Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-06-28
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CHAPTER v.
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

CHAPTER "
Ie was close upon nine when he ..t
snt. l mad no idea how long he miobt
be, but sat stolidly putting at INV NM
and skipping over the pages of H.;
Murger's "Vie de Boheme.n IT,
o'clock passed, and heard the to-
steps OF the maids as they pattered Of
TO bed. Eleven and the more st.4.I-.
tread OF the landlady passed INV doo-
bound for the same destination r. 80
close upon twelve before I heard tho
sharp sound of his 1atch-key, The in
slant he entered saw by his face that
ne had not been successful. Amuse-
ment and chagrin seemed to be strpo-
Cling for the mastery. until the former
suddenly carried the day, and he burst
into hearty laugh.
II wouldn't have the Scotland yard-
ers know it for the world" he cried
dropping into his chair; II have chaffed
them so much that they would never
nave let me hear the end of it. I can
anord TO laugh, because / know that I
Will be even with them in the long
run"
What is it, then?" asked.
oh, L don't mind telling q story
against myself. That creature had
gone little way when she began to
imp and show every sign of being
foot-sore. Presently she came to a halt.
and hailed four-wheeler which was
passing. L managed to be close enough
To her to hear the address, but need
not have been SO anxious, for she sang
IL out loud enough to be heard at the
other side of the street Drive to Is
Duncan street, Houndsditch,' she
cried. This begins to look gen.
uine, I cried, and having seen
her safely inside, l perched nv
sell behind. That's an art which every
detective should be an expert at Well,
away we ratified, and never drew a
rein until we reached the street in
question. hoped off before we came
to the door, and strolled down the
street in an easy. lounging way. 1 saw
the cab pull up. The driver Jumped
down, and L saw him open the door
and stan.1 expectantly. Nothing came
out, though. When 1 reached him he
was cropping about frantically in the
empty cab, and giving vent to the
finest assorted collection of oaths that
ever / listened to. There was no sign
or trace OF his passenger. and fear it
will be some time before he gets his
fare. On inquiring at No. Is found
that the house belonged to a respecta-
bic paper-hanger, named Keswick. and
that no one of the name either of Saw
Yer or Dennis had ever been heard of
there"
You don't mean to say" l cried, in
amazement, "that that tottering, fee
bic old woman was able to get out of
the cab while it was in motion, with
out either you or the driver seeing
her?''
''Old woman be d-dr' said Sherlock
Holmes, sharply. 1--WE were the old
women to be SO taken in. 1t must have
too, besides being an incompatible &C
tor. The get-up was inimltable- 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 imagined he |
was. but has friends who are ready to |
risk something for him. Now, doctor,
you are looking done-up. Take my adj
vice and turn in"
was certainly feeling very weary, |
SO 1 obeyed his injunction. 1 left |
Holmes seated in front of the smolder- |
ing 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.