The Columbus journal., 1905-07-05

had little doubt TINT I had come 10 NJ"
end Of NO career when I perceived the
somewhat sinister figure NJ the late
l'rofessoe Moriarty standing upon the
narrow PATHWAY which led to safety.
I Rad IN %inexornblc purpose IN his
gay cycA. I exchanged some remarks
with him. therefore. and obtained his
courteous permission to write the short
note which you aftcrwnrd received. I
UT II with my cigarette box and my
stick. and I walked along the pathway,
Moriarty still at my heels. When !
reached thu end I stood ut bay. lIc
drcw no weapon. but he rushed ut me
and threw his long arms around me.
lIe knew that his own game was up
and was only anxious to revenge him.
sclf upon me. We tottcrcd together
upon the brink Of Tho fall. have some
knowledeA however, Of barltsu. or the
japanese system Of wrestling, which
has moc than ono been very useful
60 me clipped through his grip. and
he with g horrible scream kicked mad.
" for q f6W seconds and ciawcd tho air
with both H. hands. nut for aii his
s6trtA b. could not gst his balance.
and OWN b. went. With my fncc over
he brink I saw him fall for II long why.
Then hc struck n rock. bounded OF nnd
spiashcd into the water"
listened with amazcmcnt to this OK.
PLANTATION. which Holmes delivered bc.
tween the puts Of his cigarette.
but the trncks!" I cric1l. Il saw
with my own eyes That two vent down
lhe path and none returned"
TT camc about In this way. The In.
stant that the professor had disnp-
pcarcd II struck mo what u really cx.
t~raordinarily lucky chance flute Ind
placed In my way. I knew that Mort
arty was not the only man who had
sworn my death. There wcr" ut least
hre othcR whose desire for ycnIr.
ance upon lnc would only be- Increased
by the death Of their leader. They wrr"
all most dangerous NJ One or other
would certainly get me. On the other
hand, H all tho world was convinced
that I WIS dead they would take libcr.
tina thCse men; they would 400 lay
Themselves open. and sooner or later !
could destroy them. Then II would be-
time for mo 20 announce that ! wns
stilf In tho land Of the living. So rapid
" docs tho brain act that I believe I
bad thought this all oIt before Profess.
q M0siasty had reached tho bottom Of
tho Rcichenbnch fail
~ N.S~a 49, .sN Uyos.1 A., ,,,t.,,
wall behind ma In your picturesque
account Of The matter. which I read
WITH great interest sorne months later.
you assert TINT the wall was sheer.
That was not literally true. A few
small fOothoids presented themselves.
and thcS was some Indication of a
ledge. Tho cliff II ~ high that to climb
II all was m obvious impOssibiiity.
and Il was equally impossible to make
my way along tho wet pnth without
leaving some tracks. I might. II II true.
have reversed my boots. ~ ! have done
ON similar occasions. hut the sight of
three sets Of trucks In one direction
would certainly hAvV suggested a de-.
CaptiOn. On tho whole. then. II was
best that ! should risk tho climb. 1t
was not q pleasant business. Watson.
Tho fall rOarcl beneath me-. I am not q
fanciful person, but I give you my
word that I seemed 10 hear Morlarty's
voice screaming nj me out of the abyss.
A mistake would have been fatal,
Moro than once AZ tufts Of grass came
out In my hand or my foot slipped IN
tho wet nOtchcs Of the rock I thought
that ! wna gone. hut I struggled up.
ward. and at last l reached u ledge
several feet deep AMI covered with
sOft green moss. where I could lilo un.
Seen In the most perfect comfort. Thor"
] was stretched when you. my drnr
Watson. and all your following wcro
Investigating In the most sympathetic
and inefficient manner the circuin.
stances Of my death.
AT last. when you had all formed
your Inevitable AMI totally erroneous
conclusions. you departed for the hotel.
and I was left alone, Ind Imagined
that ! had reached tho end NJ my nd
ventures. hut II very unexpected occur.
renee showed mo that there were sur.
priss~s still IN store for me. \ huge
rock. falling from above. Doomed past
me. struck the path and bounded over
into the chasm. For an instant
thought that II was m accident. but II
moment later. looking M. l saw n
mans head against the %dark"ning sky
and another stone struck thu very
ledge upon which I was stretched
within a foot Of my head. OF course
Mo meaning Of this was obvious. Mo
rtarty had not been alone. 4 confclrr
ate-and we that n glance had told
me how dangerous n man that confeSl
crate waS had kept guard while the
professor had attacked me. From q
distance. unseen by me. he had been d
witness Of his friends death and oi
my escape. lie had waited. and then
making his way around 70 the top OF
the cliff. he had endeavored to succeed
where bis comrade had failed.
n dtd not take long 10 think about II,
Watson. Again ] saw that grim face
look over the cii6. and ] knew that II
was the psecusSor Of another stone
] scrambled down on u the path.