Sherlock Holmes Joins Scout Finch And Dr. Seuss

This is starting to get a little weird, you guys. This year has already seen Harper Lee find a forgotten To Kill a Mockingbird sequel manuscript and Dr. Seuss' widow find an illustrated manuscript for What Pet Should I Get? And now 80-year-old historian Walter Elliot has uncovered a never-before-seen Sherlock Holmes story, the first in 80 years. Elliot found Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story in a collection of short stories written by Selkirk, Scotland locals for a local bazaar, aiming to save a beloved bridge. The story is titled "Sherlock Holmes: Discovering the Border Burghs and, by deduction, the Brig Bazaar."

Conan Doyle visited Selkirk and also fell in love with the bridge, which was destroyed by a flood. In order to help fund the bridge's restoration, he contributed this story to The Book o' the Brig, which was sold to raise money for its repair in 1904. Eliot says he was given the 48-page Book o' the Brig by a friend, and he recently found it in his attic so he could contribute it to a local pop-up museum. So now you better believe that book is going to be on display, front and center.

And in case you were wondering: Yes, they were able to rebuild the bridge and it still stands today.

I know what you're thinking: Hey, can I read this story or what? Yes. The Guardian published the 1,300-word Sherlock Holmes and Watson short story in its entirety, and here's a short excerpt:

'And when shall I see you again, Watson? The inquiry into the "Mysteries of the Secret Cabinet" will be continued in Edinburgh on Saturday. Do you mind a run down to Scotland? You would get some capital data which you might turn to good account later.''I am very sorry,' replied Dr Watson, 'I should have liked to have gone with you, but a prior engagement prevents me. I will, however, have the pleasure of being in kindly Scottish company that day. I, also, am going to Scotland.''Ah! Then you are going to the Border country at that time?''How do you know that?''My dear Watson, it's all a matter of deduction.'

So now that we have Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harper Lee, and Dr. Seuss, who's secret, lost manuscript will be unearthed next? Shakespeare? Hemingway? I'm pushing for Zora Neale Hurston's or Emily Bronte's never-before-seen sequel to Wuthering Heights. Hey ,maybe we can find that elusive first edition of The Iliad .

Image: Giphy