The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-06-21

SO unfortunately maltreated were very
precious objects ia the eyes of tbqi
owner 9Th a snari OF contempt b,
turned udon bis heel. end I saw hls
curved bAck and white side whisker.
disappeatamong the throng
MY obs Syaiions Of 427 Park lane did
little 20 Gear up the problem In which
/ was Interested. The house was sep
arated from the street by a low wal
and raging. the whole not more than
Eve feet high It was perfectly easy
theref5re. for any one TO gat into the
| gardeh but the window was entirely
Inaccessible since there was no water,
pipe br anything which could help the
mostIactive man 70 climb IT, More puz
zled than ever. I retraccd my steps to
Remington. I had not been IN my
study FIVE minutes when thu maid en-.
tered to say that a person desired to
sec me To my nstonishment It was
nohe other than my strange old book
collector. his sharp. wizened face peer
ing out from a frame Of white hair. and
his precious volumes. a dozen OF them
at least, wedged under his right arm.
You're surprised to see me. SIR
said he in a strange. croaking voice.
acknowledged that 1 was
"Well, I've conscience, sir and
when ! Glanced TO see you go into this
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 gluf in my manner
I there was not any harm meant and that
/ I am much obliged TO hin for picking
up my books"
you make too much Of a tribe" said
I. May l ask how you knew who
wasg"
eyes, sir. II it isn't too great a liher
/ ty / am a neighbor Of yours. for you'n
/ find my little boolSshop at the corner Of
Church street. and yey happy to see
you. am sure Maybe you collect
yourself sir. Here's British Birds
ana Catullus' and The Holy War'-a
/ bargain, every one Of them. With FIVE
volumes you could just I'll that gap on
that second shelf It looks untdy
does it not, sir?"
| / moved my head TO look at the cabi.
net behind me. When 1 turned again
/ Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling
az ME across my study table. / rose to
my feet. stared ut him for some sec
onds 30 utter amazement, and then Il
appears that | must have faiDtod for
I the first and the last time IN my life
/ Certainly a gray mist swirled before
my eyes, and when it cleared ! found
my collar ends undone and the tingling
/ after-taste OF brandy upon my lips.
Holmes was bending over my chair,
his fask IN his hand
MY dear Watson" said the well re
membered voice, Il owe you thou
/ sand apologies. / had no idea that you
would BE SO affected"
gripped him by the arms
"Holmesg ! cried "Is It really you?
Can It indeed be that you are alive? Is
I 1t possible that you succeeded IN climb
ing out Of that awful abyss?'
/ "Wait a moment" said he Are you
sure that you are really Git TO discuss
/ things3 ] have given you serious
shock by my unnecessarily dramatic
reappearance"
Il am all right. but lnderd, Holmes, i
can hardly believe my eyes. Good
heavens, TO think that you-you OF all
men-should be standing In my studyp
Again / gripped him by the sleeve and
felt the thin, slnewy arm beneath IT,
"Well, you're not a spirit anyhow"
said l. MY dear chap, I'm overjoyed
TO see yQu. Sit down and tell me how
you came alive out Of that dreadful
chasm."
He sat opposite to me and lit a ciga-
rette in his old nonchalant manner
He was dressed in the seedy frock coat
Of the boCk merchant but the rest Of
that individual lay in a 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 aquiline face which told
me that his life recently had not been a
healthy one.
u am glad to stretch myself. wat
son." said he. 1T is no joke when a
tall man has 10 take foot on his
stature for several hours on end. Now
my dear fellow, in the matter Of these
/ explanations, we have. If / may ask
Tor your cooperation, hard and dan
gerous nights work in front Of us. Per
haps it would be better II gave you an
account Of the whole situation when
that work IS finished"
Il am full OF curiosity. / should
much prefer to hear now"
you'll come with me tonightT
when you like and where you like"
"Thls is. indeed, like the old days
We shall have time for a mouthful Of
dinner before we need 60 Wen, then.
about that chasm. / had no serious
difficulty in getting ont Of it for the
very simple reason that never was
in it."
"You never were in it7'
"No, Watson, never was IN It. My
note TO you was absolutely genuine. !
had little doubt that / had cotae to The
end OF my career when perceived the
somewhat sinister figure Of the late
Professor Moriarty standing upon the
narrow pathway which led to safety.
l read an lnexorable purpose in his
gray eyes l exchanged some remarks
with him. therefore, and obtained bis
courteous permission to write the short
note which you afterward received. /
left It with my cigarette box and nay
stick, and l walked along the pathway.
Moriarty stil5 az my heels When I
reached the enc stood AZ bay. He
drew no weapon. but he rushed at me
and threw his long arms around me.