The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-19

Holmes cr0uched back against the
wall, and | did the same my hand
closing upon the handle of my revolver.
Peering through the gloom. l saw the
vague outline of man, shade black
er than the blackness of the open
door He stood for an instant. and
then he crept forward, cr0uching men
acing, into the room. He was within
three yards of us, this sinister figure,
and l had braced myself to meet his
spring before | realized that he had
no idea of our presence. He passed
close beside us. stole over to the win
dow and very softly and noiselessly
raised it for half foot AS he sank
to the level of this opening the light of
the street, no longer dimmed by the
dusty glass, fell full upon his face.
The man seemed to be beside himself
with excitement. His two eyes shone
like stars, and his features We're work
ing convulsively He was an elderly
man, with a thin, projecting nose.
high bald forehead and a huge griz-
zled mustache. An opera hat was push
ed to the back of his head, and an
evening dress shirt front cleaned out
through his open overcoat. His face
was gaunt and swarthy. scored with
deep, savage lines. In his hand he car
ried what appeared to be n stick, but
as he laid it down upon the floor it gave
a metallic clang. Then from the pocket
of his overcoat he drew bulky object.
and he busted himself in some task
which ended with a loud, sharp click.
as if spring or bolt had fallen into
its place. Still kneeling upon the floor.
he bent forward and threw all his
weight and strength upon some lever,
with the result that there came long.
whirling, grinding noise, ending once
more in a powerful click. He straight
ened himself then. and | saw that what
he held in his hand was a sort of
gun with 4 curiously misShapen butt.
He opened it at the breech, put some
thing in and snapped the breechblock.
Then, crouching down. he rested the
end of the barrel upon the ledge of the
open window, and / saw his long mus
tache droop over the stock and his
eyes CLEAN as it peered along the
sights l heard little sigh of salts
faction as he cuddled the butt into his
shoulder and saw that amazing target
the black man on the yellow ground,
standing clear at the end of his Gore
sight. For an instant he was rigid
and motionless. Then his finger tight
ened on the trigger. There was Il
strange. loud whiz and long slvery
tinkle of broken glass. At that instant
Holmes sprang like a tiger on to the
marksman's back and hurled him fiat
upon his face. He was up again in a
moment, and with convulsive strength
he seized Holmes by the throat, but I
struck him on the head with the butt
of my revolver, and he dropped again
upon the floor. | fell upon him, and as
l held him my comrade blew shrill
call upon Il whistle. There was the
clatter of running feet upon the pave
ment. and two policemen in uniform,
with one plain clothes detective, rushed
through the front entrance and into the
room.
"That you, Lestrade?" said Holmes.
Eyes, Mr.. Holmes. l took the job
myself It's good to see you back in
London, sir"
Il think you want little unofficial
help. Three undetected murders in one
year won't do, Lestrade. But you han
died the Molesey mystery with less
than your usual-that's to say, you
handled it fairly we'll"
We had all risen to our feet, our pris
oner breathing hard. with a stalwart
constable on each side of him. Already
a few loiterers had begun to collect in
the street. Holmes stepped up to the
window, closed it and dropped the
blinds. Lestrade had produced two
candles, and the policemen had I'M
covered their lanterns. l was able
at last to have a good look at our pris-
oner
1t was tremendously virile and yet
sinister face which was turned toward
u.s. With the brow of a philosopher
above and the jaw of a sensualist be-
low, the man must have started with
great capacities for good or for evil.
But one could not look upon his cruel
blue eyes, with their dropping, cynical
lids, or upon the fierce, aggressive nose
and the threatening. deep lined brow
without reading natures plainest dan
ger signals. He took no heed of any of
us, but his eyes were fixed upon
Holmes face with an expression in
which hatred and amazement were
equally blended. you fiend" he kept
on muttering-'you clever, clever
fiendw
"Ah, colonel" said Holmes, arrang-
ing his rumpled collar, Journeys end
in lovers meetings. as the old play
says. l don't think l have had the
pleasure Of seeing you since you ia
vored me with those attentions as lay
on the ledge above the Rechenbach
fall"
The colonel still stared at my friend
like a man in trance ''You cunning,
cunning fiendw was all that he could
say.
II have not introduced you yet" said
Holmes. This, gentlemen. is Colonel
Sebastian Moran. once of her majesty's
Indian army and the best heavy game
shot that our eastern empire has ever
produced. l believe / am correct, colo
mel, in saying that your bag OF tigers
still remains unrivaled?"
The fierce old man said nothing, but
still glared at my companion With