The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-05

be ignored. It was impossible to re-
fuse the request of fellow-country-
woman dying in strang land. Yet
had my scruples about leaving Holmes.
It was finally agreed, however, that he
should retain the young Swiss mes
panion while I returned to Meiringen.
My friend would stay some little time
at the fall, he said, and would then
walk slowly over the hill to Rosenlaui,
where | was to rejoin him in the eve
ming. AS | turned away I saw Holmes,
with his back against rock and his
Arms folded, gazing down at the rush of
the waters. It was the last that 1 was
ever destined to see Of him in this
world
When I was near the bottom of the
descent l looked back. 1t was impos-
sible. from that position, to see the fall,
but | could see the curving path which
leads to it. Along this man was,
remember, walking very rapidly.
I could see his black figure clearly
outlined against the green behind him.
| noted him, and the energy with which
he walked, but he passed from my mind
again as hurried on upon my errand.
1t may have been a little over an
Steiler was standing at the porch of his
hotel
"Wel,' said I, as I came hurrying
up, trust that she is no worse7''
| A look of surprise passed over his
| face, and at the first culver of his eye
b brows my heart turned to lead in my
"You did not write thisq' I said,
pulling the letter from my pocket.
hotel9"
:" Certainly not!" he cried s'But it
has the, hotel mark upon it! Ha, it
must have been writ en- by that tall
gone. He said
But I waited for none of the land
lord s explanations. In tingle of fear
l was already running down the village
street, and making for the path which
I had SO lately descended. It had taken
me an hour to come down. For all my
found myself at the fall of Reichen-
bach once more. There was Holmes
Alpine stock still leaning against the
rock by which had left him.
But there was no sign of him,
and it was in vain that shouted.
my only answer was my ", own voice
cliffs around me.
1t was the sight Of that Alpine stock
which turned me cold and sick. He had
not gone to Rosenlaui, then. He had
: remained on that three-foot path, with
sheer wall on one side and sheer drop
on the other, until his enemy had over
; taken him. The young Swiss had gone,
, too. He had probably been in the paw
Of Moriarty, and had left the two men
> together. And then what had hap
' pened9 Who was to tell US what had
' happened then7
I stood for minute or two to coll
( lect myself, for I was dazed with the
f horror of the thing. Then I began to
s think Of Holmes own methods and to
$ tragedy. 1t was, alas, only too easy to
z do. During our conversation we had
not gone. to the end of the path, and
I the tAlpine-stock marked the place
7 where we. had stood. The blackish soil
: is kept, forever soft by the incessant
q it's tread upon it. Two lines of foot
= marks were clearly marked along the
= farther end of the path, both leading
away from me. There were none re-
: turning. A few yards from the end Of
= the soil was all plowed up into a patch
z of mud, and the brambles and ferns
e which fringed the chasm were torn and
q bedraggled. | lay upon my face and
4 peered over with the spray spouting up
all around me. It had darkened since
O I left, and now ] could only see here
:. and there the glistening of moisture
n upon the black walls, and far away
n down at the end Of the shaft the CLEAN
d Of the broken water. I shouted; but
n only that same half human cry Of the
Y fall was borne back to my ears.
But I was destined that should aft
@ er all have last word of greeting from
d my friend and comrade. / have said
f that his Alpine-stock had been left lean
d ing against rock which jutted on to
e the path. From the top of this bowlder
tho er1eam of cono ct hin hri pb
[ my eye, and, raising my hand, found
y that it came from the silver cigarette
e case which he used to carry. AS I took
Re it up a small square of paper upon
r which it had lain futtered down on
y to the ground. Unfolding it, 1 found
" from his notebook and addressed to
1t me. It was characteristic of the man
u that the direction. was as precise, and
q the writing as firm and clear. as tho it
had been written in his study.
e "My dear Watson it said, "I write
/. these few lines thru the courtesy of Mr..
It Moriarty. who awaits my convenience
~ for the final discussion of those ques
- tions which lie between us. He has
ye been giving me sketch of the methods
n by which he avoided the English DO:
+ lice and kept himself informed of our
lr movements They certainly confirm the
Id very high opinion which / had formed
I'd OF his abilities. L am pleased to think
s. that I shall be able to free society from
e, any further effects of his presence, tho
IF / fear that it is at cost which will
lg give pain to my friends, and especially
ne my dear Watson, to you. have al
n ready explained to you, however, that
to my career had in any case reached its
re crisis, and that no possible conclusion
ut to it could be more congenial to me than
this. Indeed, if may make full con
le fession to YOU, / was quite convinced
", that the letter from Meiringen was :
m hoax, and I allowed you to depart on
le] that errand under the persuasion thai
to some development of this sort wouIt
n follow. Tell Inspector Patterson that
" the papers which he needs to convict
n the gang are in pigeonhole NJ, done
b, up in blue envelope and inscribed
m fMoriarty.' I made every disposition
lg of my property before leaving England
er and handed it to my brother, Mycroft
in Pray give my greeting to Mrs. Watson
rn and believe me to be, my dear fellow
ri Very sincerely yours,
&c 49, Sherlock Holmes -
K A few words may suffice to tell TIN
ne little that remains. An examination b,
t. experts leaves little doubt that a per
Up sonal contest between the two mel
ended, as it could hardly fail t,
I'd end in such situation, in thei
ut Keeling over, locked in each other I
as arms. Any attempt at recover
to ing the bodies was absolutely
ne hopeless, and there, deep down in tina
rs dreadful caldron of swirling water ant