The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-30

TIN Oltllttl II NlUOi ul'DLl liN is-ni utlIiNt
side. Something rushed out ut us. and
nv heart sprang into my mouth, but
could have laughed when | realized
that il was the cat. A fire was burn
ing in this new room. and again the air
was heavy with tobacco smoke. Holmes
entered on tiptoe. waited for me to fol
low. and then very gently closed the
door. We were in Milverton's study.
and portiere at the farther side show
ed. the entrance to his bedroom.
1t was good fire. and the room was
Illuminated by it. Near the door saw
the CLEAN of an electric switch. but it
was unnecessary. even if it had been
safe. to turn it on. At one side of the
fireplace was Il heavy curtain which
covered the bay window we had seen
from outside. On the other side was
the door which communicated with the
veranda. 4 desk stood in the center.
with turning chair of shining red
leather Opposite was a large book
ease with 4 marble bust of Athene on
the top. In the corner, between the
bookcase and the wall. there stood
tall green safe, the freight flashing
back from the polished brass knobs
upon its face. Holmes stole across and
looked at it. Then he crept to the door
of the bedroom and stood with slanting
head. listening intently. No sound came
from within. Meanwhile it had struck
me that it would be wise to secure our
retreat through the outer door. so | ex-
amined it. TO my amaZement it was
neither locked nor bolted. | touched
Holmes on the arm. and he turned his
masked face in that direction. saw
him start, and he was evidently as sur.
prised rs |.
II don't like it." he whispered. put
ting his lips to my very ear Il can't
quite make it out Anyhow we have
no time to lose"
Can | do anythingT'
"Yes stand by the door. If you hear
any one come, bolt it on the inside.
and we can get away as we came. If
they come the other way. we can GET
through the door if our job is done or
hide behind these window curtains if
it is not Do you understands"
l nodded and stood by the door. Ny
first feeling of fear had passed away,
and thrilled now with a keener zest
than had ever enjoyed when we were
the defenders of the law instead of its
defers. The high object of our mis-
sion, the consciousness that it was
unselfiSh and chivalrouS. the vilainous
character Of our opponent. all added to
the sporting interest of the adventure.
Far from feeling guilty, reioiced and
exulted in our dangers. With glow
of admiration | watched Holmes uii-
rolling his case of instruments and
choosing his tool with the calm. scien-
tific accuracy of a surgeon who per-
forms a delicate operation. | 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 Il chair
Holmes laid out two drills. a 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
ahe strength and delicacy of the train
I'd mechanic. Finally l heard a click,
the broad green door swung open, and
inside had glimpse of a 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
Milverton i'll the next room to switch
on the electric light. Suddenly | 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, motioning
me to do the same.
1t was only when l had Joined him
there that heard what had alarmed
his quicker senses. There was a noise
somewhere within the house. A door
slammed in the distance. Then a 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 sharp snick as the electric light
was turned on. The door closed once
more, and the pungent reek of a strong
cigar was borne to our nostrils. Then
the footsteps continued backward and
forward, backward and forward, with
in a few yards of us. Finally there
was creak from a chair, and the foot
steps ceased. Then key clicked in a
lock, and heard the rustic of papers.
So far l had not dared to 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 | knew
that he was sharing my observations.
Right in front of us and almost within
our reach was the broad, rounded back
OF Milverton. 1t was evident that we
mad 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 oustretched. a long,