Morris tribune., 1905-08-12

/ 4
know Milverton's house as know the
| palm of my hand.
"But the girl, Holmes?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"You can't help it, my dear Watson.
You must play your cards as best you
can when such stake is on the table.
/ However, l rejoice to say that | have
la hated rival, who will certainly cut
me oat the instant that my back is
| turned What splendid night it is!'
"You like this weather."
"It suits my purpose. Watson,
mean to burgle Mifverton's house to-
night
had catching Of the breath and
my skin went cold at the words, which
were slowly uttered in a tone of con-
centrated resolution. AS a flash of
lightning in the night shows up in an
| instant every detail of a wild land
scape, so at one glance I seemed to see
every possible result Of such an action
the detection, the capture, the hon
ored career ending in irreparable fail
ure and disgrace, my friend himself ly-
| ing at the mercy Of the odiOus Milver-
ton.
"For heavens sake, Holmes, think
what you are doingv' cried.
my dear fellow, have given it ev-
cry consideration. I am never precipi-
| tate in my actions, nor would l adopt
so energetic and, indeed, so dangerous
q course if any other were possible.
| Let us look at the matter clearly and
| fairly l suppose that you will admit
that the action is morally justifiable,
his house is no more than to forcibly
take his pocketbook, an action in which
you were prepared to aid me-
! I turned it over in my mind.
Eyes, I said, 'it is morally justifia-
BILE so long as our object is to take no
articles save those which are used for
an illegal purpose"
Exactly. Since it is morally justifia-
BILE have only to consider the question
of personal risk. Surely a gentleman
should not lay much stress upon this
when a lady is in most desperate need
Of his help?''
"You will be in such a false position"
''Well, that is part of the risk. There
is no other possible way Of regaining
these letters The unfortunate lady has
not the money, and there are none OF
her people in whom she could contide.
Tomorrow is the last day of grace, and
unless we can get the letters tonight
this villain will be as good as his word
and will bring about her ruin. | must
therefore abandon my client to her
fate or I must play this last card. Be
tween ourselves, Watson, it's a sport
ing duel between this fellow Milverton
and me. He had, as you saw, the best
of the first exchanges, but my self re-
spect and my reputation are concerned
to fight it to & finish
"Well, I don't like it, but l suppose
it must be- said I. when do we
start?''
'You are not coming"
''Then you are not going said [. Il
give you my word of honor and new
er broke it in my life-that 1 will take
a cab straight to the police station and
give you away unless you let me share
this adventure with you"
'You can't help me-"
"How do you know that? You can't
tell what may happen. Anyway my
resolution is taken. Other people be-
side you have self respect and even
regulations"
Holmes had looked annoyed, but his
brow cleared, and he clapped me on
the shoulder.
"Well, we'll, my dear fellow, be it so.
We have shared this same room for
some years, and it would be amusing
If we ended by sharing the same cell.
You know, Watson, l don't mind con-
Tossing to you that have always had
an idea that | would have made
highly efficient criminal. This is the
chance of my lifetime in that direction.
See here!' He took a neat little leath-
er case out Of a drawer and, opening
it, he exhibited a number of shining
instruments. 'This is first class up
to date burgling kit, with nickel plated
Jimmy, diamond tipped glass cutter,
adaptable keys and every modern i'm
provement which the march Of civiliza-
ton demands. Here, too, is my dark
lantern. Everything is in order Have
you a pair of silent shoes"
II have rubber soled tennis Shoes"
Excellent! And mask"
81 can make couple out Of black
silk"
ct can see that you have a strong
natural turn for this sort of thing.
Very good, you make the masks. We
shall have some cold supper before we
start. 1t is now $50. At II we shall
drive as far as Church row. 1t Is
quarter of an hours walk from there
to Appledore Towers. We shall be at
work before midnight. Milverton is
heavy sleeper and retires punctually
at 1920. With any luck we should be
back here by 2 with the Lady EVa's
letters in my pocket"
Holmes and 1 put on our dress
clothes SO that we might appear to De
two theater goers homeward bound. In