Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-06

| side. Something rushed out Mt us, md
my heart sprang into my mouth, but
could have laughed when I realized
that 1t was the cat A fire was burn
Ing In this new room, and again the air
was heavy with tobacco smoke. Holmes
entered on tiptoc. waited for me to fol.
low. and then very gently closed tho
door We were in Milvprton's study.
and portiere mt the farther side show.
cd the entrance 70 his bedroom.
1t was good fire. md the room was
Illuminated by It. Near the door saw
the CLEAN OF an electric switch, but It
was unnecessary. even II 1t had been
safe. to turn 1t on. At one side Of the
fireplace was q heavy curtain which
covered the bay window We had seen
from outside. ON the other side was
tllc door which communicated with the
vcranda. A desk stood in the center
with n turning chair Of shining rcd
leather Opposite was large book
| case with marble bust Of Athene on
the top. In the corner. between the
bookcase and the wall. there stood a
tall green SAFE tho freight flashing
back from the polished brass knobs
upon its face Holmes stole across and
looked mt 1t. Then he crcpt to the door
OF the bedroom and stood with slanting
head, listening intcntly. No sound came
from within. Meanwhile it had struck
mo that II would be wise to secure our
retreat through the outer door. so I OK.
amined II. To my amazemrnt it was
neither locked nor boltcd. touched
Holmes on the arm. and he turned his
masked face in that direction. I saw
him start. and he was evidently az sur
prisod as r.
II don't like it," he whispered, put
ting his lips Ia my very ear. II can't
quite make il out Anyhow we have
no time to lose
"Can do anything?"
"Yos; stand by the door If you hear
any one come. bolt il on the inside
and we can get away as we came. If
they come the other way. we can get
through the door il our Job is done or
hide behind these window curtains IL
it Is not. DO YOU undcrstandT'
I nodded and stood by the door My
first feeling of fear had passed away
and thrilled now with n keener zost
than had ever enjoyed when we were
the defenders Of the law instead OF it's
dcfiors. The high object Of our mis-
sion. the consciousness that 1t was
unsolfish and chivalrous. the villanOus
character Of our opponent. all added to
the sporting interest Of the adventure
Far from feeling guilty. retoiced and
cxulted in our dangers. With glow
| Of admiration I watched Holmes I'M
rolling his case OF Instruments and
choosing his tool with the calm, scien-
tific accuracy of surgeon who per.
| forms delicate operation. l knew
that the opening of safes was a partic-
ular hobby with him, and understood
the joy which It gave him to be con-
fronted with this green and gold mon
ster, the dragon which held in 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, jimmy
and several skeleton keys. For about
half an hour Holmes worked with con-
centrated energy. laying down one tool,
picking up another, handling each with
the strength and delicacy Of the train
ed mechanic. Finally l heard n click,
the broad green door swung open, and
inside had glimpse Of number OF
paper packets. each tied sealed and
inscribed. Holmes picked one out. but
it was hard to read by the Pickering
fire, and he drew out his little dark
lantern. for it was too dangerous with
Mlverton in the next room to switch
on the electric light Suddenly I saw
him halt. listen intently. and then in
an instant he had swung the door of
the safe to, picked up his coat, stuffed
his tools into the pockets and darted
behind the window curtain, motoning
me to do the same.
1t was only when had joined him
there that heard what had alarmed
his Quicke% senses. There was a noise
somewhere within the house. a door
slammed in the distance. Then n 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 a sharp snick as the electric light
was turned on. The door closed once
more. and the pungent reek of n strong
cigar was borne to our nostrils. Then
the footsteps continued backward and
forward. backward and forward. with
in Il few yards Of us. Finally there
was crcak from a chair and the foot
steps ceased. Then key clicked in
lock, and ! heard the rustic of papers.
So far l had not dared 10 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 l knew
that he was sharing my observations.
Right in front OF us and almost within
our reach was the broad. rounded back
OF MilvcrtOn. 1t was evident that we
had entirely miscalculated his move
ments: that he had never been to his
bedroom, but that he had been sitting
up In some smoking or billiard room
In the farther wing of the house, the
windows Of which we had not seen.
His broad, griZzled head, with its shin
ing patch of badness. was in the i'm
mediate foreground of our vision. He
was leaning far back in the red leather
chair, his legs oustrctched. long.