The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-07-10

cried "But I didn't quite follow your
explanation Of the destruction OF the
/ busts"
The bustsi You never can get those
busts out Of your head After an. that
Is nothlng petty larceny. six months at
the most. II is the murder that we are
really investigating, and tell you that
| am gathering all the threads into my
hands,
And the next stageT
els a very simple psne. | shall 20
down with HIN to the Itaiian quarter.
! find the man whose photograph we
have got and arrest him on the charge
OF murder Will you come with us?'
Il think not l fancy We can attain
our end in a simpler way. can't say
for certain because It all depends
well. It all depends upon factor which
is completely outside our control. But
have great hopes in fact. the betting
Is exactly two to one-that " YOU Will
come with us tonight I shall be able 20
help You to iny him by the heels"
I'm the Italian ouarterT
no; ! fancy Chswick Is an address
which Is more likely to End him II
you will come with me TO Chswick
tonight, Iestrade I'll promise to - tc
the Italian quarter with YOU tomorrow
and no harm win be done by The de
lay. And now | think TINT few
hours sleep would do us an good. for
do not propose to leave before u
o'clock ana Il is unlikely tliat we shall
:
with us Iestrade and thcn YOU are
welcome 70 tie sofa until il is time for
us 10 start. ina the meantime. Watson.
l should be glad II YOU would ring for
nm express messenger, for have a let
ter to send and it is Important that It
should go at once"
Holmes spent the evening in rum
magng among the files Of the old daily
papers with which one OF our lumber
roons was packed When at last he de
scended II wac with triumph in his
eyes but he said nothing TO either OF
us as to the result Of his researches.
For my own part l had followed step
by step the methods by which he had
traced the various windings OF this
complex case, and. though could not
vet perceive the goal which we would
reach. understood clearly that Holmes
expected this grotesque criminal TO
make on attempt upon the two remain
ing busts one Of which, remembered.
was at Chlswick No doubt the object
Of our journey was to catch him in the
very net. and could not but admire
the cunning with which my friend had
inserted wrong clew in the evening
paper so as TO give the fellow the idea
that he could continue his scheme with
impunlty. was not surprised when
Holmes suggested that | should take
my revolver with me He had himself
picked up the loaded hunting crop,
which was his favorite weapon.
A four wheeler was at the door at II,
and in Il we drove to n spot at the
other side OF Hammersmith bridge
Here the cabman was directed 10 wait
A short walk brought us 10 a secluded
road fringed with pleasant houses,
each standing In its own grounds. In
the light OF street lamp we read
'Laburnum villa" upon the gatepost
OF ono OF them. The occupants had ev.
identity retired TO rest, for all was
dark save for fanlight over the hall
door, which shed a single blurred cir
Gle on TO the garden path. The wood
en- fence which separated the grounds
from the road threw a dense black
shadow upon the inner side. and here
II was that we crouched.
II fear that you'll have a long wait"
Holmes whispered. I'VE may thank
our stars that It Is not raining.
don't think we can even venture TO
smoke 70 pass the time. However, it's
a two TO one chance that we get some.
thing to pay MS for our trouble"
II proved, however, that our vigil
was not to be 80 long as Holmes had
led us TO fear, and il ended IN a very
sudden and singular fashion. In an
instant, without the least sound TO
warn us OF his coming, the garden
gate swung open, ana 1.-THE, dark
figure, as swift and active ss an ape.
rushed up the garden path. We saw
II whist past the light thrown from
over the door and disappear against |
tie black shadow of the house. There |
was a long pause, during which we
held our breath, and then a very gen
tie creaking sound came TO our ears.
The window was being opened The |
noise ceased. aud again there was a
long silence. The fellow was making |
bis way into the house. We saw the |
sudden 1ash Of dark lantern inside |
the room. What be sought was evil
IDENTIFY not there, for again we saw the
cash through another blind and then
through another.
Let us get TO the open window. |
We win nab him as he climbs out"
Lestrade whispered.
But before we could move the man |
had emerged again. As be came out |
into the giimmering patch Of light we
saw that he carried something white /
under his arm. lie looked stealthily /
all round him. The silence Of the de- |
serted street reassured him. Turning |
bis back upon us, he laid down his bur
den. and the next instant there was the |
sound OF a sharp tap, followed by q |
clatter and rattle The man was 50
intent upon what be was doing that he |
never heard our steps as we stale /
across the grass plot With the bound |
OK tiger. Holmes was on his back. |
and an instant later Iestrade and !,
had him by either wrist and the hand
cuffs had been fastened As we turn
ed him over I saw a hldeOus. sallOw |