The Adventure of the Bashful Benefactor

Willie MacFie, a professional Locksmith, has come to 221B Baker Street with a strange tale.

Three months ago, MacFie, on the verge of bankruptcy, received through the post an envelope enclosing a crisp, new twenty pound bank note. In an accompanying letter an anonymous benefactor requested only that MacFie equally share with others his good fortune. MacFie was instructed in the first letter to give half of his new fortune to a blind pencil seller in the Park at 1 p.m. that afternoon. MacFie hastened to comply.

Fortnightly, the anonymous bequests continued; likewise, many under privileged benefited: an old woman in the Pub, a surly one-armed carriage driver, a tattooed mariner at the Docks, and a pretty young lass working in the chemist.

At first MacFie surmised that his bashful patron might have been one of the following: his brother, Leland MacFie, a highly successful if unorthodox banker; his nephew, Niles MacFie, an actor; or his uncle Elston MacFie a noted eccentric. However, none of MacFie's relations had ever shown the slightest inclination towards charity; moreover, a handwriting comparison revealed none to be the author of the curious bequests.

MacFie vowed simply to keep the fortnightly gifts a secret; however early this morning, the locksmith happened to pass an investigation. Police surrounded the corpse of a young woman found bludgeoned to death in the alley behind the Chemist.

MacFie recognised the body, identified in the afternoon newspapers as Melanie Blakesley, to be the same young woman chosen to receive his benefactor's latest bequest. MacFie remained equally disturbed by the fact that on the day he had delivered

ten pounds to the girl in the Chemist, he had seen Melanie Blakesley conversing with a trembling Elston MacFie.