Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-06-29

u u bNASN kAS NAACS S1NAS
disappear among the throng.
My observations Of 427 Park lane did
little to clear up the problem in which
/ was Interested. The house was sep
arated from the street by n low wall
and railing, the whole not more than
five feet high. 1t vas perfectly easy,
therefore, for any one to get into the
garden, but the window was entirely
inaccessible since there was no water
pipe or anything which could help the
most active man to climb it. More puz-
zled than ever, l retraced my steps to
Kensington. l had not been In my
study five minutes when the maid N
tered to say that a person desired to
see me. To my establishment it was
one other than my strange old book
collector, hts sharp, Vizened face peer
Ing out from q frame'of white hair, and
his precious volumes, a dozen Of them
at least. wedged under his right arm.
you're surprised to see me. sir"
said he in Il strange, croaking voice.
I acknowledged that l was.
well. I've a conscience, sir, and
when 1 CHANGED to see you go into this
house as l anne hobbling after you, l
thought to myself I'll just step in and
see that kind gentleman and tell him
that If l was a bit gruff in my manner
there was not any harm meant and that
I am much obliged to him for picking
up my books"
you make too much of a trife," said
1. MAY 1 ask how you knew who 1
WASP"
Eyes, sir. If it isn't too great n liber-
ty.I am a neighbor of yours. for you'll
find my little bookshop at the corner Of
Church street, and very happy to see
you, 1 am sure. Maybe you collect
yourself, sir. Here's British Birds
and 'Catullus' and The Holy War'-a
bargain, every one Of them. With five
volumes you could just fill that gap on
that second shelf. 1t looks untidy.
does it not, Sir?"
l moved my head to look at the cabi-
net behind me. When l turned again
Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling
at me across my study table. 1 rose to
my feet, stared at him for some Sec
onds in utter amazement. and then it
appears that I must have tainted for
the first and the last time in my life.
Certainly a gray mist swirled before
my eyes, and when it cleared I found
my collar ends undone and the tingling
after-taste Of brandy upon my lips.
Holmes was bending over my chair,
his flask in his hand.
MY dear Watson" said the we'll re-
membered voice, 81 owe you a thou
sand apologies. I had no idea that you
would be so affected"
I gripped him by the arms.
"Holmes!' I cried. "Is it really you?
Can it indeed be that you are alive? Is
it possible that you succeeded in climb
ing out of that awful abyss?'
"Wait a moment" said he. "Are YOU
sure that you are really fit to discuss
things? I have given you a serious
shock by my unnecessarily dramatic
reappearance."
81 am all right, but indeed, Holmes, 1
can hardly believe my eyes. Good
heavens, to think that you-you Of all
men-should be standing In my study!'
Again l gripped him by the sleeve and
felt the thin, sinewy arm beneath it.
"Well, you're not a spirit anyhow"
said 1. "My dear chap, I'm overjoyed
to see you. Sit down and tell me how
you came alive out of that dreadful
chasm."
III SOL nrnocS%o 10 mr. or1 1< n 1;~o
rette In his old %nonchalant AM
He vas dressed In the seedy frock coat
Of the book merchant, but the rest Of
that individual lay in a 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 a
healthy one.
81 am glad to stretch myself, Wat
son." said be. ut Is no joke when a
tall nan has to take a foot off his
stature for several hours on end. Now,
my dear fellow, in the matter of these
explanations, We have, if 1 may ask
for your cooperation, a hard and dan
gerous nights work in front Of us. Per
haps it would be better if 1 gave you an
account Of the whole situation when
| that work is finished"
81 am full Of curiosity. l 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 shall have time for a mouthful of
dinner before we need go. Well, then,
about that chasm. l had no serious
difficulty in getting out Of it for the
very simple reason that 1 never was
in it."
"You never were in itY'
"No, Watson, 1 never was in it. NV
note to you was absolutely genuine. I
had little doubt that l had come to the
end Of my career when I perceived the
somewhat sinister figure Of the late
Professor Moriarty standing upon the
narrow pathway which led to safety.
/ read an inexorable purpose in his
gray eyes. / exchanged some remarks
with him, therefore, and obtained his
courteous permission to write the short
note which you afterward received.
| lnP% ~ viii INV