The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-09-19
A STUDY IN SCARLET
CHAPrER Yn-continued.
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

this address with considerable lmpa-
tience, could contain himself no longer
Look here, Mr.. Sherlock Holmes.
he said, I'VE are all ready to acknowl-
edge that you are smart man, ana
that you have your own methods Oh
working. We want something more
than mere theory and preaching now
though. 1t is case OF taking the
man. | have made my case out, anu
It seems | was wrong. Young Char-
pentier could not have been engaged IN
this second affair. Lestrade went after
his man, Stangerson, and 1t appears
that he was wrong, too. You have
thrown out hints here and hints there,
and seem to know more than we DO,
but the time has come when We feel
that we have a right to ask you
straight how much you do know OF
the business. Can you name the man
who did it,"
"I cannot help feeling that Gregson
Is right, sir" remarked Lestrade. We
have both tried, and we have both
failed. You have remarked more than
once since | have been in the room
that you had all the evidence which
you require. Surely you will not with
hold 1t any longerY"
"Any delay in arresting the assas-
sin," observed, might give him time
to perpetrate some fresh atrocity.
Thus pressed by us all, Holmes
showed signs of irresolution
He continued to walk up and down
the room with his head sunk on his
chest and his brows drawn down, as
was his habit when lost in thought.
There will be no more murders" he
said, at last, stopping abruptly and fac
ing us. you can put that considera-
tion out of the question. You have
asked me If know the name of the
assassin. do. The mere knowing OF
his name is a small thing, however,
compared with the power of laying our
hands upon him. This expect very
shortly to do. | have good hopes or
managing It through my own arrange
ments but It Is thing which needs
delicate handling, for we have a
shrewd and desperate man to deal
with, who Is supported, as have had
occasion to prove, by another who Is as
clever as himself. AS long as this man
has no idea that any one can have
clew, there is some chance OF securing
him; but II he had the slightest sus-
picion, he would change his name, and
vanish in an instant among the four
million inhabitants Of this great city.
without meaning to hurt either OF your
feelings, am bound to say that con-
slider these men to be more than a
match for the official force, and that is
why have not asked your assistance.
II l fail shall, of course, incur all the
blame due to this omission; but that
am prepared for. At present am
ready to promise that the instant
can communicate with you without
endangering my own combinations
shall do So"
Gregson and Lestrade seemed to be
far from satisfied by this assurance, or
by the deprecating allusion to the de
tective police.
The former had flushed up to the
roots of his flaxen hair, while the
others beady eyes glistened with curl
osity and resentment,
Neither of them had time to speak
however, before there was tap at the
door and the spokesman of the street
arab, young Virgins, introduced his
insignificant and unsavory person.
please, sir" he said, touching his
forelock, 81 have the cab down stairs
Good boy" said Holmes. blandly
"Why don't you introduce this pattern
at Scotland Yard?" he continued, TAX
ing a pair of steel handouts from d
drawer. "See how beautifully the
spring works. They fasten in an in
stant."
"The old pattern Is good enough,
remarked Lestrade, "if we can find the
man to put them on"
Very good, very good, said Holmes
smiling. "The cabman may as wei
help me with my boxes. Just ask hin
to step up, Virgins"
| was surprised to find my compan
ion speaking as though we were abou
tU start out on journey, since he haC
not said nothing to me about 1t.
There was a small portmanteau ii
the room, and this he pulled out ant
began to strap.
He was busily engaged at it wheI
the cahman entered the room.
"Just give me a help with thiI
buckle, cabman," he said, kneelint
over his task, and never turning hi
head
The fellow came forward with
somewhat sullen defiant air, and pu
down his hands to assist
At that instant there was sharl
click, the jangling of metal, and SheI
lock Holmes sprang to his feet again
Gentlemen" he cried, with flashing
eyes, '1et me introduce to you Mr. Jei
ferson Hope, the murderer Of Enocl
Drebber and Joseph Stangerson.
The whole thing occurred in a me
ment-so quickly that | had no time t
realize 1t.
have a vivid recollection of that II
stant of Holmes triumphant expires
sion and the ring of his voice, of tn
cahman's dazed. savage face, as h
glared at the glistening handouts
which had appeared as II by magi
upon his wrists.
For a second or two We might hav
been a group of statues. Then, wit
an inartIculate roar Of fury, the prii
oner wrenched himself free froT
Holmes grasp, anu hufleu MhSS
through the window.
Woodwork and glass gave way b,
fore him; but before he got quit
through Gregson, Lestrade and Holme
sprang upon him like so many stal
hounds.
He was dragged back into the room
and then commenced terrific confiic
So powerful and so fierce was /
that the four of us were shaken o
again and again. He appeared to haV
the convulsive strength Of a man
an epileptic At.
His face and hands we're terrib
mangled by the passage through II
glass, but loss Of blood had no effe
in diminishing his resistance.
It was not until Lestrade succeeds
in getting his hand inside his nee
cloth and half strangling him that v
made him realize that his struggl'
were Of no avail; and even then v
felt no security until we had pinion'
his feet as well as his hands. Tn
done, We rose to our feet. breathle