The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-25


whom recognized as Peter Jones, Of
fetal police agent, while the other was
a long, thin, sad-faced man, with very
shiny hat and oppressively respectable
frock- coat.
Ha! our party is complete said
Holmes, buttoning up his a-jacket,
and taking his heavy hunting crop from
the rack. 1'Watson, I think you know
Mr.. Jones of Scotland Yard9 Let me
introduce you to Mr.. Merryweather,
who is be our companion in tonight's
adventure
"We're hunting in couples again,
doctor, you see,' said Jones, in his con-
sequential way. "Our friend here is
wonderful man for starting chase. All
he wants is an old dog to help him to
do the running down.
to be the end of our chase,' observed
Mr.. Merryweather, gloomily.
- You may place considerable conf
dence in Mr.. Holmes, sir, said the po-
lice agent, loftily. 1'He has his own lit
mind my saying so, just little too
theoretical and fantastic, but he has
the makings Of detective in him. 1t
is not too much to say that once or
twice, as in that business Of the Sholto
murder and the Agra treasure, he has
been more nearly correct than the Off
cial force'' ~, 2" .@"
cob, if you say SO, Mr.. Jones, it is
| all right, said the stranger, with def
erence. "Still, I confess that miss
my rubber. It is the first Saturday
night, for seven -and-twenty years that
have not had my rubber.' "s
~ think youwill find,' said Sherlock
Holmes, "that you will play for a high
er stake tonight than you have ever
done yet, and that the play will be
more exciting. For you, Mr.. Merry
weather, the stake will be some ff33O 600,
and for you, Jones, it will be the man
upon whom you wish to lay your
"John Clay, the murderer, thief,
smasher, and forger. He's young
man, Mr.. Merryweather, but he is at
thu, head of his profession, and I would
on any criminal in London He's a re-
markable man, is young John Clay. His
grandfather was a royal duke, and he
himself has been to Elton and Oxford.
HIS brain is as cunning as his fingers.
and tho we meet signs of him at every
turn, we never know where to find the
man himself. He'll crack crib in
;r+l IL nope that may have the pleasure of
two little turns also with Mr. John Clay,
and agree with you that he is at the
head OF his profession. It Is past 10,
however, and quite time that we started.
i If you two will take the first hanson.
Watson and I will follow in the second. j
Sherlock Holmes was not very com
mun1catlve during the long drive, and
lay pack In the cab humn1ing the tunes
| Scotland one week. and be raising money
to build an orphanage in Cornwall the
next; I've been on his track for years
ana nave never set eyes on him YETI
winch ne had heard in the afternoon. We
ratified thru an endless labyrinth of gas
! ut streets until we emerged into Earring
ton street.
1--WE are close there now my friend
! remarked. This fellow Merryweather is
J a bank director and personally interested
have Jones with us also. He is not a bad
fellow, tho an absolute imbecile in his
, profession. He has one positive virtue
He is as brave as q bulldog, and as
upon anyone. Here we are and they are
waiting for u.s."
We had reached the same crowded
, thorofare in which we had found our
, dismissed, and, following the guidance
Of Mr.. Merryweather, we passed down
narrow passage and thru a side door
was nms Which ended IN
very massive iron gate. This also wa!
opened and led down a fight Of winding
2 stone steps, which terminated at another
+ formidable gate. Mr.. Merryweather stop
: ped to light a lantern and then conducted
, us down dark, earth-smelling passage
, and so, after opening third door, int
!, huge vault or cellar, which was piles
l all round with crates and massive boxes.
you are not very. Vulnerable from
7 above" Holmes remarked, as he held VI
!, the lantern and gazed about him.
!, "NNor from below" said Mr.. Merry
which lined the floor. tWhy, dear me
. it sounds quite hollow!' he remarked
. looking up in surprise.
must really ally ask you to be ll
o have already irnperiled the whole success
: of our expedition. Might beg that yo
) would have the goodness to sit dow
s upon one OF those boxes and not to in
= terfere."
v The solemn, Mr. Merryweather perche
g himself upon a crate, with a very injure
n expression upon his face, while *Holme
a fell upon his knees upon the floor, anc
. with the lantern and a magnifying lens
y between the stones. A few seconds SUI
|, feed to satisfy him, for he sprang to hi
r feet again and put his glass in hi
!, pocket. -,
b I'VE have at least an hour before us,
n he remarked; ,''for they can hardly tax
+ any steps before the good pawnbroke
!, y is safely in bed. Then they will not lose
Il minute, for the sooner they do their wor
/ the longer time they will have for thei
n escape. We are at present, doctor-a
Q you no doubt have divined-in the celia
l. of the city branch Of one of the principe
t, London banks. MIR. Merryweather is tn
chairman Of directors, and he will ex
plain to you that there are reasons VIII
= the more daring criminals of Londo
= should take a considerable interest in thi
! cellar at present"
. ut is our French gold" whispered tn
/ director. we have had several warning
l. that an attempt might be made upon it.
A. "Your French gold?"
- Eyes. We had occasion some month
- ago to strengthen our resources, and boz
y. rowed for that purpose. 10000 napoleon
II from the Bank of France. It has becom
I known that we have never had occa sic
to unpack the money, and that it is sti
lying in our cellar. The crate upon wlic
,, sit contains 1000 napoleons packed BIZ
p tween layers of lead foil. Our resery
~ of bullion is much larger at present tina
~ is usually kept in single branch offic
= = and the directors have had misgNins
"a upon the subject -
n (which were very well justified" oil
served Holmes "And noweit Is time thu
n we arranged our little plans. I expe
o. that within an hour matters will come
T. a head. In the meantime, Mr. Merr,
. weather, we must put the screen ov
4 4 that dark lantern"
~ 'And sit in the dark?''
y, am afraid so. had brought a pac
le of cards in my pocket and 1 though
p that, as we were partie carree, w
p might have your rubber after all. But I s.
SIS that the enemy's preparations have gol
"a so far that We cannot risk the presen,
q. of light. And, first Of all, we mu
m choose our positions. These are DARN
!, =, disadvantage, they may do us some har
- unless we are careful l=shall stand h