The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22
ADVENTURE vi.
The Man With the Twisted Lip

I walked down the narrow passage
between the double row of sleepers,
holding my breath to keep out the vile,
stupefying. fumes Of the drug, and look
ing about for the manager. AS I passed
a low voice whispered, "Walk past
me, and then look back at me-" The
words fell quite distinctly upon my ear.
I glanced down. They could only have
come from the old man at my side, and
yet he sat now as absorbed as
ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent
with age, an opium pipe dangling down
dropped in sheer lassitude from his fin
gers. I took two steps forward and
looked back. 1t took all my selfcon-
troll to prevent me from breaking out
into a cry of astonishment. He had
turned his back so that none could see
him but I. His form had filed out, his
wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had
regained their fire, and there, sitting
by the fire, and grinning at my surprise,
He made a slight motion to me to ap-
proach him, and instantly as he turned
his face half round to the company once
| more, subsidized into doddering, loose
Tipped senility.
:" Holmes!'' T whispered, "what on
earth are you doing in this dens"
| AS low as you CAM he answered;
have the great kindness to get rid of
| that scottish friend of yours I should
be exceedingly, glad to have a little
talk with you.'
| II have cab outside.'
HThen pray send him home in it,
You may safely trust him, for he ap-
pears to be too limp to get into any
mischief. I should recommend you also
to send note by the cabman to your
your lot with me. If you will wait out
side, I shall be with you in five min
utes.'
It was difficult to refuse any Of Sher-
| lock Holmes requests, for they were
always so exceedingly definite, and put
forward with such quiet air of mas
terry. felt, however, that when Whit
ney was once confined in the cab MY
mission was practically accomplished,
thing better than to be associated with
my friend in one Of those singular ad-
ventures which were the normal condi-
ton Of his existence. In a few min
utes l had written my note, paid Whit
ney's bill, led him out to the cab, and
seen him driven thru the Darkness In
a very short time, a decrepit figure had
emerged from the opium den, and was
walking down the street with Sherlock
along with bent back and uncertain
foot. Then, glancing quickly round, he
Strengthened himself out and burst into
hearty fit Of laughter.
~ suppose, Watson,' said he, "that
you imagine that I have added opium
smoking to cocaine injections, and all
the other little weaknesses on which you
have favored me with your medical
views
81 was certainly surprised to find you
i but not more so than to find you. D
~ came to find friend.''
And l to find an enemy"
can enemyq'
} Yes; one Of my natural enemies
or, shall say, my natural prey. Briefly
Watson, am in the midst Of very re
) find clew in the incoherent rambling
of these sots, as T have done befor,
now. Had been recognized in that de,
my life would not have been worth al
| hours purchase; for I have used it be
, fore now for my own purposes, and tn
, rascally Lascar who runs it has swor1
, to nave vengeance upon me. There is
: trapdoor at the back Of that building
, near the corner Of Paul's Wharf, which
: WA
!, has passed thru it upon the moonles
: nights"
H'What! You do not mean bodiesq'
q ''Aye, bodies, Watson. We should b
r rich men if we had $1,000 for ever
2 poor devil who has been done to deaf
Q in that den. 1t is the vilest murde,
f trap on the whole riverside, and
t it never to leave it more. But our ira
p should be here" He put his two fore
. fingers between his teeth and whistle
: shrllly-.a signal which was answere
G by. similar whistle from the distanc,
9 followed shortly by the rattle Of wheel
y and the clink of horses hoofs.
. .H,Now, Watson,' said Holmes, as
9 tau docgcart dashed up thru the gloon
:, low light from it's side-lanterns; "you
q come with me, won't you9'
IF 1 can be Of use''
h ION, trusty comrade is ALWAYS {
q use, and a chronicler still more so. M
IS ded one"
a THE Cedarss''
10 eyes; that is Mr. st. Clair's hous
g ! am staying there while I conduct tt
le Where is it, then7'
10 Near Lee, in Kent. We have
Y even-mlle drive before us.'
s, But I am all in the dark"
e, "Of course you are. You I'll know a
a. about it presently. Jump up here. A
Il. T1ght, John; we shall not need 20
n Here's half a crown. Look out f,
lg me TOMORROW, about II. Give her h.
+. head. So long, then!''
er He ficked the horse with his viii
q and we dashed away thru the endle
a succession, of sombre and deserte
,g streets, which widened gradually, unit
III we were lying across a broad BIZ
ustraded bridge, with the murky riv
t. flowing sluggishly beneath us. Beyol
or lay another dull wilderness Of brick al
~ mortar, its silence broken only by ii
= heavy, regular footballs Of the polio
to man, or the songs and shouts of so1
Of belated party Of jewellers. A dull wra,
sh was drifting slowly across the sky, al
a star or two twinkled dimly here al
x there thru the riffs of the CLOUD
40 Holmes drove in silence, with his he;
6, sunk upon his breast, and the air OF
at man who is lost in thought, while
sat beside him, curious to learn VIII
le. this new quest might be which seem
IN, to tax his powers SO sorely, and y
". afraid to break in upon the current
his thoughts. We had driven sever
miles and were beginning to get to t
fringe Of the belt of suburban vill
I when he shook himself, shrugged !
as shoulders and lit up his pipe with t
at air Of a man who has satisfied hims,
- that he is acting for the best.
nd You have a grand rift Of silen
Watson,'' said he. 1t makes you qu
In. invaluable as a companion 'Pon I
W. word it ia q great fhiru for m a ~ bo