Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-20

the trees we reached the lawn. crossed It,
and were about to enter through the win
dow, when out from a clump of laurel
bushes there darted what seemed to be a
hideous and distorted child, who threw
itself upon the grass with writing limbs,
and then ran swiftly across the lawn into
the darkness
MY God!' I whispered; did you see It 80
Holmes was for the moment as startled
as 1. His hand closed like a wise upon my
wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into
low laugh and put his lips to my ear.
at is nice household" he murmured.
That is the baboon."
had forgotten the strange pets which
the doctor affected. There was a cheetah,
too; perhaps we might find it upon our
shoulders at any moment. I confess that
l felt easier in my mind when, after fol-
lowing Holmes example and slipping of
my shoes, l found myself inside the bed
room. My companion noiselessly closed the
shutters, moved the lamp onto the table
and cast his eyes round the room. All was
as we had seen It in the daytime. Then
creeping up to me and making a trumpet of
his hand, he whispered into my ear again
so gently that II was all that could do to
distinguish the words:
1.-THE least sound would be fatal to, our
plans"
nodded TO show that I had heard.
I'VE must sit without light. He would
see It through the ventilator."
nodded again.
do not go asleep; your very life may
depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in
case we should need 1t. / will sit on the
side of the bed and you in that chair"
I took out my revolver and laid 1t on the
corner of the table.
Holmes had brought up a long thin cane.
and this he placed upon the bed beside him.
BY 1t he laid the box OF matches and the
stump Of candle, Then he turned down
the lamp, and we were left in darkness
How shall ever forget that dreadful
vigil? I could not hear a sound. not even
the drawing Of a breath. and yet know
that my companion sat openeyed within a
few feet OF me, in the same state of nerv-
Gus tension in which l was myself. The
shutters cut OF the least ray of light and
we waited in absolute darkness From out
side came the occasional cry of a night
bird, and once at our very window long
drawn cat-like whine, which told us that
the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far
away we could hear the deep tones OF the
parish clock, which doomed out every quar-
ter OF an hour. How long they seemed,
those quarters! Twelve struck and 1 and
2 and 3, and stil we sat waiting silently
for whatever might befall
Suddenly there WAS the momentary CLEAN
OF a light up I'm the direction of the ven
trator, but was succeeded by a strong
smell OF burning OIL and heated metal.
Some one in the next room had lighted a
dark lantern. I heard a gentle sound OF
movement and then all was silent once
Ill gfWnW TnF
For half an hour I sat with straininE
ears. Then suddenly another sound became
audIble-a very gentle sound like that OF
a small jet Of steam escaping continually
from a kettle. The instant that we heard
It Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a
match and dashed furicusly with his cane
at the bell pull.
''You see II, Watson? he yelled. you
see u7"
But I saw nothing. At the moment when
Holmes struck the light I heard low,
clear whistle but the sudden glare nash
ing into my weary eyes made It impossible
for me 70 cell what It was at which my
friend dashed so savagely. I could how
ever, see that his face was deadly pale
and Allied with horror and loathing.
He had ceased TO strike and was gaming
up al the ventilator, when suddenly there
broke from the silence OF the night the
most horrible cry 10 which / have ever
listened. It swelled up louder and louder,
a hoarse yell Of pain and fear and anger
all mingled in 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 and stood
gazing at Holmes. and he At me, until the
last echoes Of It had died away into the
silence from which IL rose
What can II mean / gasped-
1T means that II is all over" Holmes
answered And perhaps. after AL. IL Il