Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-25
those which are used for an Illegal pur-

We'll. that is part of the risk There is
no other Possible way of regainfng these
letters. The unfoftunate lady has not the
money, and there are none of her people
In whom SHE coufd confide. Tomorrow is
the last day of grace. and unless we can
get the letters tonight this villain will be
as good as his word and will bring about
her ruin. l, must,t therefore. abandon my
client to her fate or I must play this last
caro-: BetWeen ourselves, Watson, it's
sporting duel between this fellow Milver-
ton ana me- He had, as you saw, the best
OF the hrst exchanges, but my self-respect
ana my reputation are concerned to fight 1t
to finiSh.'
We'll, L don't like it, but I suppose IL
must be- said 1. When do we start?''
You are not coming"
Then you are not going said /. 81
give you my word of honor-and 1 never
brokeit in my life-that 1 will take a cab
straight to the police station and give you
away unless You let me share this adven-
ture with you"
You can't help me-"
How do you know that? You can't tell
what may happen. Anyway, my resolu-
ton is taken. Other people beside you
nave self-respect. and even regulations
homes had looked annoyed, but his brow
cleared, and he clapped me on the shoulder.
Well, Well, my dear fellow, be it so.
We have shared this same room for some
years, and it would be amusing if we end
cd by sharing the same cell. You know,
| watson, don't mind confessing to you
that have always had an idea that L
would have made highly efficient Grim
inal. This is the chance of my lifeG
time in that direction. See herev' He took
a neat little leather case out of drawer
and opening it he exhibited a number of
SHINING instruments. This is first-class,
up to-date burgling kit with nick el-plathd
Jenny, diamond-tpped glass-cutter, adap-
table keys, and every modern improvement
which the march of civilization demands
Here too is my dark lantern. Everything
IS IN order. Have you a pair of silent
shoes?'
Il have rubber-soled tennis Shoes
Excellent! And a mask?"
II can make couple out of black silk
can see that you have a strong. nat
ural turn for this sort of thing. Very good,
do you make the masks. We shall have
some cold supper before we start. 1t is
now $50 At IL we shall drive as far as
Church Row. 1t is a quarter of an hours
walk from there to Appledore Towers We
shail be at work before midnight. Milver-
ton Is heaVy sleeper and retires pune
tually at 1880. With any luck we should
be back here by 2, with the Lady Eva's
letters in my pocket"
holmes and put on our dress clothes so
mat we might appear to be two theater-
goers homeward balInd. In oxford street
we picked up hanson and drove to an
address in Hampstead. Here we paid Off
our can' and with our great coats buttoned
up, for 1t was bitterly cold and the wind
seemed to blow through us, we walked
along the edge of the heath.
u business that needs delicate
treatment, said Holmes. These docu-
ments are contained in safe in the fell
lows study and the study Is the anterOom
OF ms Dedchamber. On the other hand like
all these stout, little men who do them
serves Wen, he is a plethoric sleeper.
Agatha-thats my fiancee-says it is a Joke
IL the servants hall that it's impossible 10
wake the master. He has a secretary who
10 devoted to his interests, and never
puuses from the study all day. That's why
we are going at night Then he has a beast
OF dog which roams the garden I met
Agatha late the last two evenings and she
locks the brute up so as to give me a clear
run. rms Is, the house, this big one in its
own grounds. Through the gate-now to
the right among the laurels. We might nut
on our masks here, think You see there
IS not gilnmer of light in any of the win
ly."
With our black silk face coverings. which
turned us into two of the most trIJcuIen+
cures IN London, we stole up to the silent
tended along one side of it. lined by sew
eraI windows and two doors
nat his bed room Holmes whfsperad
r, l ms door opens, Straight into the study.
1 would SUIT US best, but it is boIted a.
Well as locked and we should make to1
much noise getting IN. Come round here
drawing room.' -'o INC
The place was locked but Holmes .raroo,,-
co circle of glass and turned the kew
from the inside An instant afterward NJ |
had closed the door behind us. and we had
become feIOns in the eyes of the law tn
thlck, warm air of the Conservatory and tbe-
tIcI, chokInS fragrance of exotic plan+s |
took US by the throat He seized
my my nah4 IN the darkness and led
me swiftly past banks of shrubs yrbicb
brushed against our faces. Holmes L9J
reh!arkable powers, carefully cultivated Of |
seeing IN the dark. Still holding nv hand
Ia oilG oL MS ne opened a door. and | was |
vdSueiy conscious that we had entered = |
large room in which d cigar had haan |
smoked not long before. He felt his Uav
among l3 me furniture, opened another door |
anu cioseQ II behind us. Putting our NV |
mana, felt several coats hanging from, Tho |
wall ana l understood that [ was in a mas
sage. We passed along it, and Holmes |
10y sthly opened a door upon the right |
mana Slde Something rushed out at us |
and my heart sprang into my mouth hut |
could nave laughed when I realized that it |
was the cat A fire was burning in this |
new room and again the air was
heavy with tobacco smoke. Holmes on |
tered on tiptOe, waited for me to follow
ana then very gently closed the door. We |
were IN MilVerton's study, and a portiere |
at tire farther side showed the entrance to |
his bed room.
1t was a good fire, and the room was IL |
lumined by it, Near the door l saw the |
CLEAN Of an electric switch, but it was UNI
necessary, even If it had been safe, to turn |
1t on. AT one side of the fireplace was n |
heaVy curtain which covered the bay win |
dow we had seen from outside. On the |
|
Gated with the veranda. desk stood in |
the center, with turning chair of shining |
red leather Opposite was large book |
case, with a marble bust of Athena on the |
top. In the corner, between the bookcase |
and the wall there stood a tall, green safe |
the freight flashing back frCm the polished |
brass knobs upon its face. Holmes stole |
across and looked at 1t. Then he crept to |
the door of the bed ROOM 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 l ex- |
amined it. To my amazement it was |
neither locked nor bolted. l touched Holmes |
on the arm and he turned his masked face |
in that direction. l saw him start and he |
was evidently as surprised as l.
Il don't like it." he whispered, putting |
his lips to my very ear. Il can't quite |
make it out. Anyhow, we have no time |
to lose"
"Can do anything?"
yes stand by the door If you hear
any one come. bolt it on the inside, and |
we can get away fas 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 |
underestimate 9n ,e'
I nodded, and. stood by the door. NV |
first feeling of fear. had passed away. and |