I
　　Itwasadulldayatthechancellery。HisExcellencytheAmericanAmbassadorwasabsentinScotland，unveilingabusttoBobbyBurns，paidforbythenumerousloversofthatpoetinPittsburg;theFirstSecretarywasabsentatAldershot，observingashambattle;
　　theMilitaryAttachewasabsentattheCrystalPalace，watchingafoot—ballmatch;theNavalAttachewasabsentattheDukeofDeptford’s，shootingpheasants;andattheEmbassy，theSecondSecretary，havinglunchedleisurelyattheArtz，wasnowalone，butpreparedwithhislifetoprotectAmericaninterests。Accordingly，ontheconditionthatthestoryshouldnotbetracedbacktohim，hehadjustconfidedaStatesecrettohisyoungfriend，AustinFord，theLondoncorrespondentoftheNewYorkREPUBLIC。
　　"Iwillcableit，"Fordreassuredhim，"ascomingfromaHungariandiplomat，temporarilyresidinginBloomsbury，whileenroutetohispostinPatagonia。Inthatshape，notevenyourastutechiefwillsuspectitsrealsource。AndfurtherfromthetruththanthatI
　　refusetogo。"
　　"WhatIdroppedintoask，"hecontinued，"iswhethertheEnglisharegoingtosendoverapoloteamnextsummertotrytobringbackthecup？"
　　"I’veseveralotheritemsofinterest，"suggestedtheSecretary。
　　"Theweek—endpartiestowhichyouhavebeeninvited，"Fordobjected，"canwait。Tellmefirstwhatchancethereisforaninternationalpolomatch。"
　　"Polo，"sententiouslybegantheSecondSecretary，whohimselfwasacrackerjackatthegame，"isapropositionofponies！Mencanbetrainedforpolo。Butpoloponiesmustbeborn。Withoutgoodponies"
　　James，thepagewhoguardedtheouterwalls，ofthechancellery，appearedinthedoorway。
　　"Please，Sir，aperson，"heannounced，withanotefortheAmbassadorsaysit’simportant。"
　　"Tellhimtoleaveit，saidtheSecretary。"Poloponies"
　　"Yes，Sir，"interruptedthepage。"But’ewon’tleaveit，notunlesshekeepsthe’arf—crown。"
　　"ForHeaven’ssake！"protestedtheSecondSecretary，"thenlethimkeepthehalf—crown。WhenIsaypoloponies，Idon’tmean"
　　James，althoughalarmedathisowntemerity，refusedtoacceptthedismissal。"But，please，Sir，"hebegged;"Ithinkthe’arf—crownisfortheAmbassador。"
　　Theastonisheddiplomatgazedwithopeneyes。
　　"Youthink——WHAT！"heexclaimed。
　　James，uponthedefensive，explainedbreathlessly。
　　"Because，Sir，"hestammered，"itwasINSIDEthenotewhenitwasthrownoutofthewindow。"
　　Fordhadbeensprawlinginasoftleatherchairinfrontoftheopenfire。Withtheprivilegeofanoldschool—fellowandcollegeclassmate，hebadbeenjabbingthesoftcoalwithhiswalking—stick，causingittoburstintotinyflames。Hiscigarettedroopedfromhislips，hishatwascockedoveroneeye;hewasapictureofindifference，merginguponboredom。Butatthewordsoftheboyhisattitudebothofmindandbodyunderwentaninstantchange。Itwasasthoughhewereanactor，andthewords"thrownfromthewindow"werehiscue。Itwasasthoughhewereadozingfox—terrier，andthevoiceofhismasterhadwhisperedinhisear:
　　Sick’em！"
　　Foramoment，withbenignreproach，theSecondSecretaryregardedtheunhappypage，andthenaddressedhimwithlaborioussarcasm。
　　"James，"hesaid，"peopledonotcommunicatewithambassadorsinnoteswrappedaroundhalf—crownsandhurledfromwindows。Thatisthewayonecorrespondswithanorgan—grinder。"Fordsprangtohisfeet。
　　"Andmeanwhile，"heexclaimedangrily，"themanwillgetaway。"
