The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-09
THE RETURN OF
SHERLOCK HOTTIES.
Continued from page e.
"No: she's your widow"
By A. CONAN DOYLE.

mo; she's your widow"
His revolver cracked, and l saw
blood squirt from the front of Wood
ley's waistcoat He spun round with
scream and fell upon his back, his hid
eous red face turning suddenly to
dreadful notified pallor. The old man,
still clad in his surplice, burst into such
string of foul oaths as l have never
heard and pulled out Il revolver of his
own, but before he could raise it he
was looking down the barrel of Holmes
weapon.
Enough of this said my friend
coldly. Drop that pistol! Watson, pick
1t up! Hold it TO his head, Thank you.
You, Carruthers, give me that revolver.
hand it over..''
"Who are you. then"
"My name is Sherlock Holmes"
"Good Lord"
"You have heard of me. l see l will
represent the official police until their
arrival Here, your he shouted to
frightened groom who had appeared at
the edge of the glade. "Come here.
Take this note as hard as you can ride
to Farnham." He scrubbed a few
words upon leaf from his notebook.
Give it to the superintendent at the
police station. Until he comes l must
detain you all under my personal Gus
toby"
The strong, masterful personality of
Holmes dominated the tragic scene,
and all were equally puppets in his
hands. Williamson and Carruthers
found themselves carrying the wound
ed Woodley into the house, and gave
my arm to the frightened girl. The in
jured man was laid on his bed, and at
Holmes request l examined him. |
carried my report to where he sat in
the old tapestry hung dining room with
his two prisoners before him.
HE will live" said l.
WHAT cried Carruthers, springing
out Of his chair. "I'll go upstairs and
finish him first. Do you tell me that
that girl, that angel, is to be tied to
Roaring Jack WoOdley for life?'
You need not concern yourself about
that" said Holmes. There are two
very good reasons why she should under
no circumstances be his wife In the
first place, we are very safe in ques-
tioning Mr.. Willamson's right to sol
emnize marriage
Il have been ordained" cried the old
rascal.
And also unfrocked."
Once Il clergyman, always clergy
man.
81 think not. How about the IL
cense?"
I'VE had license for the marriage
have it here in my pocket
Then you got it by trick But in
any case a forced marriage is no mar
riage, but it is very serious felony,
as you will discover before you have
finished. You'll have time to think the
point out during the next ten years or
so, unless ! am mistaken. AS to you.
Carruthers, you would have done bet
ter to keep your pistol in your pocket"
Il begin to think so, Mr.. Holmes, but
when l thought of all the pretaution
had taken to shield this girl-for |
loved her. Mr. Holmes. and it is the
only time that ever | knew what love
was-it fairly drove me mad to think
that she was in the power of the great
est brute and bully in South Africa-a
man whose name is a holy terror from
Kimberley to johannesburg Why, Mr..
, Holmes, you'll hardly believe it, but
ever since that girl has been in my
employment l never once let her go
past this house. where knew the ras-
Gals were lurking, without following
her on my bicycle just to see that she
came TO no harm. l kept my distance
from her, and l wore beard so that
she should not recognize me. for she is
a good and high spirited girl, and she
wouldn't have stayed in my employ
ment long if she had thought that |
was following her about the country
toads''
why didn't you tell her of her dan
ger!"
Because then, again, she would have
left me, and | couldn't bear to face
that. Even if she couldn't love me it
was great deal to me just to see her
dainty form about the house and to
hear the sound of her voice.
WELL" said l, you call that love,
Mr.. Carruthers, but l should call it
selishness."
Maybe the two things go together
Anyhow, l couldn't let her go. Be
sides, with this crowd about it was
well that she should have some one
near TO look after her. Then, when the
cable came, knew they were bound
to make move"
What cableT
Carruthers took telegram from his
+ pocket
"That's it." said he.
1t was short and concise:
"The old man is dead"
Hunt" said Holmes. II think l see
how things worked, and l can under
Astand how this message would, as you
ny, bring them to head. But while
LTou wait you might tell me what you
4 .B,"
ina lne old reprobate with the surplice
ia 'st into volley of bad language.
IN BY heaven" said hi ''if you squeal
RpIN