The history of the short story is indeed quite short. It is the most modern of popular literary forms, having its roots in the work of Edgar Allen Poe. Doyle is doubly indebted to the American author, first, because he is considered the creator of the modern short story form, and second, because Poe was a master of both horror stories and tales of "ratiocination" (detective fiction).

Doyle, in fact, tips his cap to Poe in the story when there is talk in town that a "great ape" may might be the criminal.

This, of course, was the solution to Poe's great mystery, "The Murder in the Rue Morgue." Doyle was himself a master of detective fiction. He had already gained fame for the first series of Sherlock Holmes stories when he wrote "Lot No. 249."

Although he wrote in a longer form, there seems little doubt...