　　Withoutseekingpermission，heranpastJames，andthroughtheemptyouteroffices。Intwominuteshereturned，herdingbeforehimanindividual，seedyandsoiled。Inappearancethemansuggestedthatinlifehisplacewastosupportasandwich—board。FordreluctantlyrelinquishedhisholduponafoldedpaperwhichhelaidinfrontoftheSecretary。
　　"Thisman，"heexplained，"pickedthatoutofthegutterinSowellStreet，It’snotaddressedtoanyone，soyoureadit！"
　　IthoughtitwasfortheAmbassador！"saidtheSecretary。
　　Thesoiledpersoncougheddeprecatingly，andpointedadirtydigitatthepaper。"Ontheinside，"hesuggested。Thepaperwaswrappedaroundahalf—crownandfoldedinateachend。Thediplomatopenedithesitatingly，buthavingreadwhatwaswritten，laughed。
　　"There’snothinginTHAT，"heexclaimed。HepassedthenotetoFord。Thereporterfelluponiteagerly。
　　Thenotewaswritteninpencilonanunruledpieceofwhitepaper。
　　Thehandwritingwasthatofawoman。WhatFordreadwas:
　　"Iamaprisonerinthestreetonwhichthispaperisfound。Thehousefaceseast。IthinkIamonthetopstory。Iwasbroughtherethreeweeksago。Theyaretryingtokillme。Myuncle，CharlesRalphPearsall，isdoingthistogetmymoney。HeisatGerridge’sHotelinCravenStreet，Strand。HewilltellyouIaminsane。MynameisDosiaPearsallDale。MyhomeisatDalesville，Kentucky，U。
　　S。A。Everybodyknowsmethere，andknowsIamnotinsane。IfyouwouldsavealifetakethisatoncetotheAmericanEmbassy，ortoScotlandYard。ForGod’ssake，helpme。"
　　Whenhehadreadthenote，Fordcontinuetostudyit。Untilhewasquitesurehisvoicewouldnotbetrayhisinterest，hedidnotraisehiseyes。
　　"Why，"heasked，"didyousaythatthere’snothinginthis？"
　　"Because，"returnedthediplomatconclusively，"wegotanotelikethat，ornearlylikeit，aweekago，and"
　　Fordcouldnotrestrainagroan。"Andyounevertoldme！"
　　"Therewasn’tanythingtotell，"protestedthediplomat。"Wehandeditovertothepolice，andtheyreportedtherewasnothinginit。
　　Theycouldn’tfindthemanatthathotel，and，ofcourse，theycouldn’tfindthehousewithnomoretogoonthan"
　　"Andso，"exclaimedFordrudely，"theydecidedtherewasnoman，andnohouse！"
　　"Theirtheory，"continuedtheSecretarypatiently，"isthatthegirlisconfinedinoneofthenumerousprivatesanatoriumsinSowellStreet，thatsheisinsane，thatbecauseshe’sunderrestraintsheIMAGINESthenursesaretryingtokillherandthatherrelativesareafterhermoney。Insanepeoplearealwaysthinkingthat。It’saverycommondelusion。"
　　Ford’seyeswereshiningwithawickedjoy。"So，"heaskedindifferently，"youdon’tintendtodoanythingfurther？"
　　"Whatdoyouwantustodo？"criedhisfriend。"Ringeverydoor—bellinSowellStreetandasktheparlor—maidifthey’remurderingaladyonthetopstory？"
　　"CanIkeepthepaper？"demandedFord。"Youcankeepacopyofit，"
　　consentedtheSecretary。"Butifyouthinkyou’reonthetrackofabignewspapersensation，Icantellyounowyou’renot。That’stheworkofacrazywoman，orit’sahoax。Youamateurdetectives"
　　Fordwasalreadyseatedatthetable，scribblingacopyofthemessage，andmakingmarginalnotes。
　　"WhobroughttheFIRSTpaper？"heinterrupted。
　　"Ahansom—cabdriver。"
　　"WhatbecameofHIM？"snappedtheamateurdetective。
　　TheSecretarylookedinquiringlyatJames。"Hedroveaway，"saidJames。
　　"Hedroveaway，didhe？"’roaredFord。"Andthatwasaweekago！Yegods！WhataboutDalesville，Kentucky？Didyoucableanyonethere？"
