Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-19


a large room in which a cigar had been
smoked not long before. He felt his
way among the furniture. opened an
other door and closed it behind us. Put
ting out my hand. felt several coats
hanging from the wall. and under
stood that I was in a passage. We
passed along il. and Holmes very gen
thy opened door upon the right hand
side. Something rushed out at us. and
my heart sprang into my mouth. but
could have laughed when I realized
that il was the cat. A fire was burn
ing in this new room. and again the mir
was heavy with tobacco smoke. Holmes
entered on tiptoe. waited for me e, fol
low. and then very gently closed the
door. We were i'm Milverton's study.
and portiere at the farther side show
ed the entrance 10 his bedroom.
It was a good fire. ana the room was
Illuminated 10y IT, Near the door 7 saw
the CLEAN Of an electric switch. but It
was unnecessary. even II II had been
safe. TO turn IL on. At one side of the
fireplace was a heavy curtain which
covered the bay window we had see,
from outside On the other side was
the door which communicated with the
veranda. a desk stood In the center.
with n turning chair Of shining rcd
leather Opposite was a large book
case win a mar pc bust OF Athene on
dIe top In lie corner. between the
bookcase a.id the wall. there stood a
tail. green safe the freight flashing
back from the polished brass knobs
upon its face. Holmes stole across and
looked AT II. Then he crept 10 the door
Of the bedroom and stood with slanting
head. listening intentlv N sound came
from within. Meanwhile Il had struck
me that IL would be wise 20 secure or
retreat through the outer door. 50 I ex-
amined IT, To my amazement It was
neither locked nor boited. touched
Holmes on the arm. and he turned his
masked face in that direction | saw
him start. and ne was evidently rs sur
prlsed rs I.
Il don't like it, he whispered. put
ting his lips g. my very ear Il can't
quite make IT cut Anyhow we have
no time 90 lose"
"Cau I do anythlng?'
Yes: stand hy The door. II YOU hear
any one come. bolt 10 ON the inside.
and we can get away as we came. II
they come the other way. we can get
through the door n our Job is done or
hide behind these window curtains IL
IL is not ID YOU underestimate"
I nodded and stood by the door. My
first feeling OF fear had passed away.
and | thrilled now with keener zest
than had ever enjoyed when we were
the defenders OF the law instead OF its
dehers. The high object Of oar mis-
sion, the consciousness that Id was
unselfSh and chivalrous. the villainous
character % our opponent. an added to
the sporting interest Of the adventure.
Far from feeling guilty. l reioiccl and
exulted In our dangers with a glow
OF admiration I watched Holmes un-
rolling his case ~ Instruments and
choosing his tool with the calm. scien.
tihc accuracy of a surgeon who per-
forms a delicate operation. knew
that the opening OF safes was a partlc-
ular hobby with him. and understood
the Joy which Il gave him 10 be- CON
frouted With this green and gold mon
Ster. the drag on which held Ga its nav
the regulations OF many fair ladies.
Turning up the cuffs OF his dress coat
he had placed his overcoat on a chair
Holmes laid out two drills, a Jimmy
and several skeleton keys. For about
half an hour Holmes worked with con-
centratod energy. laying down one tool.
picking up another. handling each with
the strength and dclicacy OF the train
ed mechanic. Finally I heard a click.
the broad green door swung open, and
inside ] had glimpse Of a number OF
paper packets. each tied. sealed and
inscribed. Holmes picked one out. but
IL was hard to read 10y the hickerlng
fire. and be drew out his little dark
lantern FOR it was TOO dangerous with
Milverton In the next room 20 switch
on the electric light Suddenly l saw
him halt, listea iatelt.y, and then In
an instant hc had swung the door OF
the safe TO. picked up his coat stuffed
his tools into tie pockets and darted
behind the window curtain. mOtioning
me 10 DO the same
IL was only when I had joined him
there that / heard what had alarmed
his quicker senses. There was a noise
somewhere within the house door
slammed in the distance. Then a con-
fused. dull murmur broke Itself into
the measured thud of heavy footsteps
rapidly approaching. They were in the
passage outside the room. They paused
at the door The door opened There
was sharp snlck as the electric light
was turned on. The door closed once
more, and the pungent reek of a strong
cigar was borne TO our nostrils. Then
the footsteps continued backward and
forward, backward and forward, with
IN a few yards OF US. Finally there
was creak from a chair. and the foot
steps ceased. Then a key clicked In a
lock, and / heard the rustic OF papers.
So far / had not dared TO look out.
but now / gently parted the division
OF the curtains In front OF me and
peeped through. From the pressure OF
Holmes shoulder against mine knew
that he was sharing my observations.
Right in front OF US and almost within
our reach was the broad, rounded back
OF Milverton. II was evident that we