Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-26

really investigating. and tell you that
l am gathering all the threads into my
hands"
And the next stageT'
els very simple one. l shall 90
down with Hill TO the italian quarter.
find the man whose photograph we
have got aud arrest him on the charge
OF murder. VIII you come with usT'
Il think not. fancy we can attain
our end la a simpler way. I can't say
for certain because IL all depends
well. IL all depends upon factor which
is completely outside our control But
I have great hopes I'm fact the betting
is exactly two 20 one-that II you will
come with US tonight shall be able 70
help you 20 lay him by the heels"
an the Italian quarterT"
"No; fancy Chiswlck is an address
which Is more likely 10 find him II
you will come with me 20 Chiswlck
tonight. Lestrsde. I'll promise 10 20 20
the Italian quarter with you tomorrow.
and no harm viii be done by the de-
lay. And now think that few
hours sleep would DO Us all good. for I
do not propose % leave before II
o'clock. and IL Is unlikely that we shall
be back before morning Youll dine
with Us. Lestrade. and then yJu are
welcome 10 the sofa until Il Is time for
US 80 start. In tine meantime. Watson
I should be glad II you would ring for
an express messenger. for have a let.
ter 20 send. and il Is important that II
should 20 AZ once"
Holmes spent the evening In rum
maglng among the files OF the old daily
papers with which one OF our lumber
rooms was packed. Wien at last he de-
scended IL was with triumph In his
eyes. but he said nothing 10 either OF
US rs 20 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
yet perceive the goal which we would
reach. understood clearly that Holmes
expected this grotesque criminal 10
make an attempt upon the two remain
ing busts. one OF which, remembered.
was at Chiswick No doubt the oil ject
OF our journey was 10 catch him In the
very act. and could not but admire
the cunning with which my friend had
inserted a wrong elew in the evening
paper. so as 10 give the fellow the idea
that be could continue his scheme with
impunity. / was not surprised when
Holmes suggested that I 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 az u.
and In IL we drove 70 SPOT at the
other side OF Hammersmith bridge.
Here the cabman was directed TO wat
A short walk brought Us 20 a secluded
road fringed with pleasant houses.
each standing in It's own grounds In
the light OK a street lamp we read
"Laburnum Vills" upon the gateDoss
OF one OF them. The occupants had ev-
identity retired TO rest. for all was
dark save for a fanlight over the hall
door, which shed q single blurred cir
Gle on 70 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.
81 fear that yoall have a long wait"
Holmes whispered. "we may thank
our stars that IL Is not raining.
don't think we can even venture TO
smoke to pass the time. However, it's
a two 10 one chance that we get some
thing 10 pay US for our trouble"
Ii proved, however. that our vigil
was not to be so long as Holmes had
led US TO fear, and it ended IN a very
sudden and singular fashion. In an
Instant without the least sound TO
warn US OF his coEslng, the garden
gate swung open, and 1.-THE. dark
figure, as swift and active as an ape,
rushed Up the garden path. We saw
IL whisk past the light thrown from
over the door and disappear against
the black shadow OF the house. There
was a long pause. during which we
held our breath, and then very gen.
tie creaklng sound came 20 our carr
The window was being opened The
noise ceased, and again there was a
long silence. The fellow was making
his way into the house. We saw the
sudden fash OF dark lantern inside
tie room. What he sought was evil
IDENTITY not there, FOR again we saw the
dash through another blind AND then