The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-22
New Sherlock Holmes Series
(continued from Thlrty.fifth Pase)

ing experience. Then Sherlock Holmes cooked his eye at me, leaning back on the cushions with a pleased and yet critical face, like a connoisseur who has just taken his first sip of comet vintage.
 Rather fine, Watson, is it not?' said he. There are points in 1t which pleases me. l think that you will agree with me that an interview with MT. Arthur Harry Pin ner in the temporary offices of the , Franeo-Mldland Hardware company, lim- tied. would be rather interesting ex- perience for both of lis
 But how can we do it?" l asked.
 "Oh, easily enough said Hall Pycroft, cheerily. You are two friends of mine who are in want of a billet and what could be more natural than that should bring you both round to the managing di- rector?"
 Quite so, of course' said Holmes. T should like to have a look at the gentle man, and SC if I can make anything of his little game What qualities have you, my friend which would make your ser vices so valuable? or Is it possible that" He began biting his nails and staring blankly out of the window, and we hardly drew another word from him until we were in New street.
 At o'clock that evening we were walking. the three of us, down Corpora ton street to the company's offices.
 Tt is no use our being at all before our time." said our client. He only comes there to see me, apparently, for the place is deserted up to the very hour he names"
 That is suggestive" remarked Holmes
 By iove, I told you sol" cried the clerk That's he walking ahead of us there"
 He pointed to a smallish, dark, we'll dressed man who was bustling along the 1 other side of the road. AS we watched him he looked across at a boy who was bawl- i ing out the latest edition of the evening ] aa1 he and 'busses, he bought one from him. i Then, clutchng 1t in his hand, he vanish ] ed through a doorway.
 1 There he goesl" cried Hall Pycroft. l "These are the company's offices into which he has gone. Come with me, and I'll fix 1t up as easily as possible. Following his lead, we ascended five stories, until we found ourselves outside a half-opened door, at which our client l tapped voice within bade us enter, and we entered a bare, unfurnished room such as Hall Pycroft had described. At the single table sat the man whom we nad seen in the street, with his evening paper spread out in front of him, and as he looked up at us 1t seemed to me that had never looked upon face which bore such grief-of a horror such as comes to few men in a lifetime. His brow glisten- ed with precipitation, his cheeks were or the dull, dead white of fish's belly, and his eyes were wild and staring. He looked at his clerk as though he failed to reeog- nize him, and could see by the astonlsh- ment depicted upon our conductors face that this was by no means the usual ap- i pearance of his employer.
 You look Ill., MT. Pinnerl" he ex- claimed.
 ''Yes I am very well answered the l other. making obvious efforts to pull him self together, and licking his dry lips be- hn ora men whom you have brought with you?"
 "One is MT Harris of Bermondsey, and the other is MT. Price of this town," said our clerk, glibly. "They are friends of mine and gentlemen of experience, but they have been out of place for some lit- tie time, and they hoped that perhaps you might find an opening for them in the company's employment"
 Very possiblyl very possibly! cried MT. Primer with a ghastly smile. ''Yes, 1 have no doubt that we shall be able to do something for you What is your particular line, MT Harris?"
 q am an accountant" said Holmes.
 "Ah, yes, we shall want something of the sort. And you, Mr. Price?
 "A clerk" said I.
 q have every hope that the company may accommodate you. I will let you know about 1t as soon as we come to any conclusion. And now beg that you will go. For Gods sake leave me to my self"
 These last words were shot out of him, as though the constraint which he was evidently setting upon himself had sud- denly and utterly burst asunder. Holmes and l glanced at each other, and Hall Pycroft took step towards the table.
 You forget, MT. Primer, that I am here by appointment to receive some directions from you," said he.
 Certainly, MT. Pycroft, certainly" the other resumed in a calmer tone. You may wait here a moment; and there is no req son why your friends should not wait with you I will be entirely at your service in three minutes, if 1 might trespass upon your patience so far" He rose with a very courteous air and, lowing to us he pass ed out through a door at the farther end of the room which he closed behind him.
 What now?" whispered Holmes. ''Is he giving us the slip?'
 Impossible" answered Pycroft
 why so2'
 That door leads Into an inner room"
 There is no exit?'
 '1s it furnished?"
 Tt was empty yesterday"
 '"rhen what on earth can he be doingT There is something which I don't under stand in this matter. If ever man was three parts mad with terror, that mans name Is Pinner What can have put the shvers on hm?'
 "He suspects that we are detectives I suggested.
 "Thats it. cried Pycroft.
 Holmes shook his head He did no turn pale. He was pale when we entered the room," said he. Tt is just possible that .t
 His words were interrupted by sharI rat-tat from the direction of the inner door.
 what the deuce is he knocking at hl' own door for?" cried the clerk.
 Again and much louder came the rat tat-tat. We all gazed expectantly at the closed door. Glancing at Holmes, l saw { his face turn rigid and he leaned forward in intense excitement. Then suddenl, s came a low gurging, gargling sound, ane brisk drumming upon wooo-worK Holmes sprang frantically across th' room and pushed at the door. It was fastened on the inner side. Following his example, we threw ourselves upon 1t witt all our weight. One hinge snapped, ther the other. and down came the door witt ! a crash Rushing over 1t we found our selves in the inner room. It was empty But it was only for moment that we were at fault At one corner. the corner nearest the room which we had left, there was a second door. Holmes sprang to il and pulled it open. A coat and waistcoa were lying on the floor, and from hool behind the door. with his own brace: round his neck, was hanging the manag ing director of the Franco Midland Hard ware company. His knees were drawr up, his head hung at a dreadful angle tI | his body and the chatter of his heel :, | against the door made the noise whicl