The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-05-19

house as | came hobbliug after you.
thought to myself I'll just step in and
see that kind gentleman and tell him
that if | was bit grutf in my manner
there was not any harm meant and that
l am much obliged to him for picking
up my books"
You make too much of a trifie," said
I. May l ask how you knew who l
/ was?"
Yes. sir. If it isn't too great Gber-
ty am a neighbor of yours, for you'll
find my little bookshop at the corner of
Church street, and very happy to see
you. | am sure Maybe YOU collect
yourself. sir. Here's British Birds
and 'Catullus' and The Holy War'-a
bargain. every one of them. With five
volumes you could just fill that gap on
that second shelf 1t looks untidy,
does ii net. SIR
l moved my head TO look at the cabi-
net behind me- When | turned again
Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling
ut me across my study table. l rose to
my feet. stared at him for some sec
onds in utter amaZement and then it
appears that | must have tainted for
the first and the last time in my life.
Certainly a gray mist Swirled before
my eyes. and when il cleared l found
my collar ends undone and the ting ing
after-taste of brandy upon my lips.
Holmes was bending over my chair,
his flask in his hand
My dear Watson" said the we'll re-
membered voice. Il owe You a thou
sand apologies l had no idea that you
would be SO affected"
l gripped him by the arms. .
Holiness l cried. rs it really you?
Can it indeed be that you are alive? Is
it possible that you succeeded in climb
ine out of that awful abyss?"
Wait Il moment" said he. Are You
sure that You are really fit to discuss
things? have given You a serious
shock by my unnecessarily dramatic
temperance"
Il am all right. but indeed. Holmes.
can hardly believe my eyes. Good
heavens. to think that you-you of all
men-Should be standing in my study"
Again l gripped him by the sleeve and
felt the thin. sinewy arm beneath it.
We'll, you're not a spirit anyhow"
said l. My dear chap. I'm overjoyed
to see YOU Sit down and tell ME how
you came alive out of that dreadful
chaSm"
He sat opposite TO me and lit ciga-
rette in his old nonchalant manner
He was dressed in the Seedy frock coat
of the book merchant. but the rest Of
that individual lay in Il pile of white
hair and old books upon the table
Holmes looked even thinner and keener
than of old, but there was a dead white
tinge in his aquiliue face which told
me that his life recently had not been Il
healthy one.
Il am glad to stretch myself. Wat
son." said he 1T is no joke when a
tall man has to take foot off his
stature for several hours on end Now
my dear fellow. in the matter of these
explanations, we have. if l may ask
for your cooperation. a hard and dan
gerous nights work in front of us. Per
haps il would be better if l gave You an
account of the whole situation when
that work is finished"
Il am full of curiosity. I should
much prefer to hear now
.,~i,.
"When you like and where You like"
This is. indeed like the old days
We shall have time for a mouthful of
dinner before we need go. Well, then
about that chaSm. had no serious
difficulty in getting out of it for the
very simple reason that l never was
in it,
You never We're in it,"
NO. Watson. l never was in ii. Ny
note TO you was absolutely genuine. I
had little doubt that had come TO the
end of my career when l perceived the
somewhat sinister figure of the late
Professor Moriarty standing upon the
narrow pathway which led 10 safety
read an memorable purpose in his
gray eyes. exchanged some remarks
with him. therefore. and obtained his
courteous permission To write the short
note which you afterward received. I
left it with my cigarette box and my
stick. and walked along the pathway.
Moriarty still at mr. heels When
reached the end I stood At bay. He
drew no weapon, but he rushed al NE
and threw his Ing arms around me.
He knew that his own game was up
and was only anxious to revenge him
self unon me. We tottered together
upon the brink of the fall. I have some
knowledge. however. of baritsu. or the
japanese system of wrestling. which
has more than once been very useful
TO me. l slipped through his grip. and
he with horrible scream kicked mad