The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-22

"1'll follow her." he said, hurriedly;
"she must be an accomplice, and will
lead me to him. Wait up for me-" The
hall door had hurriedly slammed be-
hind our visitor before Holmes had de-
scended the stair. Looking through
the window | could see her walking
feebly along the other side, while her
pursuer dogged her some little dis
tance behind. Either his whole the
ory is Incorrect" / thought to myself,
"or else he will be led now to the heart
of the mystery There was no need
for him to ask me to wait up for him,
for l felt that sleep was impossible
until / heard the result of his adven-
ture.
1t was close upon nine when he set
out had no idea how long he might
be, but | sat stolidlypufing at my pipe
and skipping over the pages of Henri
Murger's WE de Boheme." Ten
o'clock passed, and l heard the foot
steps of the maids as they pattered off
to bed. Eleven and the more stately
tread of the landlady passed my door,
bound for the same destination. 1t was
close upon twelve before heard the
sharp sound of his latch-key. The in
stant he entered saw by his face that
he had not been successful. Amuse-
ment and chagrin seemed TO be strug-
Cling for the mastery, until the former
suddenly carried the day, and he burst
into hearty laugh.
81 wouldn't have the Scotland Yard
ers know it for the world" he cried,
dropping into his chair; Il have chaffed
them so much that they would never
have let me hear the end of it. can
afford to laugh, because l know that |
will be even with them in the long
rum
What is it, then?" | asked.
"Oh, | don't mind telling a story
against myself. That creature had
gone little way when she began to
limp and show every sign of being
foot-sore. Presently she came to halt,
d
passing. managed to be close enough
to her to hear the address, but | need
not have been so anxious, for she sang
it ont 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, / cried, and having seen
her safely inside, l perched my
self behind. That's an art which every
detective should be an expert at. Well,
away we ratified, and never drew u
rein until we reached the street in
question. l hoped off before we came
to the door, and strolled down the
street in an easy, 1ounging way. saw
the cab pull up. The driver jumped
down, and l saw him open the door
and stand expectantly. Nothing came
out, though When I 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
|
will be some time before he gets his
fare. On inquiring at No. IS found
that the house belonged to respecta,
BILE 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" cried, in
amazement, "that that tottering, fee
BILE 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-d!" said Sherlock
Holmes, sharply. 1--WE were the old
women to be so taken in. 1t must have
been young man, and an active one
too, besides being an incompatible ac
tor. The get-up was inimltable. lie
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 tc
risk something for him. Now, doctor
you are looking done-up. Take my ad
vice and turn in."
was certainly feeling cry weary
SO | obeyed his injunction. l lef
Holmes seated in front of the smolder
ing fire, and long into the watches o
the night heard the low, melancholy
wailings of his violin, and knew tina
he was still pondering over the strang,
problem which he had set himself Il
unravel