The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-12

at is most unlikely that she carries it
about with her. Ii is cabinet size. too
large for easy concealment about a
woman's dress. She knows that the king
is capable of having her waylaid and
searched. Two attempts of the sort have
then, that she does not carry il about with
her.
Where, them"
Her banker or her lawyer There is
that double possibility. But / am in
clined to think neither. Women are
naturally secretive. and they like 10 do
their own secreting Why should she
hand 1t over to any one else? She could
trust her own guardianship. but she
could not tell what indirect or political
influence might be brought TO bear upon a
business man. Besides, remember that
she had resolved to use il within few
days. 1t must be where she can lay her
hands upon 1t. 1t must be III her own
house"
But it has been twice burgled."
"Pshawi They did not know how to
look"
but how will you Iook7"
Il will not look"
what them"
81 will get her TO show me-"
"But she will refuse"
''She will not be able to But hear the
rumble of wheels. 1t is her carriage. Now
carry out my orders to the letter"
As he spoke the CLEAN of the sidelights
of carriage came round the curve of the
avenue. 1t was a smart little landau
which ratified mp TO the door of Briony
Lodge. As it pulled up one of the loafing
men at the corner dashed forward to open
the door in the hope of earning copper,
but was eibowed away by another ioafer
who had rushed up with the same inten-
Il boil nh Nh
was increased by the two guardsmen, who
took sides with one of the loungers, and
by the scissors grinder, who was equally
hot upon the other side. blow was
struck, and in an instant the lady who had
stepped from her carriage, was the center
of a little knot of flushed and struggling
men who struck savagely at each other
with their fists and sticks. Holmes
dashed into the crowd to protect the lady,
but just as he reached her he gave a cry
and dropped to the ground with the blood
running freely down his face. At his fall
the guardsmen took TO their heels in one
direction and the loungers in the other,
while number of better dressed people,
who had watched the scuffie without TAX
ing part in it, crowded in to help the lady
and to attend to the injured man. Irene
Adler, as | will still call her, had hurried
up the steps, but she stood at the top, with
her superb figure outlined against the
lights of the hall, looking back into the
street
Is the poor gentleman much hurt2"
she asked.
HE is dead" cried several voices
''No, no; there's lite in him." shouted
another, ''but he'll be gone before you can
get him to the hospital"
He's a brave fellow" said woman.
"They would have had the lady's purse
and watch if it hadn't been for him. They
were gang, and rough one, too. All,
he's breathing now"
He can't lie in the street. May we
bring him in, marin Pr
Surely. Bring him into the sitting
room. There is comfortable sofa. This
way, pleased" Slowly and solemnly he
was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out
in the principal room, while / still OBJ
served the proceeding from my post by
the window. The lamps had been lit, but
the blinds had not been drawn, so that
could see Holmes as he lay upon the
couch. l do not know whether he was
seized with conjunction at that moment
for the part he was playing, but know
that / never felt more heartily
ashamed of myself in my life than when
/ saw the beautiful creature against
whom | was conspiring, or the grace and
kindliness with which she waited upon
the injured man. And yet it would be the
blacklist treachery to Holmes to draw back
now from the part which he had intrusted
to me. hardened my heart and took the
smoke rocket from under my ulster. After
all, l thought, we are not injuring her.
We are but preventing her from injuring
another.
Holmes had sat upon the couch and saw
him motion like man who is in need of
air. A maid rushed across and threw open
the window. At the same instant saw him
nd af r
my rocket into the room with cry of fire.
The word was no sooner out of my mouth
than the whole crowd of spectators, we'll
dressed and ill-gentlemen, hostlers and
servant maids-joined in general shrek
of fire. Thick clouds of smoke curled
through the room and out at the open win
dow. l caught q glimpse of rushing figures.
and a moment later the voice of Holmes
from within, assuring them that it was a
false alarm. Slipping through the shout
ing crowd made my way TO the corner of
the street, and in ten minutes was reioiced
to lind my friends arm in mine, and to get
awav from the scene of uproar.
He walked swiftly and in silence for
some few minutes until we had turned
down one of the quiet streets which lead
toward the Edgware road.
~ on did il very nicely, DOCTOR" he re-
marked. Nothing could have been let
ter. 1t is all right"
You have the photograph"
Il know where il is
And how did you lind out? ''
"She showed me, as l told you that she
would"
II am still in the dark"
Il do not wish 10 make a mystery. said
he, laughing. The matter was perfectly
simple. You, of course, saw that every
one IN the street was an accomplice They
were all engaged for the evening"
II guessed as much"
Then, when the row broke ont. I had a
little moist red paint in the palm of my
hand. | rushed forward fell down.
clapped my hand to my face and became a
plteous spectacle. 1t is an old trick"
THAT also l could fathom."
Then they carried me in. She was
bound TO have me in. What else could
she do? And into her sitting room, which
was the very room which | suspected. 1t
lay between that and her bedroom, and
was determined TO see which They laid
they were compelled to open the window,
and you had your chance
How did that help you?"
at was all important. When a woman
thinks that her house is on fire her instinct
is at once to rush TO the thing which she
values most. 1t is perfectly overpower-
ing impulse and | have more than once
taken advantage of 1t. In the case of the
Darlington substitution scandal il was of
use 10 me and also in the Arnsworth Cas-
tie business. A married woman grabs at
her baby. an unmarried one reaches for
her jewel box. Now, il was clear TO me
that our lady of today had nothing in the
house more precious to her than what wa