　　Thedignityofthediplomatwasbecomingruffled。
　　"Wedidnot！"heanswered。"Ifitwasn’ttruethatherunclewasatthathotel，itwasprobablyequallyuntruethatshehadfriendsinAmerica。"
　　"But，"retortedhisfriend，"youdidn’tforgettocabletheStateDepartmentthatyouallwentinyoureveningclothestobowtothenewKing？Youdidn’tneglecttocablethat，didyou？"
　　"TheStateDepartment，"returnedtheSecretary，withwitheringreproof，"doesnotexpectustocrawlovertheroofsofhousesandspydownchimneystoseeifbyanychanceanAmericancitizenisbeingmurdered。"
　　"Well，"exclaimedFord，leapingtohisfeetandplacinghisnotesinhispocket，"fortunately，mypaperexpectsmetodojustthat，andifitdidn’t，I’ddoitanyway。AndthatisexactlywhatIamgoingtodonow！Don’ttelltheothersintheEmbassy，and，forHeaven’ssake，don’ttellthepolice。Jimmy，getmeataxi。Andyou，"hecommanded，pointingattheonewhohadbroughtthenote，arecomingwithmetoSowellStreet，toshowmewhereyoupickedupthatpaper。"
　　OnthewaytoSowellStreetFordstoppedatanewspaperagency，andpaidfortheinsertionthatafternoonofthesameadvertisementinthreenewspapers。Itread:"Ifhansom—cabdriverwholastweekcarriednote，foundinstreet，toAmericanEmbassywillmailhisaddresstoX。X。X。，careofGLOBE，hewillberewarded。"
　　Fromthenearestpost—officehesenttohispaperthefollowingcable:"Queryourlocalcorrespondent，Dalesville，Kentucky，concerningDosiaPearsallDale。Issheofsoundmind，issheheiress。Whocontrolshermoney，whatherbusinessrelationswithheruncleCharlesRalphPearsall，whatherpresentaddress。Ifanyquestions，sayinquiriescomefromsolicitorsofEnglishmanwhowantstomarryher。Rushanswer。
　　SowellStreetisadark，dirtylittlethoroughfare，runningforonlyoneblock，paralleltoHarleyStreet。Likeit，itisdecoratedwiththebrassplatesofphysiciansandtheredlampsofsurgeons，but，justasthemedicalmeninHarleyStreet，inkeepingwiththatthoroughfare，arebroad，open，andwithnothingtoconceal，sothoseofSowellStreet，liketheirhiding—place，shrinkfromobservation，andtheirlivesareassombre，secret，anddarkasthestreetitself。
　　WithintwoturnsofitForddismissedthetaxicab。Givingthesoiledpersonahalf—smokedcigarette，hetoldhimtowalkthroughSowellStreet，andwhenhereachedtheplacewherehehadpickedupthepaper，todropthecigaretteasnearthatspotaspossible。HethenwastoturnintoWeymouthStreetandwaituntilFordjoinedhim。AtadistanceoffiftyfeetFordfollowedtheman，andsawhim，wheninthemiddleoftheblock，withoutapparenthesitation，dropthecigarette。Thehouseinfrontofwhichitfellwasmarked，likemanyothers，bythebrassplateofadoctor。AsFordpassedithehitthecigarettewithhiswalking—stick，anddroveitintoanarea。Whenheovertooktheman，Fordhandedhimanothercigarette。
　　"Tomakesure，"hesaid，C4gobackand"dropthisintheplaceyoufoundthepaper。Foramomentthemanhesitated。
　　"Imightaswelltellyou，"Fordcontinued，"thatIknockedthatlastcigarettesofarfromwhereyoudroppeditthatyouwon’tbeabletouseitasaguide。So，ifyoudon’treallyknowwhereyoufoundthepaper，you’llsavemytimebysayingso。"Insteadofbeingconfusedbythetest，themanwasamusedbyit。Helaughedappreciativelyadmitted。"You’vecaughtmeoutfair，governor，""I
