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The Unique Hamlet
A Hitherto Unchronicled Adventure of Mr. Sherlock Holmes
by Vincent Starrett
PRIVATELY PRINTED
FOR THE FRIENDS OF WALTER M. HILL
CHICAGO ILLINOIS AT CHRISTMAS
NINETEEN HUNDRED TWENTY
COPYRIGHT 1920 BY VINCENT STARRETT
THE TORCH PRESS CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA
To
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with admiration and apologies
THE ADVENTURE OF THE UNIQUE HAMLET
"HOLMES," said I, one morning as I stood in our bay window, looking idly into the street, " surely here comes a madman. Someone has incautiously left the door open and the poor fellow has slipped out. What a pity!"
It was a glorious morning in the spring, with a fresh breeze and inviting sunlight, but as it was rather early few persons were astir. Birds twittered under the neighboring eaves, and from the far end of the thoroughfare came faintly the droning cry of an umbrella repair man; a lean cat slunk across the cobbles and disappeared into a courtway; but for the most part the street was deserted save for the eccentric individual who had called forth my exclamation.
My friend rose lazily from the wicker rocker, in which he had been lounging, and came to my
side, standing with long legs spread and hands in the pockets of his dressing gown. He smiled as he saw the singular personage coming along. A personage indeed he seemed to be, despite his odd actions, for he was tall and portly, with elderly whiskers of the brand known as muttonchop, and he seemed eminently respectable. He was loping curiously, like a tired hound, lifting his knees high as he ran, and a heavy double watch chain of gold bounced against an