The Recrudescence of Sherlock Holmes (1908)
The Recrudescence of Sherlock Holmes is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche written by Wex Jones first published in The Examiner (San Francisco) on 22 august 1908.
Illustrations by Harry B. Martin.
Editions
- in The Examiner (San Francisco) (22 august 1908 [US]) 2 ill. by Harry B. Martin
- in The Detroit Times (22 august 1908 [US])
- in The Springfield Leader (24 august 1908 [US])
- in Oregon Daily Journal (29 august 1908 [US])
- in The Inter-Mountain Republican (8 september 1908 [US])
- in The Commercial Appeal (16 september 1908 [US])
- in The Springfield Leader (17 september 1908 [US]) 2 ill. "
- in The Fort Worth Telegram (20 september 1908 [US]) 2 ill. "
- in The Salt Lake Herald (20 september 1908 [US])
- in Lincoln Daily Evening News (2 october 1908 [US])
The Recrudescence of Sherlock Holmes
For five years Holmes had sat motionless in his big armchair, his eyes as blank as cantaloupes.
"All the great criminals are dead" he remarked.
"Yes," I replied, "there's not a decent criminal left, "thinking regretfully of the strange case of Mr. T. Rott Rubbish, the Adventure of the Purple Freckle, and the Odd Happening in the Deserted Icebox.
The boy handed Holmes a telegram. As the great sleuth read the few words his eyes lit up. He trembled like a hound on the scent. He passed me the telegram.
"West Upper Tooting.
"Pinky Pink may I call on you hinky dink.
"DOODLEBUG DINGBAT.
"Collect."
"What do you make of it, Watson?"
"It comes from West Upper Tooting and you will have to pay for it."
"Good, very good. You're improving, my dear Watson," said Holmes. "Lend me sixpence, will you. Thank you. You see you were wrong. Never jump at conclusions — you've paid for the telegram yourself. The message indicates no crime, but possesses an element of the grotesque. I can see, of course that it was sent by some one whose name is not Doodlebug Dingbat, who writes with a soft pencil and takes me for an escaped lunatic.
"Come, Watson, we will go to West Upper Tooting and find this fellow."
Arrived in West Upper Tooting. Holmes looked quickly around, suddenly fell upon his knees and examined the pavement with a powerful microscope.
"There's some one in that house, Watson," said Holmes, pointing to a large boarding-house.
I could see several persons at the window, so I was aware that Holmes was right again. Ignoring the open door, Holmes smashed in a window and leaped into the room.
A fat man with side whiskers looked up in some amazement.
"You are not Doodlebug Dingbat," said Holmes in an icy voice.
"No," replied the man, "are you?"
Holmes was right again.
"It notice you have a watch, suffer from toothache, that you use a safety razor, and that something disagreed with you. I could tell you more, but thats enough," concluded Holmes.
The fat man glared. "I have a watch chain, but no watch," he said, "My teeth are all false, though one of them is broken. I have never used a safety razor; I was thrown out of an automobile on my face two days ago. As for something disagreeing with me, you are right. One of the other boarders disagreed with me; hence this black eye. You've got one right, Holmes, with perseverance you may become a detective some day."
Holmes gasped. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Hawkshaw the Detective," the stranger, whiskers.
"And the telegram?" said Holmes.
"Just to see how much of a chump you could be," responded Hawkshaw.
Holmes turned and beat me unmercifully. It's hard to be the friend of a hero.
