Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-15

| For you, Mr.. Merryweather, the stake will
be some $50, 600; 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 -expla-
nation. "He's young man, Mr.. Merry
weather, but he is>at the head of his profess
sion, and would rather have my bracelets
on him than on any criminal in London.
He's remarkable man, is young John
Clay.
sfHis 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 him
self
He'll crack a 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''
Sherlock Holmes was not very communi-
cative during the long drive, and lay back
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 Far
rington street. and had reached the same
crowded thoroughfare in which we had found
ourselves in the morning.
Our cabs were dismissed, and, following
the guidance of Mr.. Merryweather, we
passed down narrow passage and through
side door which he opened for us. With
in there was small corridor, which ended
in a very massive iron gate. This also was
opened, and led down a flight of winding
stone steps which terminated at another
formidable gate.
Mr.. Merryweather stopped to light Ian
tern and then conducted us down a dark,
earth-smelling passage, and so, after open
ing third door, into huge vault or cellar,
which was piled all around with crates and
massive boxes
The solemn NJ. Merryweather perched
himself upon crate, with very injured
expression upon his face, while Holmes fell
upon his knees upon the floor, and, with
the lantern and magnifying lens, began to
examine minutely the cracks between the
stones.
A few seconds suficed 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, F" he
remarked, ssfor 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.
1--WE are at present, doctor-as no doubt
you have divined-in the cellar OF the city
branch of one of the principal London
banks Mr. Merryweather is the chairman
of directors, and he will explain to you that
there are reasons why the more daring crim-
inals of London should take considerable
interest in this cellar at present.
SIT is our French gold," whispered the
director. "We have had several warnings
that an attempt might be made upon it.
sYour French gold?"
eyes We had occasion some months ago
to strengthen our resources, and borrowed,
for that purpose, $4,000 napoleons from the
Bank of France. 1t has become known that
we have never had occasion to unpack the
money, and that it is still lying in our Gel
lar. The crate upon which 1 sit contains
1000 napoleons, packed between layers OF
lead foil"
'Now." observed Holmes, ''it is time
that we arrange our little plans. expect
that within an hour matters will come to
head. In the meantime, Mr.. Merryweather,
we must put the screen over that dark Ian
tern"
"And sit in the dark?"
81 am afraid So And, first of all, we
must choose our positions These are dar-
ing men, and though we shall take them at
a disadvantage, they may do us some harm,
unless we are careful.
sI shall stand behind this crate, and do
YOU conceal yourself behind those. Then,
when L flash a light upon them, close IN
swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no COM
junction about shooting them down.
1 placed my revolver, cooked, upon the