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


up and down, talking excitedly and way-
ing his arms. OF her could see nothing.
Presently he emerged, looking even more
Hurried than before. As he stepped up to
the cab be pulled gold watch from his
pocket and looked at it earnestly. Drive
like the devil. he shouted. first TO Gross
& Hankey's in Regent street and then TO
the church of St. Monica in the Edge
ware road. Half guinea If you do 1t In
twenty minutes
Away they went. and was just Won
dering whether / should not do we'll TO
follow them, when up the lane came
neat little Landau, the coachman with his
coat only half buttoned and his tie under
his ear. while all the tags of his harness
were sticking out of the buckles. 1t
hadn't pulled up before she shot out of
the hall door and into it. | only caught
glimpse of her at the moment. but she
was a lovely woman, with face that
man might die for
The Church of st. Monica john
She cried, and half sovereign if you
reach it in twenty minutes
This was quite too good to lose, Wat
son. / was Just balancing whether |
should run for it or whether ! should
perch behind her landau, when cab came
through the street. The driver looked
twice at such shabby fare, but jumped
on before he could object. The Church of
St. Monica, said l, and half sovereign
if you reach it in twenty minutes 1t was
twenty-five minutes to twelve, and, of
course, it was clear enough what was in
the wind.
"My cabby drove fast. I don't think
ever drove faster, but the others were there
before us. The cab and the landau, with
their steaning horses, were in front of the
door when arrived. paid the man and
hurried into the church. There was not a
soul there, save the two whom / had
followed and a surpliced clergyman, who
seemed to be expostulating with them.
They were all three standing in knot in
front of the altar. | lounged up the side
aisle like any other idler who has dropped
into church. Suddenly, to my surprise,
the three at the altar faced round to me,
and Godfrey Norton came running as hard
as he could toward me-"
Thank God!' he cried. You'll do.
Come! Comet"
What then?n I asked.
"Come, man, come, only three minutes,
or it won't be legal.
l was half dragged up to the altar, and
before knew where l was | found my
self mumbling responses which were
whispered in my ear and vouching for
things of which | knew nothing, and gen.
orally assisting in the secure tying up of
Irene Adler, splnster, to Godfrey Nor
ton, bachelor. 1t was all done in an in
slant, and there was the gentleman thank
ing me on the one side and the lady on the
other, while the clergyman beamed
on me in front. 1t was the most
preposterous position in which | ever
found myself in my life, and it was the
thought of it that started me laughing just
now. 1t seems that there had been some
informality about their license, that the
clergyman absolutely refused to marry
them without witness of some sort, and
that my lucky appearance saved the bride
groom from having to sally out into the
streets in search of a best man. The bride
gave me sovereign, and | mean to wear it
on my watch chain in memory of the &C.
casion."
This is a very unexpected turn of af-
fairs" said |, land what then?"
We'll, found my plans very seriously
menaced. 1t looked as if the pair might
take an immediate departure, and so
necessitate very prompt and energetic
measures on my part. At the church
door, however. they separated, he driving
house. I shall drive out in the park at
as usual she said as she left him.
heard no more. They drove away in diff
terent directions and went off to make
my own arrangements"
(Which are?"
"some cold beef and glass of beer" he
answered, ringing the bell. II have been
too busy to think of food, and / am likely
to be buster still this evening. BY the
way, doctor, / shall want your co-opera-
ton
II shall be delighted"
you don't mind breaking the law?"
Not in the least"
Nor running a chance of arrest?"
Not in good cause"
''Oh, the cause is excellent"
"Then | am your man."
81 was sure that / might rely on you.''
But what is it you wish? ?"
"When Mrs. Turner has brought in the
tray / will make it clear to you. Now"
he said, as he turned hungrily on the SIM
Il must discuss it while / eat, for I have
not much time. 1t is nearly 5 now. In
two hours we must be on the scene of &C
ton. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, re-
turns from her drive at 7. We must be at
Briony lodge to meet her."
And what then?"
you must leave that TO me. have al
ready arranged what is to occur. There
is only one point on which / must in
sist. You must not interfere, come what
may. You understand"
II am to be neutral?"
''To do nothing whatever. There will
probably be some small unpleasantness.
Do not join in it. 1t will end in nv being
conveyed into the house. Four or five
minutes afterward the sitting-room win
dow will open. You are to station your
self close to that open window"
''Yes'
you are to watch me. for will be Wis
ible to YOU"
Eyes"
"And when l raise my hand-so-you
will throw into the room what will give
You to throw and will at the same time
raise the cry of "Firew You quite follow
me?"
Entirely"
at Is nothing very formidable" he said.
taking a long cigar-shaped roll from his
pocket. Tits an ordinary plumbers smoke
rocket, fitted with cap at either end TO
make it self-lighting. Your task is con-
fined to that. When you raise your cry OF
fire it will be taken up by quite a number
of people. You may then walk to the end
of the street and | will rejoin you in ten
minutes. | hope that | have made my
self clear?"
Il am TO remain neutral, to get near the
window, to watch You, and at the signal to
throw in this object, then 10 raise the cry
OF ire and TO wait you at the corner of the
street.
Precisely"
Then you may entirely rely on me-"
THAT is excellent. ] think perhaps il is
almost time that | prepared for the new
role have to play"
he disappeared into his bedroom and re-
turned IN few minutes in the character
of an amiabie and simple minded nom
conformist clergyman. His broad black
hat. his baggy trousers his white tie. his
sympathetic smile and general look of
peering and benevolent curiosity were
such as Mr.. John Hare alone could have
equaled 1t was not merely that Holmes
changed his costume. His expression. his
m -,