The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-16
The RETURN of Sherlock Holmes.

other, he shielded me. He thrust me
into that dark hiding place-a relic of
old days, known only to himself. He
took his meals in his own room, and
so was able to give me part of his
food. II was agreed that when the
police left the house l should slip
away by night and come back no
more. But In some way you have
read our plans" She tore from the
bosom of her dress a small packet.
"These are my last words" said she;
here Is the packet which will save
Alexis. | confide 1t to your honor and
to your love of justice. Take II! You
will deliver 1t at the Russian en-
bassy. Now, | have done my duty,
and"
stop herr cried Holmes. He had
bounded across the room, and had
wrenched a small phial from her hand.
TOO latel' she said, sinking back
on the bed TOO latel l took the
poison before l left my hiding place.
My head swims | am going!
charge you, sir, to remember the
packet"
"A simple case, and yet. In some
ways, an instructive one," Holmes re-
marked, as we Travelled back to town.
1T hinged from the outset upon the
plnce-nez. But for the fortunate
chance of the dying man having seized
these, | am not sure that we could
ever have reached our solution. 1t
was clear to me- from the strength
of the glasses, that the wearer must
have been very blind and helpless
when deprived of them. When you
asked me to believe that she walked
along a narrow strip of grass without
III fa1p 4 Il
as you may remember. that 1t was a
noteworthy performance. In my mind
1 set 1t down as am impossible per-
Torrance, save In the unlikely case
that she had a second pair of glasses.
i was forced, therefore, to seriously
consider the hypothesis that she had
remained within the house. On per-
ceiving the similarity of the two cor
ridors. 1t became clear that she might
very easily have made such mis-
take, and, in that case, 1t was evil
dent that she must have entered the
professors room. l was keenly on the
alert. therefore, for whatever would
bear out this supposition, and exam
ined the room narrowly for anything
in the shape Of hiding place The
carpet seemed continuous and firmly
nailed, so / dismissed the idea of a
trap door. There might well be a
recess behind the books. AS you are
aware, such devices are common In
old libraries l observed that books
were piled on the floor at all other
points. but that one bookcase was
left clear. This, then, might be the
door. | could see no marks to guide
me, but the carpet was of dun color,
which lends itself very well to exam
nation ! therefore smoked a great
number Of those excellent cigarettes,
and ! dropped the ash all over the
space in front of the suspected book
case. IT was a simple trick, but ex-
ceedingy effective. ! then went down.
stairs, and ascertained, in your pres
ence, Watson. without your perceiv-
ing the drift of my remarks. that Pro-
fessor Coram's consumption Of food
had increased-as one would expect
when he is supplying a second
person We then assembled to the
room again, when, by upset
ting the cigarette box, / OBJ
tanned a very excellent view Of the
floor, and was able to see quite clear
ly. from the traces upon the cigarette
ash, that the prisoner had in our abb
sence come out from her retreat Well
Hopkins. here we are at Charing
Cross, and | congratulate You on hav-
ing brought your case to a success
full conclusion. You are going to head
quarters, no doubt. | think, Watson,
you and I will drive together to the
Russian embassy"