Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-05-27

50 unfortunately LudlLISdLtu were very
precious objects in the eyes of their
owner With snarl Of contempt he
turned upon his heel, and 1 saw his
curved back and white side whiskers
disappear among the throng.
My observations Of 427 Park lane did
little to clear up the problem in which
l was interested. The house was sep
arated from the street by low wall
and railing, the whole not more than
five feet high. 1t was perfectly easy,
therefore, for any one to get into the
garden, but the window was entirely
inaccessible since there was no water
pipe or anything which could help the
most active man to climb it. More puz
Zled than ever, l retraced my steps to
Kensington. I had not been in my
study five minutes when the maid en-
tered to say that a person desired to
see me. To my establishment it was
none other than my strange old book
collector, his sharp, wizened face peer
ing out from frame of white hair, and
his precious volumes, a dozen of them
at least, wedged under his right arm.
you're surprised to see me, sir"
said he in strange, croal1ing voice.
I acknowledged that | was.
"Well, I've a conscience, sir, and
when l CHANGED to see you go into this
house as l came hobbling after you,
thought to myself I'll just step in and
see that kind gentleman and tell him
7 hi in,
there was not any harm meant and that
l am much obliged to him for picking
up my books"
''You make too much Of trifle," said
l. May I ask how you knew who l
WASP"
eyes, sir If it isn't too great liber-
ty am a neighbor Of yours, for you'll
find my little bookshop at the corner Of
Church street, and very happy to see
you. I am sure Maybe you collect
yourself. sir. Here's British Birds
and 'Catullus' and The Holy War'--a
bargain, every one of them. With five
volumes you could just fill that gap on
that second shelf. It looks untidy,
does it not, SIR"
l moved my head to look at the cabi
net behind me. When l turned again
Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling
at me across my study table. l rose to
my feet, stared at him for some sec
onds in utter amaZement, and then it
appears that [ must have tainted for
the first and the last time in my life
Certainly a gray mist swirled before
my eyes, and when it cleared [ found
my collar ends undone and the tingling
after taste of brandy upon my lips.
Holmes was bending over my chair,
his flask in his hand.
MY dear Watson" said the well re-
membered voice, II owe you thou
sand apologies. l had no idea that you
would be so affected"
I gripped him by the arms.
"Holmesr' I cried. 'Is it really you?
Can it indeed be that you are alive? Is
It possible that you succeeded in climb
ing out of that awful abyss?'
''Wait q moment" said he. "Are you
sure that you are really fit to discuss
things? l have given you a serious
shock by my unnecessarily dramatic
81 am all right, but indeed, Holmes, I
can hardly believe my eyes. Good
to think that you-you Of all |
nen-should be standing in my sttdy!''
Again gripped him by the sleeve and |
FELT the thin, sinewy arm beneath it. !
Well you're not a spirit anyhow"
said 1. my dear chap, I'm overjoyed |
% see you. Sit down and tell me how
you came alive out of that dreadful !
chasm"
He sat opposite to me and lit ciga
,ette in his old nonchalant manner. |
He was dressed in the seedy frock coat |
IF the book merchant, but the rest Of |
hat individual lay in a pile of white
lair and old books upon the table. !
Holmes looked even thinner and keener
han of old, but there was dead white
,inge in his aquiline face which told |
ne that his life recently had not been a
healthy one.
81 am glad to stretch myself, Wat
on," said he ''It is no joke when a
all man has to take a foot off his
tature for several hours on end Now,
ny dear fellow, in the matter of these
we have, if I may ask
or your cooperation, hard and dan
.erous nights work in front of us. Per
laps it would be better if / gave you an
recount of the whole situation when
hat work is finished"
81 am full Of curiosity. 1 should
much prefer to hear 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
inner before we need go. Well, then,
bout that chasm. I had no serious
ificulty in getting out Of it for the
cry simple reason that I never was
q it."
'sYou never were in it?"
''No, Watson. never was in it, NV
ote to you was absolutely genuine. l
ad little doubt that had come to the
nd Of my career when [ perceived the
omewhat sinister figure of the late