The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-28

I his face white In the moonlight. his hands
raised in horror, glazing helplessly at the
frightful thing which was hunting him
! down.
blown all our fears to the winds. II he was
vulnerable he was mortal, and II we could
: wound him we could kill him Never have
I seen a mar run as Holmes ran that night.
: 1 am reckoned fleet of foot, but he out
paced me as much as / outpaced the little
professional In front of US as we few
up the track We heard scream after scream
from Sir Henry ard the deep roar of the
! hound. ! was in time TO see the beast
spring upon his victim. hurl him to the
ground and worry at his throat. But the
, next instant Holmes had emptied five bar
rels of his revolver into the creatures
flank. With a last FOWL of agony and a
vicious snap in the air 1t rolled upon its
back, four feet paving furiousiy. and then
fell limp upon its side. 1 STOPPED. painting,
and pressed my pistol 10 the dreadful.
shimmering head. but it was useless TO
press the trigger. The giant hound was
| dead.
Sir Henry lay insensIble where he had
fsj.sa. We tore away his collar. and
Holmes breathed a prayer of gratitude
when he saw that there was no sign of a
wound ard that the rescue had been In
time. Already4cu our friends eyel.ds shivered
and he made a feeble effort to move. Le-
strade thrust his brandy flask between the
Baronets teeth, and two frightened eyes
were looking up at US.
My Godi" he whispered. ssWhat was IL?
What, in heavens name, was it,"
Its dead. whatever It is said Holmes.
We've laid the family ghost once and for
ever"
In mere size and strength 1t was a terrible
creature which was lying stretched before
us. 1t was not a pure bloodhound and IL
was not a pure mastid; but 1t appeared to
be q combination of the two-gaunt, savage
and as large as a small lioness. Even now.
in the stiffness of death. the huge laws
seemed TO be dripping with a blush fame
and the small, deep-set, cruel eyes were
ringed with fire. 1 placed my hand upon the
glowing muzzle. and as / held them ND my
own fingers smoldered and CLEANED in the
darkness.
Phosphorus" I said.
"a cunning preparation of it." said
Holmes, shifting at the dead animal. There
Is no smell which might have interfered
with his power of scent. We owe YOU a deem
apology. ST Henry. for having exposed YOU
TO this fright. I was prepared for a hound,
but not. for such a creature as this. And the
fez gave us little time to receive him"
You have saved my life"
Having first endangered II. Are you
| strong enough TO standy'
"Give me another mouthful OF that
brandy and 1 shall DO ready for anything.
So: Now. II you will help me up. What
do you propose TO do"
ITO leave you here. You are not fit for
further adventures tonight II you will
wait, one or other OF US Will go back with
you TO the, Hall"
He tried to stagser TO HIS feet: but he
was SIN CHASTITY pale and trembling in
| every limb. We helped him TO a rock. where
he sat shivering with his face buried In his
hands
" must leave, you now" said Holmes
The rest Of our work must be done, and
! every moment is of Importance. We have
! our case. and now We only want our man
IT'S a thousand TO one against our finding
| him at the house" he continued. as We re-
traced our steps swiftly down the path
Those shots must have told him that the
game was up"
1--WE were some distance OF. and this fog
may have deadened them"
He followed the hound to call him Off
Of that you may be certain. No. no. he's