Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-24
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes

to carry your hlshness to the police
station7'
That is better" said John Clay, serenely.
He made sweeping bow to the three OF us' |
and walked quietly on in the custody Of the
detective.
Really, Mr. Holmes" said Mr.. Merry |
weather, as he followed them from the Gel
lar, Il do not know how the bank can |
thank you or repay you. There is no DOUBT
that you have detected and defeated ID the |
most complete manner one Of the most DC |
termined attempts at bank robbery that
has ever come within my experience
Il have had one or two little scores of my
own to settle with Mr.. John Clay" said
Holmes. Il have been at some small ex-
pense over this matter. which shall ex-
pect the bank TO refund but beyond that
am amply repaid by having had an exper-
fence which is in many ways unique ana
by hearing the very remarkable narrative
of the Red-headed league"
You see, watson he explained, In tho
early hours of the morning, as we sat over
glass OF whiskey and soda In Baker
street, 1T was perfectly obvious from the
first that the only possible object Of this
rather fantastic business OF the advertise
ment Of the League, and the copying Of the
Encyclopedia, must be to get this not
overnight pawnbroker out Of the way for
a number Of hours every day. 1t was
curious way of managing 1t, but, really, Il
would be difficult to suggest better. The
method was no doubt suggested to Clay's
ingenious mind by the color Of his accom-
plices hair. The "a a week was lure
which must draw him, and what was II 10
them, who were playing for thousands!
They put in the advertisement, one rogue
has the temporary office, the other rogue
incites the man to apply for II, and TO-
gether they manage to secure his absence
every morning in the week. From the time
that heard OF the assistant having come
for half wages, It was obvious to me that
he had some strong motive for securing
the situation"
But how could you guess what the mo-
tive was7'
Had there been women in the house L
should have suspected a mere vulgar In
trigue That, however, was out the Ques-
ton. The mans business was a small one
and there was nothing In his house which
could account for such elaborate prepara-
lions and such an expenditure as they were
at II must, then, be something out of
the house. What could II be? 1 thought
OF the assistants fondness for photography
and his trick OF vanishing into the cellar.
The cellar There was the end Of this
tangled cue. Then made inquiries as to
this mysterious assistant and found that
had to deal with one of the coolest and
most daring criminals in London. He was
doing something in the cellar-something
which took many hours day for months
on end. What could It be. once more? 1
could think Of nothing, save that he was
running a tunnel to some other building.
e. ant To Wait
the scene of action. surprised you by
beating upon the pavement with my stick.
1 was ascertaining whether the cellar
stretched out In front or behind. It was
not in front. Then rang the BELL and as
1 hoped the assistant answered 1t. We
have had some skirmishes, but we had
never set eyes upon each other before.
hardly looked at his face. His knees were
what wished to see. You must yourself
have remarked how worn, wrinkled and
stained they were. They spoke of those
hours of burrowing. The only remaining
point was what they we're burrowing for.
walked round the corner, saw that the
City and Suburban bank abutted on our
friends premises and felt that had solved
my problem. When you drove home after
the concert called upon Scotland Yard
and upon the chairman Of the bank d.
reetors. with the result that you have
seen"
And how could you tell that they would
make their attempt tonight? asked.
well, when they closed their League
Offices that was o sign that they cared no
longer about Mr.. Jabez Wilson's presence
in other words, that they had completed
their tunnel. But II was essential that they
should use It soon, as It might be discoy-
cred. or the bullion might be removed. Sat
urday would suit them better than any
other day as It would give them two days
for their escape. For all these reasons ]
expected them to come tonight"
You reasoned II out beautifully" / ex-
claimed, in unfeigned admiration. 1T is 90
long a chain. and yet every link rings true"
1T saved me from ennui." he answered,
yawning. "Alasl l already feel It closing
in upon me. My life is spent In one long
effort to escape from the commonplsces OF
, existence These little problems help me
, to do So"
And you are a benefactor OF the race, "
said I.
He shrugged his shoulders. well, per
haps, after all, II is of some little use," he
remarked. "L'homme cest rien-roeuvre
c'est tout as Gustave FlaubeFt wrote to
Georges Sand"
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