. Now what about that
picture. I'll get it for you.
All the way back to London my eyes kept returning to the snapshot that had been
given me and to Murdoch's face I really hadn't had time to study him when he
first came into my office everything had happened so fast but now I had the
clinging feeling that I'd seen him somewhere before but where and under what
circumstances. I do go.
I trust you were successful extremely and I'm going back with even more
confidence to make a change of mind next time. You're not Jack Murdoch and you
don't have any gold mines in Africa you're Freddie Brill the racetrack fixer
now whatever gave you that idea. I used to be a sports writer for your
information and I remember you very well you got flung in jail for nearly killing
a jockey that double crossed you and if you don't think I can prove it just come
down to the library and I'll show you a back issue with your picture. That won't
be necessary. I didn't think it would be so it's her inheritance you're after is
it. That's it and I don't think you'll be telling her what are you going to do
first I'm going to make you best man at my wedding. What? After today I can't
trust you out of my sight as best man you have reason for being at my side
every minute. But this is insane. Secondly I make you this promise if Susan
should learn of my true identity before we're married I won't make inquiries as
to who told her. I'll assume it was you and if it's the last thing I do I'll
kill you.
Now we return to the case of the violent suitor I'm always giving out advice
myself but here I am strangely enough asking for it. What shall I do if I
expose Murdoch he'll obviously take his revenge on me but on the other hand how
can I allow poor Susie to be victimized that way. I see so it's Susie is it. Well
up until half an hour ago when I managed to get away from him Murdoch keeps me
handcuffed to his side and naturally when he saw Miss Dearing I did also. Yes
yes quite naturally. Well there's no point in denying it that she does something
strange to me and I found myself wanting to be the groom instead of the best man.
That may very well happen yet Mr Dugal but how with Murdoch still in the picture
we'll remove him from the picture. I simply stated Holmes but surely you don't
mean to expose Murdoch and risk Mr Dugal's life. Oh no what if any lives are
going to be risked they'll be yours and mine. Oh. Oh. My plans aren't crystallized
yet Mr Dugal but my advice to you is to go back to Mr Murdoch and continue to be
his best man you'll hear from me very soon. I'll do anything you say Mr Holmes
thank you Mr Holmes. Not at all. Oh wait.
It's all right I just wanted to make certain that Murdoch wasn't waiting for you
outside. Oh thank you Mr Holmes good day. Good day. Good day. And how do you propose
to help Mr Dugal? By removing Murdoch from the picture. But how? By proving that he
killed Miss Dearing's father. What? Safely behind bars Murdoch could neither marry
Miss Dearing or harm Dugal. But Miss Dearing's father died of a heart attack he was cycling
you heard it yourself. My dear Watson it was made to appear as if he had been bicycling.
Well now really Holmes you haven't even left the room how can you say such a thing?
Ah here it is I thought I'd kept it have a look. When that picture was published in the papers I
showed it to Inspector Lestrade as proof that Oliver Dearing was murdered but the good old
inspector with his usual dim-wittedness refused to pay any attention to it. Well I must say I
can't see any signs of murder here. Notice Dearing's coat. Yes well. It's buttoned on the left side.
So? Have a look at your own.
Well yes I see that but. It's my theory that Dearing was at home in his shirt sleeves when
Murdoch struck him a blow on the back of the head that killed him. Then in an effort to disguise his
crime Murdoch with the aid of a woman dressed Dearing and deposited him and his bicycle on a
lonely stretch of country road. But the mistake had been made of buttoning Dearing's shirt
on the wrong side. Yes but look here just a minute you've just talked about a woman. What woman?
Well his accomplice of course. A woman would be more apt to button Dearing's coat on the left
side since it was customary for her to button hers in that way. And talking of coats I think
you better take yours it's going to be chilly in the country tonight. Well assuming everything you
say is true what's the motive in killing Dearing? Well my guess is that he was trying to get his
daughter married to him. Well my guess is that Dearing found out Murdoch's true identity and
prevented him marrying his daughter. And Murdoch seeing himself losing a fortune lost his temper
Come on Watson we'll pick up Lestrade on the way. Right. Take my coat.
