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pick of her geese for a Christmas present； and I knew that she was
always as good as her word。 I would take my goose now； and in it
I would carry my stone to Kilburn。 There was a little shed in the
yard； and behind this I drove one of the birdsa fine big one；
white； with a barred tail。 I caught it； and； prying its bill
open； I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger could
reach。 The bird gave a gulp； and I felt the stone pass along its
gullet and down into its crop。 But the creature flapped and
struggled； and out came my sister to know what was the matter。 As
I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and fluttered off
among the others。
〃‘Whatever were you doing with that bird； Jem？' says she。
〃‘Well；' said I； ‘you said you'd give me one for Christmas；
and I was feeling which was the fattest。'
〃‘Oh；' says she； ‘we've set yours aside for youJem's bird；
we call it。 It's the big white one over yonder。 There's
twenty…six of them； which makes one for you； and one for us； and
two dozen for the market。'
〃‘Thank you； Maggie；' says I； ‘but if it is all the same to
you； I'd rather have that one I was handling just now。'
〃‘The other is a good three pound heavier；' said she； ‘and we
fattened it expressly for you。'
〃‘Never mind。 I'll have the other； and I'll take it now；'
said I。
〃‘Oh； just as you like；' said she； a little huffed。 ‘Which is
it you want； then？'
〃‘That white one with the barred tail； right in the middle of
the flock。'
‘Oh； very well。 Kill it and take it with you。'
〃Well； I did what she said； Mr。 Holmes； and I carried the bird
all the way to Kilburn。 I told my pal what I had done； for he was
a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to。 He laughed
until he choked； and we got a knife and opened the goose。 My
heart turned to water； for there was no sign of the stone； and I
knew that some terrible mistake had occurred。 I left the bird；
rushed back to my sister's； and hurried into the back yard。 There
was not a bird to be seen there。
〃‘Where are they all； Maggie？' I cried。
〃‘Gone to the dealer's； Jem。'
〃‘Which dealer's？'
〃‘Breckinridge； of Covent Garden。'
〃‘But was there another with a barred tail？' I asked； ‘the
same as the one I chose？'
〃‘Yes； Jem； there were two barred…tailed ones； and I could
never tell them apart。'
〃Well； then； of course I saw it all； and I ran off as hard as
my feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge； but he had sold
the lot at once； and not one word would he tell me as to where
they had gone。 You heard him yourselves to…night。 Well； he has
always answered me like that。 My sister thinks that I am going
mad。 Sometimes I think that I am myself。 And nowand now I am
myself a branded thief； without ever having touched the wealth for
which I sold my character。 God help me！ God help me！〃 He burst
into convulsive sobbing； with his face buried in his hands。
There was a long silence； broken only by his heavy breathing；
and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes's finger…tips upon
the edge of the table。 Then my friend rose and threw open the
door。
〃Get out！〃 said he。
〃What； sir！ Oh； Heaven bless you！〃
〃No more words。 Get out！〃
And no more words were needed。 There was a rush； a clatter
upon the stairs； the bang of a door； and the crisp rattle of
running footfalls from the street。
〃After all； Watson；〃 said Holmes； reaching up his hand for his
clay pipe； 〃I am not retained by the police to supply their
deficiencies。 If Horner were in danger it would be another thing；
but this fellow will not appear against him； and the case must
collapse。 I suppose that I am commuting a felony； but it is just
possible that I am saving a soul。 This fellow will not go wrong
again； he is too terribly frightened。 Send him to jail now； and
you make him a jail…bird for life。 Besides； it is the season of
forgiveness。 Chance has put in our way a most singular and
whimsical problem； and its solution is its own reward。 If you
will have the goodness to touch the bell； Doctor； we will begin
another investigation； in which； also a bird will be the chief
feature。〃
。