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

to follow the quick, subtle methods by
which he disentangled the most inextric-
able mysteries. So accustomed was | to
his invariable success that the very posi-
bility of his failure had ceased to enter into
my head.
1t was close upon 4 before the door
opened, and drunken looking groom, i'll
kempt and side whiskered, with an in
famed face and disreputable clothes,
walked into the room. Accustomed as
was to my friends amazing powers in the
use of DISCUSSES / had to look three times
before | was certain it was indeed he.
With nod he vanished into the bedroom,
whence he merged in five minutes tweed
suited and respectable as of old. Putting
his hands into his pockets he stretched out
his legs in front of the fire and laughed
heartily for some minutes.
well, really!" he cried, and then he
choked, and laughed again until he was
obliged to lie back limp and helpless in the
chair.
"What is it?"
Its quite too funny. I am sure YOU
could never guess how l employed my
morning or what ended by doing"
Il can't imagine. | suppose that you
have been watching the habits and per-
haps the house of Miss Irene Adler"
Quite so, but the sequel was rather un-
| usual. | will tell you, however. left the
house little after O'Clock this morning
in the character of a groom out of work.
There Is wonderful sympathy and free
masonry among horsey men. Be one of
them and you will never know
found Briony lodge. 1t is q bijou
villa, with a garden at the back, but built
| out In front right up to the road. two
| stories. Chubb lock to the door. Large
sitting-room on the right side, well fur
nished, with long windows almost to the
1 Annr Nd II
| dow fasteners which a child could open.
| Behind there was nothing remarkable,
| save that the passage window could be
| reached from the top of the coachhouse.
| / walked around it and examined it closely
| from every point of view, but without
| noting anything else of interest.
| 81 then lounged down the street and
| found, as l expected, that there was a
| news in lane which runs down by one
/ wall of the garden. lent the hostlers a
| hand in rubbing down their horses, and
| received in exchange twopence, glass of
| half-and-half, two fills of shag tobacco and
| as much information as / could desire
about Miss Adler, to say nothing of halt a
| dozen other people in the nelghborhood IN
| whom | was not in the least interested
| but whose biographies was compelled to
| listen to-"
And what of Irene AdlerP" asked.
''Oh, she has turned all the mems heads
down in that part She is the daintiest
| thing under bonnet on this planet So
says the Serpentlne News TO a man. She
lives quietly, sings at concerts, drives out
at every day and returns at Z sharp for
dinner. Seldom goes out at other times
except when she sings. Has only one
male visitor, but good deal of HIM He
is dark, handsome and dashing; never
calls less than once day, and often twice
He is Mr.. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner
Tarppia tho adyanfapas az
as confidant They had driven him home
dozen times from SerpentIne News, and
knew all about him. When | had listened
TO all that they had 10 tell, began TO walk
up and down near Briony Lodge once
more, and to think over my plan of cam
paign.
This Godfrey Norton was evidently an
important factor in the matter. He was
lawyer. That sounded ominous What
was the relation between them. and what
the object of his repeated visits2 Was
she his client, his friend or his mistress
II the former, she had probably transferred
the photograph 10 his keeping. If the lat
ter il vas less likely On the issue of this
question depended whether ! should con-
tinue my work at Briony Lodge or turn
my attention to the gentleman's cham
bers in the Temple. It was delicate
point, and il widened the field of my in
guiry. j fear that bore you with these
details, but | have TO let you see my little
difficulties if you are TO understand the
situation"
L am following you closely" 1 an
swered.
II was still balancing the matter in my
mind, when a hanson cab drove up TO
Briony Lodge and a gentleman sprang
out. He was rem irkably handsome
man, dark, aquiline al / mustached-evi-
IDENTIFY the man OF whom ! had heard.