15th December prompt from trustingHim17: Fever

Fever

Check the parlour, inch by inch…

And check it once again.

Magnifying glass is out

To study Watson's cane.

Note the table near the window,

Freshly chipped and scraped…

Far too long since Watson vanished,

Since that fiend escaped.

Threads picked out from

Chair and carpet;

Prison garb, I note.

Proof indeed my friend's in trouble…

Look! He's left his coat!

Ominous congealing stains

Beneath the bureau chair…

Blood! I think it might be Watson's;

Quite a pool is there!

Some has spilled against the wainscot;

Splashes on the wall,

A smear adorns the curtain hem…

Suggests a nasty fall

And here! Some scattered splinters

From a heavy wooden club;

A dent which fits its outline

On the floor…a half smoked stub

Which isn't his tobacco,

Or a brand I've ever bought.

It must belong to Wilson,

And that villain must be caught!

Now…dust disturbed.. in scuffles

On the landing, I'll be bound

He's clearly kidnapped Watson,

And the doctor must be found!

I must alert Lestrade

To bid the Yard to seek my friend

With Wilson's reputation,

Goodness knows how this will end!

Now…time to put my coat, my boots

And deerstalker back on

And look for clues outside…

It's now three hours since Watson's gone!

I'll have to get a move on,

There is no more time to waste

He's got his hands on Watson

And this warrants all due haste!

What's that? A noise downstairs…

A grating sound; a turning key…

Good Heavens! There is Watson,

Quite unbloodied, whole…and free!

~0~

A startled cry of "Watson!"

As the doctor shut the door

Holmes seemed to be more flustered

Than he's ever been before.

His coat is fastened oddly,

With the buttonholes askew,

His left boot on his right foot,

And vice versa too.

He hurried to his comrade's side

And made the man sit down;

Explained that he'd had warning;

Knew that Wilson was in town.

When Wilson came to get him,

He was ready, acted first.

A brief and bloody fight ensued

And Wilson came off worst.

A message to Lestrade

Ensured the rogue was hauled away;

He had to give a statement

Which had caused him some delay.

He handed Holmes some water,

Found a cloth to mop his brow

"A fever, dear old chap?" he asked

Holmes' answered…

"No…Not now."

~0~