The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-12
6 vhiskcrs disappear among the

side Uhisl1crs disappear among the
throng.
Ny observations Of No. y Park lane
did little to clear up the problem in
which / was Interested. Che house
was separated from the street by d
low wall and railing, the whole not
mere than five feet high. 1t WAS per-
fectly easy. therefore, for amy one to
get into the garden. but the window
was entirely inaccessible, since there
was no Waterpipc or anything which
could help the most active man tn
climb it, More puzzled than ever, /
retraccd my steps to Kensington. | had
not beer IN my study I'VE minutes
when the maid entered to say that a
Ierson desired TO see me. To my as
tonishment it WAS none other than my
strange old book collector, his sharp,
wizanad face peering out from q frame
12of white hair, and his previous vol
umeS. q dozen of them at least, Wedged
under his right arm.
you're surprised to see me, sir,
he said, in strange croaking voice.
I acknowledged that | was.
Well. I've q conscience, sir and
when ! CHANGED TO see you go into
this house, rs l came hobbling after
you. I thought to myself. IN just
step in and see that Kind gentleman.
and tell him that il | was Il bit gruft
in my manner there was not any
harm meant and that / am much
obliged to him for picking up my
books
"You make too much of a triiie,'
said /. May I ask how you knew
who | VASE"
well. sir, if it isn't too great 4
liberty, | am q neighbor of yours,
for you'Il ind my little bookshop
at the corner Of Church street. and
very happy to see you. l am sure.
Maybe you collect yonrSclf sir.
Here's British Birds and 'Catullus,'
and The Holy War'-a bargain.
umes you could just fiji that gap on
that second shelf. 1t looks untidy,
docs il not. Sir?'
moved my head TO look at the
cabinet behind me. When / turned
again, Sherlock Holmes was standing
smiling At me across my study table.
| rose to my feet, stared at him for
some seconds in utter amazement. and
then il appears that must have faint.
ed for the first and last time in my
life. Certainly II grey mist swirled
before my eyes. and when ii cleared
] found my collar ends undone and
the tingling aftertaSte of brandy upon
my lips. Holmes was bending over my
chair, his flask in his hand,
My dear Watson" said the WE'LL
remembered voice. ~ owe you d thou
sand apologies. ] had 40 idea that
You would be SO affected"
Sripped him by the arms.
Holiness, | cried. lis il possible
that YOU succeeded in climbing out Of
that awful abyss?'
wait q moment" he said. are
YOU sure that you are really fit to
discuss things" j have given you a
serious shock by my unnecessarily
dramatic reapEearancc.
IL am all right. bu. indeed, Holmes,
] can hardly believe my eyes. Good
HeaVens, to think that you--you of all
men-should b, standing in my study
Again / gripEed him by the sleeve,
and felt the thin, sineWy arm beneath
II. We'll. you're not spirit. anyhow,
said ]. My dear chap, I'm oycrioyed
10 see you. Sit down, and toll me how
YOU came alive out of that dreadful
chasm."
lie sat opposite TO me. and lit
cigarette in his old. nonchalant man.
ner. He was dressed in the seedy
frocl< coat Of the book Docr-
chant but the rest of that
Individual lay in a pile Of
white hair and old books upon the
table. Holmes looked even thinner
ana kccner than Of old, but there was
dead white tinge in his aquiliuc face
which told me that his life recently
had not been a healthy one.
u am glad to stretch myself, Wat
SON. said he. ITS no joke when Il
tall man 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. il ! may ask
for your cooperation, hard ana dan
gorous nights work in front Of us.
Perhaps it would be better il : gave
YOU an account Of the whole situation
when that work is finished
II am full of curiosity. ] should
prefer TO hear it 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. had no serious
difficulty in getting out of il. for the
very simple reason that I never was
in it,"
You never were in jt?"
mo. Watson, never was in il. Ny
note to YOU was absolutely genuine.
had little doubt that ! had come to
the end Of my career vner | perceived
the somewhat sinister figure OF the
late Professor Moriarty standing upon
the narrow pathway which led TO SAFE
~. ! read al inexorable purpose in
his grey eyes. ! exchanged some re-
marks with him, therefore. and OBJ
tanned his courteous permission to
write the short note which you after
wards received. ] left it with cigar
cite box and my stick. and | walked
along the pathway, Moriarty still at
my heels When | reached the end
stood al bay, He drew no weapon.
but he rushed at me and threw his
long arms around n,c. lie knew that
MS own game MAS up. and was only
anxious 10 revenge himself upon me.
We tottered together upon the brink
of the fall. ! have some knowledge,
however. of baritsu. or the Japanese
system OF wrestling. which has more
than once been very useful to me. ]
slipped through his grip. and he with
q horrible scream kicked madly for q
f"W seconds. and clawed the air with
both his hands. hut for all his efforts
he could not got his balance, and over
be went. Will my face over tn" brink
l saw him fall for n long way. Then
II" struck Il rock. bounded off. ana
Hplashcd into the water
listened with amo1oinauf Il, ti,iS