　　Wantthe’arf—crown，andIdroppedthecigaretteasneartheplaceasIcould。ButIcan’tdoitagain。Itwasthisway，"heexplained。"Iwasn’ttakingnoticeofthehouses。Iwaswalkingalonglookingintothegutterforstumps。Iseethispaperwrappedaboutsomethinground。’It’sacopper，’Ithinks，’juckedoutofawindertoaorgan—grinder。’Isnatchesit，andruns。Ididn’ttakenotimetolookatthehouses。Butitwasn’tsofarfromwhereI
　　showedyou;aboutthemiddlehouseinthestreetandontheleft’andside。"
　　Fordhadneverconsideredthemanasaseriouselementintheproblem。Hebelievedhimtoknowaslittleofthematterasheprofessedtoknow。Butitwasessentialheshouldkeepthatlittletohimself。
　　"Noonewillpayyoufortalking，"Fordpointedout，"andI’llpayyoutokeepquiet。So，ifyousaynothingconcerningthatnote，attheendoftwoweeks，I’llleavetwopoundsforyouwithJames，attheEmbassy。"
　　Theman，whobelievedFordtobeanagentofthepolice，wasonlytoohappytoescapeonsucheasyterms。AfterFordhadgivenhimapoundonaccount，theyparted。
　　FromWimpoleStreettheamateurdetectivewenttothenearestpublictelephoneandcalledupGerridge’sHotel。HeconsideredhisfirststepshouldbetodiscoverifMr。Pearsallwasatthathotel，orhadeverstoppedthere。Whenthe’phonewasanswered，herequestedthatamessagebedeliveredtoMr。Pearsall。
　　"Pleasetellhim，"heasked，"thattheclothesheorderedarereadytotryon。"
　　Hewasinformedthatnoonebythatnamewasatthehotel。InavoiceofconcernFordbeggedtoknowwhenMr。Pearsallhadgoneaway，andhadheleftanyaddress。
　　Hewaswithyouthreeweeksago，"Fordinsisted。"He’sanAmericangentleman，andtherewasaladywithhim。Sheorderedariding—habitofus:thesametimehewasmeasuredforhisclothes。"
　　Afterashortdelay，thevoicefromthehotelrepliedthatnooneofthenameofPearsallhadbeenatthehotelthatwinter。
　　InapparentgreatdisgustFordrangoff，andtookataxicabtohisroomsinJermynStreet。Therehepackedasuit—caseanddrovetoGerridge’s。Itwasaquiet，respectable，"old—established"houseinCravenStreet，athoroughfarealmostentirelygivenovertosmallfamilyhotelsmuchfrequentedbyAmericans。
　　Afterhehadregisteredandhadlefthisbaginhisroom，Fordreturnedtotheoffice，andinanassuredmanneraskedthatacardonwhichhehadwritten"HenryW。Page，Dalesville，Kentucky，"
　　shouldbetakentoMr。Pearsall。
　　Inatoneofobviousannoyancetheproprietorreturnedthecard，sayingthattherewasnooneofthatnameinthehotel，andaddedthatnosuchpersonhadeverstoppedthere。Fordexpressedtheliveliestdistress。
　　"HeTOLDmeI’dfindhimhere，"heprotested。，"heandhisniece。"
　　WiththegarrulousnessoftheAmericanabroad，heconfidedhistroublestotheentirestaffofthehotel。"We’refromthesametown，"heexplained。"That’swhyImustseehim。He’stheonlymaninLondonIknow，andI’vespentallmymoney。Hesaidhe’dgivemesomeheowesme，assoonasIreachedLondon。IfIcan’tgetit，I’llhavetogohomebyWednesday’ssteamer。And，complainedbitterly，"Ihaven’tseenthenortheTower，norWestminsterAbbey。"
　　Inamoment，Ford’sanxietytomeetMr。Pearsallwasapparentlylostinawaveofself—pity。Inhisdisappointmentheappealing，patheticfigure。
　　Realdetectivesandrivalnewspapermen，evenwhiletheyadmittedFordobtainedfactsthatweredeniedthem，claimedthattheyweregivenhimfromcharity。Wheretheybullied，browbeat，andadministeredathirddegree，Fordwasembarrassed，deprecatory，anearnest，ingenuous，wide—eyedchild。Whathecalledhis"working"
