Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-19

AVu VIII DC IN soSn Il raise position. y
''WelI. that is part Of the risk. There
is no other possible way Of regaining
these letters. The unfortunate lady has
not the money. and there are none of
her people in whom she could confide.
Tomorrow is the last day OF grace. and
unless we can get the letters tonight
this villain VIII be as good as his word
and viii bring about her ruin. must
therefore abandon my client To her
fate or l must play this last card. Be
tween ourselves. Watson. it's a sport.
ing duel between this fellow Milverton
and me- He had. as YOU saw. the best
OF the FIRST exchanges. but my self re-
spect and my reputation are concerned
to Eight it 20 a finish"
"Weil. I don't like Il. but ! suppose
it must be-" said l. When do we
starts''
You are not coming"
Then you are not going" said I. i
give you my word Of honor-aud nev.
er broke il in my lise-that VIII take
cab straight 10 the police station and
give You away unless you let me share
this adventure with YOU
You can't help me-"
"How do you know that? You can't
tell what may happen. Anyway my
resolution is taken. other people be
side YOU have self respect and even
regulations"
Holmes had looked annoyed. but his
brow cleared, and be clappel me Oh
the shoulder
We'll. well, my dear fellow, be it so.
We have shared this same room for
some years. and it would be amusing
if we ended by sharing the same cell
You know. Watson. I don't mind con
Tossing TO you that I have always had
an idea that I would have made a
highly efficient criminal This is the
chance of my lifetime I'm that direction
See here lie took neat little leath-
er case out OF u drawer and. opening
it. he exhibited a number OF shining
instruments. This is first s-,ss NO
TO date burgling kit. with nickc. plated
Jimmy. diamond tipped glass cutter.
adaptable keys and every modern inn
provement which the march of civllsza-
ton demands. Here. too. is my dark
lantern. Everything is in order Have
you a pair OF silent shoes"
Il have rubber soled tennis shoes"
Excellent. And a maskTr
Il can make a couple out OF black
silk"
Il can see that you have strong
natural turn for this sort OF thing
Very good, you make the masks. We
shall have some cold supper before we
start. IL is now $50 AT IL we shall
drive as far as Church row 1t is a
quarter OF an hours walk from there
10 Appledore Towers We shall be at
work before midnight. Aliiverton is a
heavy sleeper and retires punctually
at 1870. With any luck we should be
back here bY with the Lady Eva's
letters ia my pocket"
Holmes aud I put on our dress
clothes so that we might appear 10 be
two theater goers homeward bound. In
oxford street we picked up hanson
and drove TO an address in Hamp-
stead. Here we paid OF our cab. and
with our grestc-sots bu.foucd up FOR
IL was bitterly cold and the wind
seemed 10 blow through us, we walked
along the edge OF the heath.
ITS a business that needs delicate
treatment" said Holmes These d0cu-
ments are contained in a safe in the
fellows study. and the study Is tbs
anteroom OF his bed chamber. ON the
other hand. like all these stout little
men who do themselves wei. he is 4
plethoric sleeper. Agatha-thars my
iiancee-says il is a Joke IN the serv-
ants hall that it's impossible TO wake
the master. He has "A secretary who
is devoted TO his interests and never
budSes from the study all day That's
why we are going az night. Then he
has beast OF a dog, which roams the
garden. l met Agatha late the last
two evenings, and she locks the brute
UP so as 10 give me n clear run. This
is the house, this big one in its own
grounds. Through the gate-now IL
the right among the laurels. We might
put on our masks here, think You
see, there is not a glimmer OF light In
any Of the windows, and everything is
working srlendidly."
With our black silk face coverings,
which turned US into two OF the most
truculent figures IN London. we stole
up TO the silent, gloomy house A sort
of tiled veranda extended along one
side of 1t, lined by several windows
and two doors.
That's his bedroom" Holmes wills
pered. This door opens straight into
the study. II would suit US best, but il
is bolted as well as locked, and we
should make too much noise getting
in Come round here. There's q
greenhouse which opens into the draw
ing room"
The place was locked, but Holmes re-
moved circle of glass and turned the
key from the insiC An instant after
ward he had closed the door behind US,
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