Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-10-12

l Sloulu pe Slau II you WOulU ring TOT
an express messenger. for | have q let
ter to send. and it is important that it
should go at once"
Holmes spent the evening in rum
maging among the files of the old daily
papers With which n of our lumber
rooms was packed. When ut last he de-
Scended it was With triumph in his
eyes, but he said nothing to either Of
us as to the result of his researches.
For my Own part l had followed step
by step the methods by which he had
traced the various windingS of this
complex case. and. though l could not
yet perceive the goal which we would
reach, l understood clearly that Holmes
expected this grotesQue criminal to
make an attempt upon the two remain
ing busts. n Of which, I remembered,
was at ChiSwick. No doubt the object
Of II journey was to catch him in the
very act. and I could not but admire
the cunning with which my friend had
inserted a wrong clew in the evening
paper. so as to give the fellow the idea
that he could continue his scheme With
ioipN1iilS. was uol SUI VI lSSu lS1l
Holmes suggested that I should take
my revolver with me. He had himself
picked up the loaded hunting crop.
which was his favorite weapon.
A four wheeler was at the door at II,
and In it we drove to a spot at the
other side Of Hammersmith bridge.
Here the cabman was directed to wait.
A short walk brought us to a secluded
road fringed with pleasant houses,
each standing in its own grounds. In
the light Of a street lamp we read
"Laburnum Villa" upon the gatepost
of one of them. The occupants had ev-
identity retired to rest, for all was
dark save for a fanlight over the hall
door, which shed a single blurred cir
Gle on to the garden path. The wood
en- fence which separated the grounds
from the road threw a dense black
shadow upon the inner side, and here
it was that we crouched.
81 fear that you'll have a long watt
Holmes whispered. I'VE nay thank
our stars that it is not raining. 1
don't think we can wen venture to
SA1lohS " pass 1S l1llN IL >
a two to one chance that we get some
thing to pay IS for u trouble"
1t proved, however, that u vigil
was not to be so long as Holmes had
led us to fear, II it ended in a very
sudden and singular fashion. In an
instant, without the least sound to
warn US of his coming, the garden
gate swung open, and a 1.-THE, dark
figure, as swift and active as an ape,
rushed up the garden path. We saw
it whisk past the light thrown from
ver the door and disappear against
| the black shadow of the house. There
was a long pause, during which we
held our breath. and then 4 very gen
tie creaking sound came to our ears.
The window was being opened. The
noise ceased, and again there was a
long silence. The fellow was making
his way into the house. We saw the
sudden fash of d dark lantern inside
the room. What he sought was evi-
IDENTIFY not there, for again we saw the
flash through another blind and then
through another.
Let us get to the open window.
We will nab him as be climbs out"
Lestrade whispered.
But before we could move the man
had emerged again. AS he came out
into the glimmering patch of light we
saw that he carried something white
under his arm. He looked stealthily
all round him. The silence Of the de-
serted street reaSsured him. Turning
his back upon us, he laid down his bur-
den, and the next instant there was the
sound of a sharp tap, followed by a
clatter and rattle. The man was so
intent upon what he was doing that he
never heard u steps as we stole
across the grass plot. With the bound
Of a tiger, Holmes was On his back,
and an instant later Lestrade and I
had him by either wrist and the hand
cuffs had been fastened. AS we turn
ed him over l saw a hideous, sallow
face, with writhing, furious features,
glaring up at us, and I knew that it
vas indeed the man Of the photograph
whom we had secured.
But it was not our prisoner to whom
Holmes was giving his attention.
Squatted on the doorstep, he was en-
gagged in most carefully examining that
which the man had brought from the
house. 1t was 8 bust of Napoleon, like
the one which we had seen that morn
ing. and it had been broken into similar
fragments. Carefully Holmes held each
separate shard to the light. but in no
way did it differ from II other shat
tered piece Of plaster. He had Just
completed his examination when the
hall lights flew up, the door opened and
the owner of the house, a jovial. rotund
figure in shirt and trousers, presented
himself.
Mr.. Josiah Brown, 1 suppose?" said
Holmes.
Eyes, sir; and you, no doubt, are Mr..
Sherlock Holmes? l had the note
which YOU sent by the express mes3en-
ger, and did exactly what you told
me. We locked ever. dour on the in-
side and awaited developments. Well.
I'm very glad that You have got the ras-
cal. hope. EantlnWeU. tn:t Won will