Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-08

L. gh. bald forehead and a huge griz-
1led mustache. An opera hat was push
ed 10 the back OF his head. and an
evening dress shirt front CLEANED out
through his open overcOat. His face
was gaunt and swarthy. scored with
deep. savage lines. In his hand he car
ried what appeared TO be a stick. bat
as be laid II down upon the floor Il gave
a metallic clang Then from the pocket
Of his overcoat he drew bulky object.
and he busted himself IN some task
which ended with loud. sharp click.
as II a spring or bolt had fallen into
its place. Still kuecl.ng upon the floor
be bent forward and threw all his
weight and strength upon some lever.
with the result that there came long.
wbirling. grinding noise ending once
more IN n powerful click. He straight
ened himself then, and | saw that what
he held in his hand was n sort OF
gun with o curiOusly mlSshapen butt
He opened IL at the breech. put some
thing in and snapped the breechblock.
Then. crouchng down. be rested the
end Of the barrel upon the ledge Of the
open window. and / saw his long mus
tache droop over the stock and his
eyes CLEAN as IL peered along the
sights. I heard a little sigh OF salts
faction as he cuddled the butt into HIS
shoulder and saw that amazing target
the black man on the yellow Croun,
standing clear at the end OF his for,
sight For an instant he was RIG
and motion.ees. Then his finger tight
ened on the trigger There was a
strange. loud whiz and a long. silvery
tinkle of broken glass. At that instant
Holmes sprang like a tiger on 10 the
mRrksman's back and hurled him fat
upon HIS face. lie was up again in a
moment. and with convulsive strength
he seized Holmes by the throat. but
struck him on the head with the butt
OF my revolver. and he dropped again
upon the floor I fell upon him. and as
] held him my comrade blew a shrill
call upon a whistle. There was the
clatter OF running feet upon the pave
ment. and two policemen in uniform.
with one plain clothes detective. rushed
through the front entrance and into the
room.
THAT you. LestradeY' said Holmes.
Yes. Mr.. Holmes. took the Job
myself It's good 20 see you back In
London. sir
Il think you want little unofficial
help. Three undetected murders In one
year won't do Igestrade But you han
died the Molesey mystery with less
than your usual-thats TO say. you
handled IL fairly we'll"
n IaH 81 rfg.r, 80 .,,r - -
oner breathing hard. with a stalwart
constable on each side OF him. Already
a few loiterers had begun to collect in
the street Holmes stepped up 20 the
window. closed IL and dropped the
blinds. LeStrade had produced two
candles. and the policemen bad I'M
covered their lanterns. was able
at last 20 have good look at our pris-
oner.
IL was tremendously virile and yet
sinister face which was turned toward
Os. With the brow OF n philosopher
above and the Jaw OF a sensualist be
low. the man must have started with
great capacities for good or for evil
But one could not look upon his cruel
blue eyes, with their Dropping. cynical
and the threatening. deep lined brow
without reading natures plainest dan
ger signals. He took no heed or any OF
Us, but his eyes were fixed upon
Holmes face with an expression In
which hatred and amazement were
equally blended. You fiend," be kept
on muttering-"you clever, clever
hsndr'
"Ah. colonel" said Holmes. arrang
Ing his runpled collar. Journeys end
In lovers meetings. as the old play
says. / don't think I have had the
pleasure OF seeing you since you IA
vored me with those attentions as lay
on the ledge above the Reichenbach
fall"
The colonel still stared at my friend
like man in a trance. You cunning.
cunning fendw was all that he could
say.
Il hsHve not introduced you yet" said
Holmes. This. gentlemen. f. Colonel
Sebastian Moran, once OF her majesty's
Indian army and the best heavy game
shot that our eastern empire has ever
produced. believe i am correct, colo
mel. in saying that your bag OF tigers
still remains unrivaled?'
The fierce old man said nothing. but
still giared at my companion with
his savage eyes and bristling mustache
be was wonderfully ike a tiger him
self
Il wonder that my very simple STRAIT
agem could deceive so old shikari."
said Holmes 1T must be very familiar
TO you. Have Jou not tethered young
kid under a tree. lain above il with
your rife and waited for the bait 10
bring up your tiger; This empty
house "a my tree and you are my tiger.
You have possibly had other guns in
reserve in case there should be several
tigers or iD the unlikely superstition OF
your own aim falling you. These"-he
pointed around-"are my other guns
The parallel is exact"
Colonel Moran sprang forward with
snarl OF rage. but the constables
dragged him back The fury upon his
face was terrible TO look at
81 confess that you had one small
surprise for me-" said Holmes. 81 did