The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-21

| day" he remarked, and he rubbed his hands
with the Joy of action The nets are all In
place, and the drag is about to begin. Well
know before the day is out whether we
have caught our big, lean-jawed pike. or
whether he has got through the meshes."
Have you been on the moor a~lready?"
81 have sent a report from Grimpen to
! Princetown as to the death Of Selden- I
#, think I can promise that none Of you will
be troubled in the matter. And I have al
SO communicated with my faithful Cart
wright. who would certainly have pined
away at the door Of my hut. as a dog
does at his masters grave. IL I had not
set his mind at rest about my safety"
What is the next mover
ITO see Sir Henry. All, here he Isl"
Good morning. Holmes" said the Baro-
net. You look like a General who Is PLAN
ming a battle with his chief of the stan"
That is the exact situation. Watson was
asking for orders"
And so do l."
VERY good. You are engaged. az 1 I'M
derstand to dine with our friends the
Stapletons tonight"
II hope that you will come also. They
are very hospitable people, and 1 am sure
that they would be very glad to see you"
II fear. that Watson. and I must go to
London"
Yes. I think that We should be more
| useful there at the present juncture."
The Baronet's face perceptibly length
ened.
II hope that you were going to sec me
through this business. The Hall and the
moor are not very pleasant places when one
Is alone"
My dear fellow. you must trust me i'm
plicity and do exactly what / tell you
You can tell your friends that We should
have been happy to have come with you.
but that urgent business required US to be
in town. We hope very soon to return TO
Devonshire. Will you remember to give
them that messenger"
IF you insist upon IL"
There is no alternative, I assure you"
/ saw by the Baronet's clouded brow
that he was deeply hurt by what he re-
garded rs our dese-tion.
When do you desire to go?' he asked,
colby.
Immediately after breakfast. We will
drive in to Coombe Tracey. but Watson will
leave his things as a pledge that he will
come back TO you. Watson, You will send
a note to Stapleton to tell him that you
regret that YOU cannot come"
Il have a good mind TO go TO London
with YOU" said the Baronet. why should
I stay here aloneg'
because il is your post. OF, duty. Be-
cause you gave me your word that you
would do as you were told. and 1 tell you
to stay"
Al right, then, III stay
"one more directioni / wish you to. drive
TO Merripit House. Send back your trap,
however. and let them know that you in
tend to walk home"
"To walk across the moor"
Yes"
But that is the very thing which you
have so often cautioned me not TO do"
This time you may do it with safety.
II 1 had not every confidence in your nerve
and courage I would not suggest it but IL
Is essential that you should do It,"
Then I will do It"
And as you value your life, do not go
across the moor N any direction save along
the straight path. which leads from Merri-
pit House to the Grimpen road. and is
. your natural way home"
81 will do just whatsyou say.
VERY good. I should be glad to get
away as soon after breakfast as possible,
so as TO reach London in the afternoon"
1 was much assounded by this pro-
gramme. though I remembered that Holmes
had said TO StapIeton on the night before
that his visit would ,terpninate' next day.
II had not crossed my mind, however. that
he would wish ue "a Fes FisA him n0f