A Study in Fiction

Sherlock Holmes sat looking out of his window in Thrums, wondering if the Heavenly Twins could help him solve the mystery concerning Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, when he noticed his niece Lucile had drawn her boat "White Wings" upon the bank and was hastily coming up the bank , who, seeing she had attracted his attention, paused beside the bonny brier bush and excitedly pointed toward Treasure Island where three men in a boat could plainly be seen making a landing.

"Well," said Sherlock to himself, "views afoot are more to the point than these observations from my study windows. I'll take a tramp abroad." He chose a road thro' Sleepy Hollow, and with strides that would have taken him from the earth to the moon in 80 days, he soon reached the wayside inn where old Rip Van Winkle and Uncle Remus were excitedly talking about a stranger who had unexpectedly appeared, riding Black Beauty, and had swum the river and was now almost at the summit of the hill on the island. "Ah, just as I expected," said Sherlock to himself as he saw the horseman disappear.

He returned by a path by the river from which he could see Uncle Tom's Cabin almost covered with roses. in the yard a gay, happy company of little men and women were at play. There was little Lord Fauntleroy and airy, fairy Lillian under the care of the old fashioned girl Armazinda, and under the three oaks sentimental Tommy and Evangeline were playing keeping house. Through the open door Sherlock caught a glimpse of Samantha Allen and Glory and John Storm chatting pleasantly over the tea cups.

Sherlock passed on. A misty tenderness was in his eyes as he recalled the days when he, too, lived close to nature's heart.

Night found Sherlock again at the wayside inn. All was quiet now. This was the nearest point from which to reach the island. He noiselessly loosened a boat and rowed across; he hastily ascended the hill until he reached Bleak House where he enquired of the housekeeper Becky Sharp, for Rupert of Heutcau [sic]. She informed him that Rupert was not there. He passed the barn as he left the house, and saw his old acquaintance Black Beauty; then, being an expert path finder he found his way down the opposite side of the island.

"I have met all sorts and conditions of men on the main traveled roads of life but I must say this is a rare avis," said Sherlock to himself as he noiselessly and swiftly made his way down the hill side.

Suddenly he came in sight of the House of Seven Gables, the summer home of the Count of Monte Cristo. It was brilliantly lighted and thro' a large open window could be seen the count himself and three visitors, and half way between Sherlock and the house in the shadow of a large black rock crouched Rupert of Heutsau evidently intent on gaining some of the count's hard cash.

Rupert cautiously raised his revolver and aimed at the count. At the same instant the tiger sprang between the lighted window and himself and a beautiful lady rose up from a low seat at the count's side. Rupert's hand dropped, and Sherlock had reached his side and made him prisoner.

The count's life was saved and no one knows if it was due to the lady or the tiger. The lady was Marcella, the count's beautiful daughter, and the tiger was a pet which had been secured in Darkest Africa, when very young. The visitors of the count were none other than the eccentric david Harum, the well known and well beloved David Copperfield, and the dusky philosopher Pactolus Prim.

What their business was with the Count of Monte Cristo we may never know unless Sherlock Holmes sees fit sometime to divulge the secret.

M.C. Stretch

Note - The object in the above study is to find the allusions and give the names of the authors whose works are mentioned.

Daily Chieftain (Vinita, Oklahoma), 13 April, 1901