Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-07-19
BY CONAN DOYLE.

protestationS OF gratitude, the old crone
packed it away in her pocket and
shuffied off down the stairs. Sherlock
Holmes sprang to his feet the moment
she was gone and rushed into his room.
He returned in a few seconds envelop-
ed IN an ulster and a crayat. IN
follow her." he said, hurriedly; "she
must be an accomplice, and will lead
me to him. Wait up for me-" The
hall door had hardly slammed behind
our visitor before Holmes had descend
ed the stair. Looking through the win
dow, l could see her walking feebly
along the other side, while her pursuer
logged her some little distance behind.
Either his whole theory is incorrect"
/ thought to myself, "or else he will
be led now to the heart of the mys-
terry" There was nc need for him to
ask me to wait up for him, for / felt
that sleep was impossible until l heard
the result of his adventure.
1t was close upon 8 when he set out.
/ had no idea how long he might be,
but / sat stolidly putting at my pipe
and skipping over the pages Of Henri
Murger's Vie de Boheme." Ten
o'clock passed, and l heard the foot
steps of the maid as they battered off
TO bed. Eleven, and the more stately
tread Of the lapdlady passed my door,
bound for the same destination. 1t was
close upon II before l heard the s"arp
sound of his latch-key. The instant he
entered 1 saw by his face that he had
not been successful. Amusement and
chagrin seemed to be struggling for
the mastc.y until the former suddenly
carried the day, and he burst into a
hearty laugh.
Il wouldn't have the Scotland Yard
ers know it for the world" he cried,
dropping into his chair; Il have chat
fed them so much that they would
never have let me hear the end of 1t.
l can afford to laugh, because l know
that / will be even with them in the
long run"
What is 1t, then?" I asked.
"Oh, l don't mind telling a story
against myself. That creature had gone
a little way when she began 70 limp
and show every sign Of being foot
sore. Presently she came to a halt and
hailed a four-whealer which was pass
ing. I managed to be close to her so
as to hear the address, but I need not
have been so anxious. for she sang 1t
out Il I'D enough to be heard at the
other end Of the street. Drive TO No.
% Duncan street, Houndsditch,' she
cried. This begins to look genuine, l
thought. and having seen her safely
inside. | perched myself behind. That's
an art that every detective should be
an expert at. Well, away we ratified,
and never drew rein until we reached
the street in question. / hoped off
before we came 10 the door, AMI stroll
ei down the street In an easy, iounGlng
way. / saw the cab pull up. The driy-
er jumped down, and ] saw him open
the door and stand cxpectantly. Moth
inc came out though. When l reached
him. he was cropping about franticaly
In the empty cab, and giving vent to
the finest assorted collection OF o8ihs
that ever l listened to. There was no
sign or trace OF his passenger, n l
fear it will be some time before he gets
his fare. On inquiring at No. IL we
found that the house belonged to a
respectable paper-hanger named kes-
wick, and that no one Of the name
either Of Sawyer or Dennis had ever
been heard Of there"
.You don't mean to say" I cried, in
amaZement, that that tottering. feeble
old woman was able to get out of the
cab while it was In motion, without
either you or the driver seeing her."
"OId woman" said Sherlock Holmes,
sharply. I'VE were the old woman to
be taken In. II must have been a
young man, and an active one, too,
besides being an incompatible actor.
The get-up was inimitable. He saw
that he was followed, no doubt, and
used this means Of giving me the slip.
1t shows that the man we are after Is
not as lonely as l imagined he was,
but has friends who are ready to risk
something for him. Now, doctor, you
are looking done-up. Take my ad-
vice and turn in"
I was certainly feeling very weary,
so I obeyed his injunction. l left
Holmes seated in front of the smould-
ering fire, and long into the watches Of
the night I heard the low, melancholy
wailings of his violin, and knew that
he was still bordering over the strange
problem which he had set himself to
unravel