Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #27 by Arthur Conan Doyle

Author:Arthur Conan Doyle [Doyle, Arthur Conan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes;Mystery;Magazine;detective;crime
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2019-09-16T21:53:45+00:00

* * *

Ron Goulart is a prolific science fiction and mystery writer, with over 180 novels to his credit. He is also a noted authority on comic books and comic strips.

A DEATH IN BALTIMORE, by Arjay Lewis

It was in the summer of 1849 when I found myself requested to appear before the Board of Directors for the British East India Company.

As the second son of a country squire, my brother inherited the family estate, so I found occupation with that famed company. As I was well-bred and properly educated and had served with the British Navy, my duties were those of a ship’s captain on excursions to India and China.

The previous two years I remained in London, delegated to office work due to the difficulties my wife Violet suffered in delivering our second son Mycroft. However, with the boy a healthy toddler and my wife recovered from her long bout of child-bed fever, a meeting had been requested to “discuss my position.”

So on a hot day in August I arrived in Captain’s uniform—which had not been my custom since I’d become an office worker. My hair and beard were trimmed short and I appeared very military in my precision. Promptly at ten in the morning I was escorted into the board room, where a total of five men waited. I removed my hat, placed it under my arm and stood at attention.

They were all dressed in black frock coats and cravats with the exception of Mister Caufield, the head director. He was dressed in a cutaway morning suit with gray and black striped trousers, as well as a gray cravat and vest. He smoked a large cigar and the room wore a slight haze. After a moment he requested me to sit.

Mister Caulfield asked a few pleasantries about my wife’s health and I was greatly pleased that he was aware of my situation. However, within a few minutes he came to the heart of the matter.

“Captain Holmes,” Mister Caulfield said in his big voice, “I am sure you are aware that Parliament has repealed the Navigation Acts.”

“I am, sir. Most disturbing.”

“What do you know of the Baltimore Clipper ship?” he asked and placed the cigar into his mouth.

I considered my answer carefully. “It is said it can take a two year journey and reduce it to two hundred days, sir.”

This caused a murmur to go through the room. Caulfield went on, “And with the changes in the Acts, American companies can now compete in our trade.”

“Yes, sir. There is a common belief that the fresher the tea the better.”

Mister Caulfield smiled at my grasp of the circumstances. “Right you are, Captain. These clipper ships give them an advantage.”

“If we wish to compete, sir, I would recommend the company invest in several of them—and with all due haste.”

“Right you are, right you are!” Mister Caulfield said and then he gave a laugh and turned to the others. “See! Here is a man who understands our predicament.”

I looked down at my feet so as not to look too proud in the face of such praise.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.