The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-09

| main arteries which convey the traffic oil
| the city to the norBh and west. The road
| way was blocked with the immense stream
| OF commerce flowing in double tide IN
wards and out8arsis, while the footpaths
| were black with the hurrying swarm of
| pedestrians. 1t was difficult to realize, as
| we looked at the line of fine shops and
| stately business premises that they really
/ abutted on the other side upon the faded
and stagnant square which We had just
| quilted.
Let me see," said Holmes, standing at
the corner, and CHANGING along the line,
Il should ike to remember the order OF the
| houses here. 1t is hobby of mine TO
| have an exact knowledge of London.
| There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the
| little newspaper shop. the Coburg branch
| of the City and Suburban Bank, the Vege-
| tartan restaurant, and McFarlane's car
| rage building depot. That carries US
| right on to the other block. Ana now,
| doctor, we've done our work, so it's time
we had some play. A sandwich and cup
| of coffee, and then off to vlolin-iand,
| where all is sweetness, and delicacv, and
| harmony, and there are no red-neaded
| clients to vex US with their conundrums.
1ou want to go home, no DOUBT, DOC
| tor. he remarked, as We emerged from ot.
| James hall two hours later.
Yes, it would be as well.
sAnd have some business to do which
| will take some hours. This business at
| Coburg square is serious. snail want
| you help tonight"
AT what timer"
Ten will be early enough.
II shall be at Baker street at ten"
every well. And. / say, Doctor, there
may be some little danger, so kindly put
your army revolver in your pocket. He
waved his hand, turned on his heel, and
disappeared in an instant among the
crowd.
1t was a quarter past 8 when / started
from home and made my way across the
park, and SO through oxford street to
Baker street. Two hansoms were stand
ing at the door, and, as l entered the
passage heard the sound of voices from
above. On entering his room | found
Holmes in animated conversation with
two men, one of whom | recognized as
Peter Jones, the official police agent, while
the other was long, thin, sad-faced man,
with very shiny hat and an oppressively
respectable frock coat.
"Hal our party is complete, said
Holmes, buttoning up his pea-jacket and
taking his heavy hunting crop, from the
rack. Watson, think YOU know Mr..
Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me intro
duce you to Mr.. Merryweather, who is to
be our companion in tonight's adventure.
We're hunting in couples again, Doc
a
tial way. "0ur friend here is a wonderful
man for starting chase. All he wants is
an old dog to help him to do the running
down"
81 hope wild goose may not prove to be
the end of our chase, observed Mr. Merry
weather, gloomily. 81 confess that miss
my rubber. 1t is the first Saturday night
for seven-and-twenty years that have not
had my rubber"
~ think you will find," said Sherlock
Holmes, that you will play for higher
stake tonight than you have ever done
yet, and that the play will be more excit-
ing. For you, Mr.. Merryweather, the
stake will be some 10000; and for you,
Jones, it will be the man upon whom you
wish to lay your hands"
"John Clay, the murderer. thief
smasher and forger," said the police agent
in explanation. Hes a young man, Mr..
Merryweather, but he is at the head of his
profession, and 1 would rather have my
bracelets on him than on any criminal in
London. He's remarkable man, is young
John Clay. His grandfather was royal
duke, and he himself has been to Eton
and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as
his fingers, and though we meet signs of
him at every turn, We never know where
to find the man himself. He'll crack
crib in Scotland one week, and be raising
money to build an orphanage in Cornwall
the next. I've been on his track for years,
and have never set eyes on him yet"
81 hope that / may have the pleasure of
introducing you tonight. I've had one or
two little turns also with Mr.. John Clay,
and / agree with you that he is at the
head of his profession. II is past 10, how
ever, and quite time that we started. If
you two will take the first hanson, Wat
son and will follow IN the second"
Sherlock Holmes was rot very commune
active duripp a lanU driv,a an1 Low hack
in the cab humming the tunes which he
had heard in the afternoon. We ratified
through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit
streets until we emerged into Harrington
street, and had reached the same crowded
thoroughfare in which we had found our
selves in the morning. Our cabs were dis
missed. and, following the guidance of Mr..
Merryweather, We passed down a narrow
passage and through side door. which he
opened for us. Within there was a small
corridor, which ended in a very massive
iron gate. This also was opened, and led
down flight of winding stone steps, which
terminated at another formidable gate. Mr..
Merryweather stopped to light lantern,
and then conducted us down dark, earth
smelling passage, and so, after opening
third door, into a huge vault or cellar,
which was piled all round with crates and
massive boxes.
on are not very vulnerable from
above" Holmes remarked, as he held up
the lantern, and gazed about him.
"Nor from below" said Mr. Merry
weather, striking his stick upon the flags
which lined the floor. why, dear me, it
sounds quite holow!'' he remarked, look
ing up in surprise.
81 must really ask you to be little
more quiet, said Holmes severely. "You
have already imperilled the whole success
of our expedition. Might beg that you
would have the goodness to sit down upon
one of those boxes, and not to interfere?"
The solemn Mr.. Merryweather perched
himself upon crate, with very injured
expression upon his face, while Holmes
fell upon his knees upon the floor, and,
with his lantern and magnliylng lens,
began 20 examine infinitely the cracks be-
tween the stones. A few seconds suticed
to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet
again and put his glass in his pocket.
"We have at least an hour before us"
he remarked, "for they can hardly take
any steps until the good pawnbroker is
safely in bed. Then they will not lose
minute, for the sooner they do their work
the longer time they will have for their
escape. We are at present, Doctor-as no
doubt you have diySped-in the cellar OF
London banks. Mr. Merryweather is the
chairman OF directors, and he will explain
to you that there are reasons why the
more daring criminals of London should
take considerable interest in this cellar
at present"
1T is our French gold" whispered the
director. I'VE have had several warnings
that an attempt might be made upon 1t.
our French gold2"
es. We had occasion some months
ago to strengthen our resources. and Dor
rOWeG, Tor that pfrDosa ~ (ff napOleOnS