The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-24

as tenacious as a lobster If he gets his claws upon any one. Here we are and they are waiting for us.
 We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, following the guidance of MT. Merriweather. we passed down narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Within there was a small corridor which ended in a very massive iron gate. This also was opened and led down a flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mir. Merrtweather stopped to light lantern, and then con- ducted us down a dark, earth-smelling passage and so, after opening a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes.
 You are not very vulnerable from above" Holmes remarked, as he held up the lantern and gazed about him.
 Nor from below" said MT. Merri- weather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor Why, dear me, 1t sounds quite hollow!' he remarked, looking up in surprise.
 q must really ask you to be little more quiet" said Holmes severely. You have already imperiled the whole success of our expedition. Might l beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes, and not to tn- terfere?"
 The solemn MT. Merriweather perched himself upon a crate, with very in- jured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a mag nifying lens, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket
 ''We have at least an hour before us,' he remarked flor they can hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely In bed. Then they will not lose minute, for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at present, doctor as no doubt you have divined-in the eel lar of the city branch of one of the prin- cipal London banks. MT. Merriweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Lon don should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present"
 "It is our French gold" whispered the director. "We have had several warn ings that an attempt might be made upon it."
 Your French gold?"
 Yes We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources, and bor- rowed for that purpose 5000 napoleons from the Bank of France. 1t has become known that we have never had occasion to unpack the money, and that 1t is still lying in our cellar. The crate upon which sit contains 2000 napoleons packed between layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at present than Is usually kept in a single branch offiee and the directors have had misgivings upon the subject"
 (Which were very well justified" ob- served Holmes. And now 1t Is time that we arranged our little plans. l expect that within an hour matters will come to head. In the meantime, MT. Merri- weather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern"
 And sit in the dark?'
 'I am afraid so. l had brought a pack of cards in my pocket and l thought that | as we were a partie carree you might | have your rubber after all. But l see | that the enemys preparations have gone | so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us some harm unless we are careful. l shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourself behind those. Then when l flash light upon them, close in swiftly If 1 they fire, Watson, have no compunction dDOuL SnOOlluB lhtHl oOWHf ! I placed my revolver, cooked, upon the 1 top of the wooden case behind which 1 crouched Holmes shot the slide across | the front of his lantern, and left us In 1 pitch darkness-such an absolute dark ness as l have never before experienced. 1 The smell of hot metal remained to as- | sure us that the light was still there, | ready to flash out at moments notice. 1 To me, with my nerves worked up to a pitch of expectancy, there was some- thing depressing and subduing in the sud 1 den gloom, and in the cold, damp air of the vault.
 "rhey have but one retreat" whispered Holmes. That Is back through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. l hope 1 that you have done what l asked you, | Jones?"
 i q have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door"
 Then we have stopped all the holes. And now wo must be silent and walt. l What a time 1t seemed. From compar- l Ing notes afterwards it was but an hour 1 and quarter, yet 1t appeared to me that the night must have almost gone, and the dawn be breaking above us. My l limbs were weary and stiff, for l feared l to change my position yet my nerves l were worked up to the highest pitch Of | tension, and my hearing was so acute that 1 could not only hear the gentle l distinguish the deeper, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, signing note of the bank director. From my po- sitlon I could look over the case in the ] direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes | caught the glimmer of light. 1 At first 1t was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement Then it heightened out until 1t became a yellow line, and i then, without any warning or sound, d gash seemed to open and a hand ap- peared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the center of the lit- 1 tie area of light. For a minute or more the hand. with it's wrthing fingers, pro 1 truded out of the floor. Then 1t was withdrawn suddenly as 1t appeared and all was dark again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink be- 1 tween the stones
 : Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, tearing 1 sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon It's side, and left a 1 square, gaping hole. through which streamed the light of lantern. Over l the edge there peeped a clean-cut boyish 1 face, which looked keenly about it, and | then, with a hand on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder high and waist high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another instant he stood at the side of the hole, and was hauling after him a companion, 1.-the and small 1 like himself, with pale face and d shock of very red hair.
 "It's all clear" he whispered Have you the chisel and the bags. Great scott Jump. Archie, jump, and I'll swing for itI'
 i Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the collar. The