Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-08
SHERLOCK HOLMES WAS STANDING SMILING AT ME-

SdEhLOCk HOLMES WAS
That was not literally true. A few
small fOothoids presented themselves
and there was some indication OF a
ledge. The cliT Is SO high that 20 climb
il all was an obvious impOssiblity.
and IL was equally impossible 20 make
my way along the wet path without
leaving some tracks. ! might. II is true.
have reversed my boots. as have done
on similar occasions. but the sight OF
three sets of tracks In one direction
would certainly have suggested de-
ception. On the whole. then. IL was
best that I should risk the climb. IL
WAS not pleasant business. Watson.
The fall rOared beneath me. am not a
fanciful person. but I give YOU my
word that ] seemed 10 hear Moriarty's
voice screaming az me out OF the abyss
/ mistake would have been fatal
| More than once as tufts OF grass came
out In my hand OF my foot slipped In
the wet notches 81 the rock / thought
that was gone. But struggled up-
ward, and az last ] reached ledge
several feet deep and covered with
soft green moss. where ] could lie IN
seen in the most perfect comfort. There
was stretched when you. my dear
Watson, and all ysur following were
investigating In the most sympathetic
and inefficient manner the circum-
stances 81 my death.
AT last. when you had all formed
your inevitable and totally erroneous
conclusions. you departed FOR the hotel.
and ! was left alone had imagined
that l had reached the end OF my adj
ventures, hut a very unexpected occur
renee showed me that there were sur
/ prises still ia store for me. A huge
| rock. falling from above. doomed past
me. struck the path and bounded over
| into the chasm. For an instant !
| thought that il was an accident. but a
moment later, looking up. / saw a
mans head against the darkening sky.
and another stone struck the very
/ ledge upon which ] was stretched
within foot OF my head. OF course
the meaning OF this was obvious Mo
riarty had not been alone. A cOnfeder-
| ate-and even that one glance had told
me how dangerous man that confed-
crate was-had kept guard while the
| professor had attacked me. From a
distance. unseen 10y me. he had been a
witness or his friends death and OF
my escape. lie had waited. and then.
making his way around 10 the top Of
the clir. ne had endeavOred TO succeed
| where his cOmradc had failed.
II did not take long 10 think about II.
Watson. Again / saw that grim face
look over the cliff. and knew that II
was the precursor Of another stone.
I scrambled down on 10 the path
don't think could have done il in cold
blood. IL was a hundred times more
difficult than getting up. But / had no
time 10 think Of the danger, for an
other stone sang past me as hung by
my hands from the edge OF the ledge.
Halfway down slipped; but, by the
blessing OF God. landed. torn and
bleeding upon the path. l took TO my
heels, did ten miles over the noun
tains IN the darkness, and week later
found myself Ia Florence with the
! certainty that no one in the world
knew what had become OF me.
4 II had only one cOnfidant-my broth
er MycrOft. ] owe you many apologies.
my dear Watson, but IL was all impor-
tant that IL should be thought / was
dead. and II is quite certain that you
would not have written so convincing
an account OF my unhappy end had you
not yourself thought that IL was true.
Several times during the last three
years ! have taken up my pen 10 write
TO you. but always ! feared lest your
affectionate regard for me should tempt
You 60 some indiscretion which would
An InteIesL.hg Ease
First Nephew-We shall have a lot
OF trouble to get URcle Chumpey put in
an asyFum. though he's as mad as q
March hare
Second Nephew shouldn't think
so. Whyy
First nephew-On account OF his
hypochondriasis. He's been TO half the
best doctors In London and paid them
big fees, and the other half are waiting
their turn.-AIly Sloper.
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