With a bitter curse, he realized that however imprudent Jakes had been, he had not been such a fool as to carry his papers about with him.
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The End of Devil Hawker

By Jeff Nilsson

Last Christmas, Warner Brothers’ Studios released its seasonal blockbuster, “Sherlock Holmes.” Younger viewers who saw the movie might not have known that this was close to the 200th time the character of Holmes appeared in a movie. The great detective has become a literary industry that has rewarded many since he entered in the world in 1887, the creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Post readers may not know that Doyle published several times in our magazine. Three of his short stories — none, alas, featuring Holmes — appeared in the late 1920s.

Without further ado, we present “The End of Devil Hawker,” a Regency-era adventure that include a cameo appearance by Lord Byron. It appeared in the Post on August 23, 1930.

The End of Devil Hawker
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
August 23, 1930

(1859-1930) The creator of Sherlock Holmes wrote a variety of short stories, historical novels, non-fiction, and more. A physician, like Holmes’ companion Dr. Watson, Doyle only began because he had trouble establishing a lucrative medical practice. His creation of Holmes made him a global celebrity. In later years, he came to resent the detective he created, but realized that Holmes would always be a good financial provider for him.
Doyle was an athlete who excelled in soccer, cricket, and golf. In addition to his contributions to literature, Holmes was a humanitarian who championed the cause of George Edalji.

Edalji, a man with British and Indian parents was accused of blackmail and animal mutilations. Doyle’s non-fictitious detective work proved Edalji’s innocence and was a factor in the creation of the Court of Criminal Appeal in England.

Doyle’s three stories in the Post are “The Death Voyage,” “The End of Devil Hawker,” and “Maracot Deep.”

Read The End of Devil Hawker, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. August 23, 1930. [PDF]