The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

She looked again, but there was no
sound or movement heard sharp
rustic, the night air blew into the
heated room and the avenger was gone
No interference upon our part could
nave saved the man from. his fate,
but. as the woman poured bullet after
bullet into Milverton's shrinking body
was about to spring >out. when /
lett Holmes cold strong grasp upon
my wrist. I understood the whole ar
gdment of that firm, restraining grip
that il was no affair OF ours. that JUS
lice had Overtaken a villain, that we
nad our own duties and our own OBJ
Jects, which We're not to be lost sight
Of But hardly had the woman rushed
from the room when Holmes, with
swift. silent steps. was over at the
otnsr door. He turned the key in the
lock AT the same instant he heard
voices in the house and the sound of
hurrying feet. The revolver shots had
reused the household. With perfect
ccolness Holmes slipped acrczs TO the
safe, filled his two arms with bundles
OF letters and poured them all into the
fire. Again and again he did it. until
the safe was empty. Some one turned
the handle and beat upon the outside
of the door. Holmes looked swiftly
around. The letter which had been
the messenger OF death for Milverton
lay, all notified with his blood, upon
the table. Holmes tossed it in among
the blazing papers. Then he drew the
key from the outer door. passed
through after me and locked It on the
outside. This way, Watson" said he.
I'VE can scale the garden wall in this
direction"
/ could not have believed that an
alarm could have spread so swiftly.
Looking back, the huge house was one
blaze Of light. The front door was
open and figures were rushing down
the drive The whole garden was alive
with people, and one fellow raised a
view-halloa as we emerged from the
veranda and followed hard at our heels.
Holmes seemed to know the grounds
perfectly, and he threaded his way
swiftly among a plantation Of small
trees i close at his heels. and our fore
most pursuer painting behind US. 1t
was a six-foot wall which barred our
path, but he sprang to the top and
over. As I did the same felt the hand
of the man behind me grab at my
ankle. but I kicked myself free and
scrambled over a grass -strewn coping.
/ fell upon my face among some
bushes, but Holmes had me on my
feet in an instant. and together we
dashed away across the huge expanse
of Hampstead Heath We had run two
miles. / suppose. before Holmes at last
halted and listened intently. All was
absolute silence behind us. We had
shaken off our pursuers and were safe.
We had breakfasted and were snok
ing our morning pipe on the day after
the remarkable experience which I
have recorded. when Mr.. Lestrade of
Scotland Yard, very solemn and Inn
pressive, was uShered into our modest
sitting-room.
Good morning. Mr.. Holmes said
he; good morning. May i ask II you
are very busy just now?"
mt too busy to listen to you"
i thought that. perhaps. il you had
nothing particular on hand. you might
care to assist US in a most remarkable
case. which occurred only last night at
Hampstead"
Dear me-" said Holmes. What was
that?''
"A murder-a most dramatic and re-
markable murder. I know how keen
you are upon these things and I would
take it as a great favor If you would
step down to Appledore Towers AMI
give US the benefit of your advice. It
is no ordinary crime. We have ndd our
eyes upon this Mr. Milverton for some
time. and. between ourselves, he was q
bit Of villain. He Is known to have
held papers which he used for blaSs-
mailing purposes. These papers have
all been burned by the murderers. No
article of value was taken. as it IS prcb
able that the criminals wsAe~me NJ
good position whOsessOle objsct was 10
prevent social exposure.
''Criminals2" said Holmes. "Plurai?"
Eyes, there were two OF them. They
were as nearly as possible captured
red-handed. We have their footmarks.
we have their description. it's ten to
one that we trace them. The first fell
low was a bit too active. but the second
was caught by the under gardener, ana
only got away after a struggle He
was a middle-sized. strongly built man
square jaw, thick neck, mustache,
mask over his eyes"
That's rather vague" said Sherlock
Holmes. Why, 1t might be descr1p-
tion of Watsonl"
TITS true" said the Inspector. with
amusement. 1T might be description
of Watson"
We'll. I'm afraid can't help you,
Lestrade" said Holmes. The fact IL
that I knew this fellow Milverton. that
1 considered him one Of the most dan
gerous men in London. and that think
there are certain crimes which the law
cannot touch, and which therefore, to
some extent, justify private revenge
No it's no use arguing. have made
up my mind. My sympathies are with
the criminals rather than with the vic
tim, and I will not handle this case"
Holmes had not said one word to me
about the tragedy which we had wit
messed, but observed all the morning
that he was in his most thoughtful
mood. and he gave me the impression.
from his vacant eyes and his abstracted
manner of a man who is striving TO re-
call something TO his memory We
were in the middle Of our lunch when
he suddenly sprang to his feet BY
Jove, Watson. I've got it!" he cried
Take your hatl Come with mel" He
hurried at his top speed down Baker
street and along Oxford street, until
we had almost reached Regent Circus
Here. on the left hand, there stands q
shop window filed with photographs OF
the celebrities and beauties of the day.
Holmes eyes fixed themselves upon one
of them, and following his gaze saw
the picture Of regal and stately lady
in court dress, with a high diamond
tiara upon her noble head. I looked at
that delicately curved nose, at the
marked eyebrows. at the straight
mouth and the strong little chin be-
meath II. Then I caught my breath as
I read the time-honored title OF the
great nobleman and statesman whose
I. Il hnar " those