Our 22nd Meeting!

Our 22nd meeting was conducted on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, and began at 7pm at 5905 Carolina Beach Road, Unit 7, in Monkey Junction. Attending was (from left to right) Barry, Candace, Barb, Michelle, Pat, Rick, Beth, Bill, Linda, Henry, and myself (Tom).

Notes from this meeting:

INTRODUCTION:  The meeting began about 10 minutes late.  Tonight's small talk on one side of the room was political, and on the other, it was quite literary.  But finally, when everyone settled down, we began.

MYSTERY QUOTE:  Credit for the correct identification of the quote is awarded to Barb, Candace, Barry, Bill, Pat, and Beth.  It was a description taken from the story "The Musgrave Ritual", and everyone agreed that it was pretty easy. 

MYSTERY CHARACTER:  Candace did a marvelous job with two character descriptions.  In both cases, she actually read the descriptions as if she was the character! Very well done!  Credit will be awarded to herself, Bill, Pat and Beth. The first was a character from "The Noble Bachelor", and the second was a character from "The Empty House."

SHOW AND TELL:  Tonight, Tom brought two books - one large book that described how SH came about, and a very small book containing only 2 stories.  He also brought the Sherlock Holmes action figure.

MYSTERY TO SOLVE:  The mystery at tonight's meeting was entitled, "Melvin Plays the Ponies", and was correctly solved by Henry. In case you missed the meeting, the solution is as follows:  "This is an old con game that can be performed by any criminal willing to make several hunded telephone calls - 343 at first, then 49, then 7 more.  Eventually, one name will surface that has won all three races, and that person is the patsy that will fall victim to the criminals activities."  If you need more of an explanation than that, please give me a call!

TONIGHT'S STORY:  Rick did a great job leading us in a discussion of ACD's story entitled "The Final Problem."  As we discussed this story, much was revealed about ACD himself, and how he wrote his stories.  Furthermore, we discussed the impact that Sherlock Holmes has had on the world, and the pressure that ACD was under to bring him back from the grave!

Plans for the March, 2019 meeting:

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, and be held at Beach PC, 5905 Carolina Beach Road, Unit 7. The starting time is 7pm, and the meetings usually last until 8:30pm. All are welcome to attend, but, it would be a nice gesture to let Tom know in advance if you plan to come. ​

MYSTERY QUOTE:

“The facts are these, Mr. Holmes,” said he. “I am a married man, and have been so for three years. During that time my wife and I have loved each other as fondly and lived as happily as any two that ever were joined. We have not had a difference, not one, in thought or word or deed. And now, since last Monday, there has suddenly sprung up a barrier between us, and I find that there is something in her life and in her thought of which I know as little as if she were the woman who brushes by me in the street. We are estranged, and I want to know why.
“Now there is one thing that I want to impress upon you before I go any further, Mr. Holmes. Effie loves me. Don’t let there be any mistake about that. She loves me with her whole heart and soul, and never more than now. I know it. I feel it. I don’t want to argue about that. A man can tell easily enough when a woman loves him. But there’s this secret between us, and we can never be the same until it is cleared.”

MYSTERY CHARACTER:

Once again, Candace has volunteered to bring one or two character descriptions from one or more stories we have already read.  Thanks Candace!

STORY TO DISCUSS:

During the March meeting, Henry has volunteered to bring a story for us to discuss, but it's not a Sherlock Holmes mystery.  Instead, Henry wants us to read "Horror of the Heights", which can be read by clicking on the following button:

Click HERE to read "Horror of the Heights"

MYSTERY TO SOLVE: