December 21: "Twinkle" (from Worldweilder)
It was an ordinary Christmas ball. Mr. and Mrs. Watson were enjoying themselves. Mr. Sherlock Holmes was not. At least not until:
"My necklace!" a duchess cried.
At first, only the attention of those nearby was arrested, but a moment later there was another shout.
"Why, my ring is gone too!" exclaimed a middle-aged woman.
The orchestra screeched to a halt, and a moment of silence stretched over the crowd. Then came the pandemonium.
Watson looked round for his friend, but Holmes was already making his way toward the center of the crowd.
"Everyone calm down!" he shouted in his most commanding tone. Immediately, there was silence again. "Raise your hand if your jewelry was stolen."
A dozen hands went up, half of them near the back door. There were gasps all around.
"Remain calm, I shall return. Watson!" called Holmes, and dashed toward the door. The doctor followed suit, his wife at his heels.
The three flew onto the street, where several hansom cabs traveled to and fro. A block away, there was a twinkle of something in the gaslight as a dark figure disappeared into a cab.
"Driver!" Holmes called, stopping the nearest cab and evicting its current occupants, under protest. "Follow that cab!"
Watson and Mary piled in behind him, and their cab raced down the block.