Wiggins left me at Soho Square and quite the medical man with bag in hand, I walked to the address indicated. The door deftly opened and Holmes guided me to a first floor room which was entirely in darkness. We stood by the window and watched the scene across the road. He said, “They occupy the street facing room on the first floor. I have been watching their comings and goings,” he said and produced a small telescope. He handed it to me and slightly moved the curtain beckoning me to observe their lighted room. From here we could see a scene which could almost be myself and Holmes; they were seated either side of a fireplace and both smoking cigars. The Thin man was talking animatedly and gesticulating. The Fat man was laughing at whatever was being said.
Holmes explained “They are quite set in their habits. They have lunch and dinner in a cafe in Old Compton Street and will have a seemingly innocuous stroll thereafter. I know they have been casing high class Restaurants and just this afternoon I saw the Thin man return to their room with what appeared to be small packages under his arm. My hypothesis is that these will be their means of extracting monies from the greedy restaurant owners.”
I asked Holmes why he had not just arranged for the men to be picked up by Hopkins or Lestrade whilst dining at the cafe. He replied “Watson, dear fellow, a medical man like yourself should know that the memory has a habit of forgetting, especially if time has passed. If we put either of these two men in a police lineup with other fat and thin men, show Monsieur Jonquet, do you think he will pick them out over a year later? No, we cannot take the risk. I want to catch these felons red handed.”
“So, what’s the plan Holmes?” I asked.
“Again we wait, Dear Watson, we wait and when they attend any one of the expensive West End Restaurants which fit their usual Modus Operandi we will be waiting.
When at 7pm we saw both of the men leave their room carrying a small wrapped up parcel, Holmes sprung into action. “Watson, they have their prop, now it’s our chance to snare a couple of rabbits”. He waited around 5 minutes and then sent a telegram message to Scotland Yard. Within 30 minutes we found ourselves in the presence of Inspector Hopkins and six strapping young constables.
“So, we are finally to catch our men, Mr. Holmes,” said Hopkins.
“Yes, and I most certainly look forward to a conversation with that pair,” said my friend.
Holmes bid two policemen to stay by the windows in our room and when the two men returned they should go to guard the front door thus blocking off their means of escape. Two further men were directed to the backyard and the last two to remain on the second floor landing.
The expert locksmith, Holmes picked the door locks as easily as though he had used a key. Holmes, Hopkins and myself soon found our way to the conmen’s room and noiselessly entered. Holmes, after days of watching, was well versed with the layout of the room and our eyes quickly became accustomed to the darkness. We then sat in the chairs which only an hour earlier had found the men we had been long searching for sitting and laughing and began our wait.
It was about 9pm and in the silence I thought I heard the far off chimes of Big Ben when we heard the front door open outside and the sound of voices as they walked up the stairs noisily and in exuberant spirits. Holmes and Hopkins took position behind the door and I behind the chair with my Revolver in hand.
The room door opened, the two men, one fat and one thin walked into the room. As soon as the Thin man had lit the room both Holmes and Hopkins sprung into action. Holmes tackled the Thin man to the ground and Hopkins had only put his hands on the Fat man who immediately put both hands up in surrender. Hopkins blew a whistle and suddenly the small room was full of Scotland yards finest and the two men were quickly put in cuffs.
“I told you we shouldn’t have come back to London, Alfie” said the Fat man to the Thin man.
“Shut up Sam, keep schtum, they don’t have anything on us,” said the man called Alfie.
Holmes bid Hopkins to seat the men, and looked at both in turn. He then addressed them, “well Samuel Turner and Alfred Jones, you have certainly led me a merry dance, but I have to tell you that your time is up. I know all about your games along the South Coast and can directly implicate you in five cases,” and with these words