Walter Elliot, 80, found a book with this story in his attic. "The story sits alongside prose and poetry by local people, and was published as part of a three-day fund-raising bazaar," the Guardian writes.
The book was published in 1904 to raise money to restore a bridge in Selkirk washed away by a flood in 1902. Elliot said the writer had visited the town and agreed to make his contribution to fund raising.
Walter Elliot, a historian and poet, said he had kept it in his attic for some 40 or 50 years.
"It’s unsigned, and I’m not a specialist, but the vocabulary seems pretty close to the way
Conan Doyle wrote. I’m fairly sure it was written by him," he said about the story.
Locals organized a three-day event to raise funds for a new bridge in 1904.
Conan Doyle was guest of honour on the final day of the bazaar, and his attendance was announced on the end page.
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