Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-11

he said. ] got as near him as couiu' pit
his observations seemed TO me TO be ao-
surd sn T withdrew again in some dis
gust AS / did so | struck against an
elderly. deformed man, VINO had Deeh pc
hind me, and [ knocked down seVefai
hooks which he was carrying. | remember
that as I picked them up. | observed the
title of one of them, The Origin of Tree
Worship" and it struck me that the IoI-
low must be some poor bibhophAe Wh0'
either as a trade or a hobby, was a col
,ector of obscure volumes. | endeaVorcd
% aDologiZe for the accident, but 1t was
-vi,Ient that these books which / mad so
unfortunately maltreated were very precl-
GUS objects in the eyes of their owner.
with a snarl of contempt he turned upon
his heel and ! saw his curved back anu
white side-whiskers disappear among the
throng.
ala little TO clear up the problem in which
was interested. The house was separated
from the street by a low wall ana ran.
ing the whole not more than I'VE IetC
high 1t was perfectly easy, therefore, iof
any one to get into the garden, Dul the
window was entirely inaccessible, since
there was no waterpipe or anything Whlch
could help the most active man 10 clilup H.
More puzzled than ever, retrdceu my
study five minutes when the maid ehlereu
to say that person desired TO see me 10
NV establishment it was none otheI 'iistli
nv strange old book collector, his sharp,
white hair. and his precious volumes
dozen of them at least wedged under MS
right arm. cold
you're surprised to see me sir sa'u
he in strange, croaktng voice.
l acknowledged that l was.
"Weu I've conscience, sir, and Wheh
l CHANGED 20 see you go into TINS mouse dts
l came hobbling after you, | thought TO my
self I'll inst step in and see that KIND gen
tIeTnan. and tell him that if | was plt
erun in my manner there was not any
harm meant, and that am much ooli5e'
to him for picking up my books, -,
You make too much of trlile, Saiu l.
NAV | ask how You knew who | was?
well. sir. if it isn't too great liberty
I am a neghbor of yours, Tor you II n Ii ny
little boekshop at the corner OF C1ulcn
street. and very happy 10 see you, am
sure Maybe you collect yourself 81
Here's British Birds and 'Catu1us, ana
The Holy War'-a bargain, every one ol
them. With FIVE volumes you could JGst
fiji that gap on that second sf1eH- 1t IoohS
untidy. does it not, SIR
7 moved nv head to look at the caDlnet
behind me. When l turned again, SheTIoch
Holmes was standing smiling at me aciosS
my study table | rose to my feet, stared'
at him for some seconds in utter ahiSize-
ment. and then it appears that must nav
tainted for the first ana the last I'M
in nv life Certainly gray mist sWnleq
before nv eyes and when ii cleared
found my collar ends undone ana the IN
cling after-taste of brandy upon my hps.
Holmes was bending over my chalf' MS
flask in his hand. -, ,.o,,,.,
bered voice, 81 owe you a thousand apollo
gies. l had no idea that you would De so
affected"
l gripped him by the arms.
Holiness 1 cried rs 1t reaiIy you
Can it indeed be that you are ALIKE? Is 1t
nnssible that YOU succeeded in climbing out
Of that awful abyss
Wait moment" said he. Are you sure
that YOU are really fit to discuss things!
have given you a serious shock ny my
dramatic temperance.
II am all right but indeed, Holmes, /
can hardly believe my eyes 5000 f1edV eL eng;
TO think that you-you of all men-snoul9
be standing in my study Again L grlpped
him by the sleeve, and felt the thin, sinewy
,rTy, beneath it, well. you're not spirit,
}nyhow." said l. My dear chap, I'm
overjoyed to see you. Sit down, ana ten
me how YOU came alive out of that dread
full chasm.' ,.
He sat opposite to me, and lit cigarette
IN his Old nonchalant manner. he was
dressed in the seedy frock-coat or the
book merchant, but the rest or that IN
1IvIdual lay in pile of white hair and old
books upon the table. Holmes looked even
thinner and keener than of old, but there
was a dead-white tinge in his aquiline face
which told me that his life recently had
not been healthy one.
at am glad to stretch myself, Watson,
.aid he 1T is no joke when tall man
1ad to take a foot off his stature for sew
rial hours on end. Now, my dear fellow,
n the matter of these explanations, we
nave if l may ask for your cooperation
/ hard and dangerous nights work in
'front.' of U.S. Perhaps 1t would be better
z | gave you an account of the whole
situation when that work is finished"
Il am full of curiosity. I should much
prefer to hear now.
you'll come with me tonight?'
when you like and where you like"
This is indeed, like the old days. We
;han have time for a mouthful of dinner |
before we need go. Well, then, about that |
hasm I had no serious difficulty in get |
ing out of 1t, for the very simple reason |
hat | never was in it,"
You never were in it?'
mo, Watson, 1 never was in 1t. My note |
o you was absolutely genuine. L had |
little doubt that ] had come to the end |
# my career when perceived the some |
what sinister figure of the late Professor |
Moriarty standing upon the narrow path |
way which led to safety. / read an mex
,rable purpose in his gray eyes. l ex- !
hanged some remarks with him, there |
ore, and obtained his courteous permission |
o write the short note which you after |
ward received. l left it with my cigarette |
,ox and my stick and 1 walked |
long the pathway, Moriarty still at
ny heels. When 1 reached the end |
stood at bay. He drew no weapon
,ut he rushed at me and threw his long