Now what's the matter? I got a twist in my back. Are you still complaining about that?
Don't you talk to him like that. I'll talk to him any way I choose. Not around me Jack Murdoch you
won't. Tea is served. Nothing like a nice cup of tea to relax everyone.
If you don't keep your temper you'll ruin everything. It's all right Tilda I'll pour.
Why didn't I think of it of course. Of course what? The accomplice it's Tilda. The housekeeper? Yes it
would have to be someone normally attached to the house to have been present at the murder.
Tilda fits the part perfectly. She would also have to be the housekeeper.
And from the manner in which she's just been talking to him that's obvious too.
Your theory sounds as wild now as it did when you first told it to me. Lestrade give me your gun
will you? For what? Well I'm just going to put my theory to the test. It don't matter at all.
Don't worry I shan't hurt anyone.
Holmes what in thunder made you do a thing like this? No time to explain now they'll have the
staff out and search the grounds. If they find us the whole plan's ruined. Well now where's Lestrade?
Lestrade! Shh Lestrade! He was behind us when I last looked. Oh confound him. If they find him
everything will be ruined. Here we better go and find him ourselves. Lestrade! Lestrade!
Oh no Holmes look!
Well well well only the good inspector could have managed that.
Well Lestrade you look like a stranded whale. What is this thing? A bambington net.
Were you running with your eyes shut? Here.
The gardens I think. They're coming this way. We've got to get to the carriage come on Lestrade.
Get me out of this thing. Oh there's no time for that come on.
I see no item in the entire evening Mr. Sherlock Holmes that would prompt laughter.
I'm terribly sorry Lestrade but I shall cherish the memory of you thrashing about on that
bambington court for years to come. I wouldn't find it so amusing Holmes if it had been you
who had torn that confounded net from its moorings. Lestrade it was simply a question of going under
it after all. And I haven't forgotten that it was your insane behavior tonight that made it necessary
for us to be running at all. Yes what were you up to Holmes? Those shots I mean. Yes I assumed there
was a purpose. Oh a very definite purpose Lestrade. Those three bullets were bait for a trap.
Odd bait I must say. I trust it was the perfect bait for our purpose. I only hope that our delayed
departure from the Deering's won't make us too late to see the trap sprung. You mean it wasn't
sprung at the Deering? There were too many people there Watson. You see if my theory is correct then
Jack Murdoch's flat should be the place. I wonder if we can entice this driver to go just a little
bit faster. Cabby! Cabby go as quick as you can.
Tilda. Tilda Dougal's upstairs. He may see you. I'm not staying Bob.
What is this? I'm within two days of marrying Susan and grabbing a fortune for us. For yourself you
mean. You never had any intention of sharing it with me. What are you talking about? Fifty thousand
pounds is yours the day I'm married. Didn't I promise it to you? Yes but your circumstances
were different then. I saw you kill Mr. Deering and you got panicky that I would run to the police.
But time's gone by and now you found a surer and cheaper way to keep me quiet. What do you mean?
Back at the house before you had someone try to kill me. Tilda I told you I swear I know
nothing about those shots. You could never make me believe that. There's only one person in this
world who would benefit by my death and that person is you. I'll never feel safe while you're alive.
I wouldn't do that if I were you miss. Drop that gun. You're under arrest. We heard everything you
said. You were tricked Tilda. It was the police fired those shots at you. Well Mr. Holmes here
anyway. I had a feeling it would stir things up a bit. It's an old adage that partners in crime
never trust one another. Get down. Where are we? I've been practicing my ride ever since I met him.
Ah well done my boy well done.
You'd better come along too miss.
I believe I've outgrown the Aunt Marty label now. I'm gonna ask Susan to marry me. Good for you.
First thing tomorrow morning. It's too late tonight. Oh I don't think it's too late. You don't?
No. Definitely not. I'll go right now. Good idea.
Well Holmes you've solved the mystery and brought two young lovers together.
I'm going to call you Aunt Lottie. What? Oh no really Watson. This time you've gone too far.