A Strange Drawing
One morning, Sherlock Holmes handed me a sheet of paper.
'Look, Watson,' he said. 'Can you explain this problem?'
I looked at the paper. To my surprise, it was covered with
a line of strange pictures. These pictures looked like little
dancing men.
'A child must have drawn these,' I said. 'Where did you get
this piece of paper, Holmes?'
'It arrived by post this morning,' answered Holmes. 'A man
called Hilton Cubitt, of Ridling Thorpe Manor in Norfolk, sent it
to me. Mr Cubitt is coming to see me today.
There's a ring at the doorbell, Watson. Perhaps that's Mr
Cubitt now.'
A moment later, a tall gentleman entered the room. He had a
handsome face with clear blue eyes and looked very strong and
healthy.
This gentleman shook hands with both of us. Suddenly he
caught sight of the strange drawings.
'Here's a mystery, Mr Holmes,' he said. 'What do you think of
these drawings?'
They look like children's drawings,' replied Holmes. 'But
why do you think they are important?'
'I don't, Mr Holmes. But these drawings are making my wife
very frightened. That's why I have come to see you. I want to find
out what they mean.'