　　smilebeggedofyounottobecrosswithhim。Hissimplicitywasapparentlysohopeless，hisconfidenceinwhomeverheaddressedsocomplete，thatofteneventhemanhewaspursuingfeltforhimapityingcontempt。Nowashestooduncertainlyinthehallofthehotel，hishelplessnessmovedtheproudladyclerktoshakehercylindersoffalsehairsympathetically，theGermanwaiterstoregardhispredicamentwithrespect;eventheproprietor，Mr。
　　Gerridgehimself，wasillatease。Fordreturnedtohisroom，onthesecondfloorofthehotel，andsatdownontheedgeofthebed。
　　InconnectingPearsallwithGerridge’s，boththepoliceandhimselfhadfailed。Ofthistherewerethreepossibleexplanations:thatthegirlwhowrotetheletterwasinerror，thattheletterwasahoax，thattheproprietorofthehotel，forsomereason，wasprotectingPearsall，andhaddeceivedbothFordandScotlandYard。
　　Ontheotherhand，withoutknowingwhythegirlbelievedPearsallwouldbefoundatGerridge’s，itwasreasonabletoassumethatinsothinkingshehadbeenpurposelymisled。Thequestionwas，shouldheornotdismissGerridge’sasapossibleclew，andatoncedevotehimselftofindingthehouseinSowellStreet？Hedecidedforthemomentatleast，toleaveGerridge’soutofhiscalculations，but，asanexcuseforreturningthere，tostillretainhisroom。HeatoncestartedtowardSowellStreet，andinordertofindoutifanyonefromthehotelwerefollowinghim，hesetforthonfoot。Assoonashemadesurehewasnotspiedupon，hecoveredtheremainderofthedistanceinacab。
　　Hewasactingonthesuppositionthattheletterwasnopracticaljoke，butagenuinecryforhelp。SowellStreetwasascenesetforsuchanadventure。Itwasnarrow，mean—looking，thestuccohouse—fronts，soot—stained，cracked，anduncared—for，thestepsbrokenandunwashed。Asheentereditacoldrainwasfalling，andayellowfogthatrolledbetweenthehousesaddedtoitsdreariness。Itwasnowlateintheafternoon，andsoovercasttheskythatinmanyroomsthegaswaslitandthecurtainsdrawn。
　　Thegirl，apparentlyfromobservingthedailyprogressofthesun，hadwrittenshewasonthewestsideofthestreetand，shebelieved，inanupperstory。Themanwhopickedupthenotehadsaidhehadfounditoppositethehousesinthemiddleoftheblock。Accordingly，Fordproceededonthesuppositionthattheentireeastsideofthestreet，thelowerstoriesofthewestside，andthehousesateachendwereeliminated。Thethreehousesinthecentreoftherowwereoutwardlyalike。Theywereoffourstories。
　　Eachwastheresidenceofaphysician，andineach，intheupperstories，theblindsweredrawn。Fromthefronttherewasnothingtobelearned，andinthehopethattherearmightfurnishsomeclew，FordhastenedtoWimpoleStreet，inwhichthehousestotheeastbackeduponthosetothewestinSowellStreet。Thesehousesweregivenovertofurnishedlodgings，andunderthepretextofrentingchambers，itwaseasyforFordtoenterthem，andfromtheapartmentsinthereartoobtainseveralhastyglimpsesofthebacksofthethreehousesinSowellStreet。Butneitherfromthisview—pointdidhegatheranyfactofinterest。InoneofthethreehousesinSowellStreetironbarswerefastenedacrossthewindowsofthefourthfloor，butinprivatesanatoriumsthiswasneitherunusualnorsuspicious。Thebarsmightcoverthewindowsofanurserytopreventchildrenfromfallingout，ortheroomofsometimidhouseholderwithalivelyfearofburglars。