The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-18

Junpeu IL uclOfo He cOulu OpJccL. Ing
church of St. Monica" said I, sand
half sovereign if You reach it in
twenty minutes 1t was twenty five
minutes to IL, and of course it was clear
enough what was in the wind.
"My.. cabby drove fast. I don It
think I ever drove faster, but the
others were there before us. The cab
and the landau with their steaming
horses were in front Of the door when
I arrived. I paid the man and hurried
into the church. There was not soul
there save the two whom had fol-
lowed and supplied clergyman, who
seemed to be expostulating with them.
They were all three standing in a knot
side aisle like any other idler who has
dropped into a church. Suddenly, to
my surprise, the three at the altar
faced round to me, and Godfrey Norton
came running as hard as he could
towards me-
"Thank God!" he cried. "You III
do. Come! Come!''
"What then7' I asked. +.
"Come, man, come; only three min
utes, or it won't be legal" III 4
II was half dragged up to the altar,
and, before knew where l was, 1 found
myself mumbling responses which were
things Of which I knew nothing, and
up Of Irene Adler, spinster, to Godfrey
Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an
instant, and there was the gentleman
thanking me on the one side and the
lady on the other, while the clergyman
beamed on me in front. It was the
most preposterous position in which ]
ever found myself in my life, and it was
the thought Of it that started me laugh.
ing just now. 1t seems that there had
been some informally about their
| license, that the Clergyman absolutely
refused to marry them without wit
ness of some sort, and that my lucky
[! appearance saved the bridegroom from
having to sally out into the streets in
me sovereign, and I mean to wear it
in my watch-chain in memory Of the
OCCASION
This is a very unexpected turn
of AFFAIRS said I; Hand what then9''
'tWell, I found my plans very seri
ously menaced! It looked as if the pair
might take an immediate departure
and SO necessitate very prompt and en-
ergetic measures on my part. At the
church door, however, they separated
he driving back to the Temple, and
she to her own house. L shall drive out
in the park at 5 as usual, she said, as
drove away in different directions ant
I went off to make my own arrange
iments.''
(Which areq'
''Some cold beef and glass o.
beer" he answered, ringing the bell
81 have been too busy to think OF
food, and I am likely to be buster still
this evening. By the way, doctor,
shall want your Cooperation
IT shall be delighted.
"You don t mind breaking the law'
"Not in the least. -
"Nor running chance Of arrest9'
"Not in good cause. -
EOh, the cause is excellent!'
"Then I am your man.
ct was sure that I might rely Of
"But what is it you wishs"
HWhen Mrs. Turner has brought il
the tray I will make it clear to you
Now,' he said, as he turned hungril,.
on the simple fare that our landlad.
had provided, 81 must discuss it Will
I eat, for I have not much time. 1t
nearly now. In two hours we mus
be on the scene Of action. Miss Irene
or. Madame, rather, returns. from he
ur1V6 dC Z. we uluSL w ao III Aohy AouS
to meet her,
"And what then9'
t'You must leave that to me.
have already arranged what is to oc
cur. There is only one point on whic
T must insist. You must not interfere
come what may. You underestimate
~ am to be neutral?'
"To do nothing whatever. Their
will probably be some small unpleasant
ness. Do not Join in it. It will end i
my being conveyed into the house. Fou
or five minutes afterwards the sitting
room window will open. You are t
station yourself close to that open viii
dow
: eyes"
"You are to watch me, for I will b
visible to you.''
; "Yes.'
"And when I raise my hand-so-
you will throw into the room what
} give, you to throw, and will, at the sam
time, raise the cry Of fire. You quit
follow me9'
} Entirely.'
cit is nothing very formidable,'
said, taking a long cigar-shaped TO
| from his pocket. "It is an ordinar
plumber s smoke-rocket, fitted with
3 cap at either end to make it sci
lgnJlng. IOuT CdSh Is couuueu W IHa
When you raise your cry Of fire.,
of people. You may then walk to tt
r end Of the street and will rejoin you
8 ten minutes. I hope that I have mac
4 myself clear9'
1 ~ am to remain neutral, to get net
u the window, to watch you, and, at I'll
Il signal, to throw in this object, then
0 raise the cry of fire and to wait yo
at the corner Of the street,
: "Precisely.' ...e -..
"Then you may entirely rely on me-
n "That is excellent. 7 think, perhap
p it is almost time that | prepare for tt
q new role I have to play.o e..
He disappeared into his bedroom an
j. returned in a few minutes in the cha
n acter of an amiable and simple -minde
a Nonconformist clergyman. His broa
0 black hat, his baggy trousers, his viii
0 tie, his sympathetic smile and gener
n look Of peering and benevolent curiosit
were such as Mr.. John Hare alone cou
n lhave equaled. It was not merely thu
n Holmes changed his costume. His e
/, preston, his manner, his very SO
Y seemed to vary with every fresh pa
d that he assumed The stage lost fl
|. factor, even as science lost an acu
3. Ireasoner, when he became a. special
d in crime.
j It was quarter past when we lie
10 Baker street, and it still wanted t,
& minutes.to the hour when we found OF
% selves in Serpentine avenue. It was :
: ready dusk, and the lamps were ju
o being lighted as we paced up and doy
lin front Of Briony Lodge, waiting +
It the coming Of it's occupant. The hou
II was just such as had pictured It fro
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