Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-10

were slowly uttered in tone of con-
centrated resolution. AS a fash of
lightning in the night shows up in an
instant every detail of wild land
scape. SO at one glance | seemed to see
every possible result of such an action
the detection. the capture, the hon
ored career ending in irreparable fail
ure and disgrace, my friend himself "
ing at the mercy of the OdiOus AIilver-
ton.
For heavens sake. Holmes, think
what you are DOING L cried.
MY dear fellow, have given it ev-
cry consideration. I am never precipi-
tate in my actions. nor would / adopt
so energetic and, indeed, So dangerous
a course if any other were possible.
Let us look at the matter clearly and
fairly. l suppose that you will admit
that the action is morally juStifiable,
though technically criminal. To burgle
his house is no more than TO forcibly
take his pocketbOOk. an action in which
you were prepared to aid me-"
/ turned ii over in my mind.
yes" / said. lit is morally justifia-
BILE so long AS our object is to take no
save those WHICH are uSefl
an Illegal purpose"
Exactly. Since il is morally justifia-
BILE I have only to consider the question
of personal risk. Surely a gentleman
should not lay much stress upon this
when lady Is i'm most desperate need
of his help?"
you will be In such a false position"
We'll, that is part of the risk There
is no other possible way OF regaining
these letters. The unfortunate lady has
not the money, and there are none of
her people in whom she could confide.
Tomorrow is the last day of grace. and
unless we can get the letters tonight
this villain will he as good as his word
and will bring about her ruin. l must
therefore abandon my client to her
fate or l must play this last card. Be
tween ourselves, Watson, it's a sport
ing duel between this fellow Milverton
and me- He had. as you saw, the best
of the first exchanges, but my self re-
spect and my reputation are concerned
to fight ii to finish
"Well, / don't like it, but l suppose
it must be-" said l. when do we
start:"
You are not coming"
"Then you are not going" said l. 81
give you my word of hOnor-and / new
er broke it in my life-that l will take
a cab straight to the police station and
give you away unless you let me share
this adventure with you
'You can't help me-
How do you know that? You can't
tell what MAY happen. Anyway my
resolution is taken. Other people be-
side you have self respect and even
regulations
Holmes had looked annoyed. but his
brow cleared, and he clapped me on
the shoulder.
"Well, well. my dear fellow, be it so.
We have shared this same room for
some years. and il would be amusing
if we ended by sharing the, same cell.
You know, Watson. l don't mind con-
Tossing to you that L have always had
an idea that l would have made a
highly efficient criminal. This is the
chance of my lifetime in that direction.
See here" He took "A neat little leath
er case out of a drawer and, opening
IT. he exhibited n number of shining
instruments. This is a first class up
to date burgling kit, with nickel plated
jimmy, diamond tipped glass cutter,
adaptable keys and every modern inn
provement which the march of civiliZa
ton demands. Here, too is my dark
lantern. Everything is in order. Have
you a pair of silent shOes?"
Il have rubber soled tennis shoes"
Excellent, And a mask
oaly Of hIanE
silk"
Il can see that you have strong
natural turn for this sort of thing.
Very good, you make the masks. We
shall have some cold supper before we
start. 1t is now $50. At IL we shall
drive as far as Church row. 1t is
quarter of an hours walk from there
to AppIedOre Towers. We shall be at
work before midnight. hIilvertOn is a
heavy sleeper and retires punctually
at 1870. With any luck we should be
back here by = with the Lady Eva's
letters in my pocket"
Holmes and / put on our dress
clothes so that we might appear to be
two theater goers homeward bound. In
Oxford street we picked up a hansC
and drove to an address in Hamp
stead. Here we paid or our cab, and
with our greatcoats buttOned up, for
it was bitterly cold and the wind
seemed to blow through us, we walked
along the edge of the heath.
It's a business that needs delicate
treatment" said Holmes These dOcu-
ments are contained in a safe in the
fellows study. and the study is the
anteroom OF his bed chamber. On the
other hand. like all these stout little
men who do themselves well. he is a
plethoric sleeper. Agatha-thats my
fancee-says it is a joke in the serv-
ants hall that it's impossible to wake
the master. He has al secretary who
is devoted to his interests and never
budges from the study all day. That's
why we are going at night. Then he
has beast OF a dog, which roams the
garden. / met Agatha late the last
two evenings, and she locks the brute
up so as to give me q clear run. This