The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-20

nrst OF criminals. He has nerve and
ne has knowledge Palmer and Pritch-
ard were among the heads of their pro-
fession, This man strikes even deeper
but L think, Watson, that we shall be
able to strike deeper stiH. But we shall
nave horrors enough before the night as
over; for goodness sake let Us have a
quiet pipe and turn our minds for few
hours TO something more cheerful
About O'Clock the light among the
trees Was eXtinguished and all was
dark in the direction of the Manor
and then, suddenly. just at the
stroke of II, a single bright light shone
out right In front OF US.
THAT is our signal said Holmes
springing TO his feet; 1T comes from the
middle window
As we passed out he exchanged a few
words with the landlord expanding
that We were going ot a ilte visit to
an acquaintance, anC that II was PCS
sible that we might spend The night
there. A momen- laser .ye were Gus IN
the dark road. a chill Wind blowing in
our faces. and one yellow light twink
ling in front of through The gloom
TO guide us on our Sotnore erfatud
There was little difficulty in enterlp-s-
the grounds. for urrepaired breaches
Saped in the old park wall. Making ouc
way among the trees we reached the
lawn. crossed it. and were about H.
enter through the window. Wien out
from a clumD of laurel pushes there
darted what seemed 10 De a hfdeous
and distorted child, who threw itself
upon the grass with writhng limbs
and then ran swiftly across the. lawn
into the darkness
MY Cod" whispered: did you see
Holmes was for the moment as start
led as /. His hand closed like a eise
upon my wrist in his agitation. Then
he broke into low laugh and put his
lips to my ear.
1T is a nice household he muir
INJURED. That is the balloon.
mad forgotten the strange pets
Which the doctor affected. There was a
cheetah- too. perhaps We might find il
upon our shoulders at any moment
/ confess that I felt easier in my mind
when. after following Holmes example
ana slipping off my shoes. 1 found my
self inside the bedroom. Nv companion
noiselessly closed the shutters moved
the lamp on 10 the table and cast his
eyes round the room. All was as we
had seen it m the daytime Then creep
ing up to me and making = trumpet of
his hand. he whispered into my ear
again SO gently that it was all that I
could do to distinguish the words.
our plans"
7 nodded to show that bad heard.
We must sit without LIGHT. he
would see it through the ventiIator"
/ nodded again.
DO not go asleep: your very life
may depend upon IL. Have your pistol
ready i'm case we should need it. I
in that chair"
! took my out revolver and laid il on
tho corner OF the table
Holmes had brought up d long thin
cane; and this he placed upon the bed
beside him. BY it he laid the box
o. matches and the stump of a candle
Then he turned down the lamp. and
we were left in darkness.
How shall I ever forget that dread
ful vigil? l could not hear a sound
not even the drawing of a breath and
yet ] knew that my COMPANION sat
open-eyed. within a few feet of me. in
the same state of nervous tension IN
which ] was myself The shutters cut
OF the least ray of light, and we waited
IT. absolute darkness. From outside
came the occasional cry of a night-bird
and once at our very window "a LONG
drawn cat-like whine. which told us
~that the cheetah was indeed at lib
erty. Far away we could hear the
deep tones of the parish clock. which
doomed out every quarter Of an hour
How long they seemed. those quarters,
Twelve struck. and one and two and
three. and still we sat waiting silently
Tor whatever might befali.
Suddenly there was the momentarv
CLEAN OF light up in the direction
of the VentilatOr which vanished i'm
mediately, but was succeeded by a
strong smell of burning oil and heated
metal Some one in the next room
had lit dark lantern. [ heard a
gentle sound of movement. aud then all
was silent once more. though the smell
grew stronger tFor hals an hour I sat
with straining ears. Then suddenly an
other sound became audible very
gentle. soothing sound. like that of a
small jet of steam escaping continually
from d kettle The instant that we
heard ii Holmes Sprang from the bed.
struck a match and dashed furiOusiy
with his cane AT the bell-pun
You see it. WATSON" he yelled
You soc ito
But I saw nothing. At the moment
when Holmes struck the light I heard
a low. clear whistle but the sudden
glare flashing into my weary eyes
made ii impossible for me. to tell what
IL was at which my friend dashed so
savagely. 1 could. however see that
his face was deadly pale and filed
with horror and loathing.
He had ceased to strike and was gaZ-
ing UP at the VentilatOr. when sud
denly there broke from the silence OF
the night the most horrible CRY to
which i have ever listened. IT swelled
up louder and louder. a hOarse yell
OF pain and fear and anger all mingled
in the one dreadful shrek They say
that away down in the village. and even
in the distant parsonage, that CRY
raised the sleepers from their beds. II
struck cold TO our hearts, until the
last echoes of it had died away into
the silence from which il rose.
What can it mean2'' I gasped.
1T means that it is all over" Holmes
answered. And perhaps after all. il
is for the best. Take your pistol. and
we Will enter DR.. RoylOtt's ROOM
With a grave face he lit the lamp
and led the way down the corridor
Twice he struck at the chamber door
without any reply from within. Then
he turned the handle and entered, / at
his heels, with the cooked pistol in my
hand.
1t was a singular sight which met our
eyes. on the table stood dark-lantern
with the shutter half open. throwing a
brilliant beam of light upon the iron
safe, the door of which was jar. Be
side this table. on the wooden chair.
sat DR.. Grimesby Roylott clad in a
long gray dressing gown. his bare
ankles protrUding beneath. and his feet
thrust into red heelless Turkish slip
pers. Across his lap lay the short stock
with the long lash which we had noticed
during The day. His chin was cooked
upward and his eyes We're fixed in q
dreadful. rigid stare at the corner OF
the ceiling. Round his brow he had a.
to- x~aTIy a.