Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-24

those who we're acquainted with his meth
DDS would look aAkance at him as on a man
whose knowledge was not that OF other
mortals. When 1 saw him that Afternoon
30 enwrapped in the music at st. James's
Hall felt that an evil time might be COM
ing upon those whom he had set himself to
hunt down.
you want to go home, no doubt, DOCTOR"
he remarked as we emerged
yes, II would be as we'll"
And have some business to do which
will take some hours. This business at
Coburg square is serious
why seriousT'
"A considerable crime is in contempla-
ton / have every reason TO believe that
we shall be in time to stop II. But today
being Saturday rather complexities mat
ters shall want your help tonight"
AT what timer
Ten will be early enough"
81 shall be at Baker street at 10"
VERY we'll And, 1 say. doctor, there
may be some little danger, so kindly put
your army re, Oliver in your pocket" He
waved his hand, turned on his heel and dis
appeared in an instant among the crowd
trust that I am not more dense than
my neighbors, but was always oppressed
with a sense Of my own stupidity in my
dealings with Sherlock Holmes. Here I
had heard what he had heard; had seen
what he had seen. and yet from his words
Il was evident that he saw clearly not only
what had happened but what was about to
happen, while to me the whole business
was stl confused and grotesque. AS I
drove home to my house in Kensington
thought over It all, from the extraordinary
story Of the red-headed copier of the En-
tn yfqit &aNe-
CoburR square and the ominous words
with which he had parted from me. What
was this nocturnal expedition, and why
should I 60 armed? Where were we going
and what were we to do? I had the hint
from Holmes that this smooth-faced pawn
brokers' assistant was a formidable man
a man who might play a deep game.
tried to puzzle It out, but gave It up in de-
spalr and set the matter aside until night
should bring an explanation.
II was a quarter past when I started
from home and made my way across the
park and so through oxford street to
Baker stteet. Two hansoms were standing
at the DOOR, and. as I entered the passage,
heard the sound of voices from above On
entering his room I found Holmes in ami
mated conversation with two men, one OF
whom recognized as Peter Jones, the Off
ciaI police agent, while the other was q
long, thin, sad-faced man, with a very
shiny hat and oppresslvely respectable
frock coat
Hal our party is complete" said Holmes,
buttoning up his pea Jacket and taking his
heavy hunting crop from the rack. Wat
son. I think you know Mr.. Jones Of Scot
land Yard7 Let me introduce you to Mr..
Merryweather, who is to be our companion
in tonight's adventure"
Were hunting in couples again, doctor,
you see" said Jones. in his consequential
way. Our friend here is a wonderful man
for starting a chase. All he wants is an
old dog 10 help him to do the running
down"
IT hope a wild goose may not prove TO be
the end of our chase" observed Mr.. Merry
weather gloomily.
you may place considerable confidence
in Mr.. Holmes, sir" said the police agent
loftily. HE has his own little methods
which are, IL he won't mind my saying So
just little too theoretical and fantastic
but he has the malkings of a detective In
him. 1t is not too much to say that once
or twice. as in that business OF the Sholtc
murder and the Agra treasure, he has beer
more nearly correct than the official force.
"Oh, If you say so, Mr.. Jones, It is al
still. confess that miss my rubber. Il
is the first Saturday night for seven-and
twenty years that 1 have not had my rub
ber."
IT think you will find" said Sherlock
Holmes, that you will play for a higher
stake tonight than you have ever done yet
and that the play will be more exciting
For you, Mr. Merryweather, the stake will
be some 10000, and for you, Jones, it will
be the man upon whom you wish to lay
your hands"
John Clay, the murderer, thief, smashel
and forger. He's a young man, Mr.. Merry
weather, but he is at the head of his pro
fession, and would rather have my brace
lets on him than on any criminal in Lon
don. He's a remarkable man, is younl
John Clay. His grandfather was a roya
duke, and he himself has been to Elton anC
Oxford. His brain is as cunning as hi
fingers, and though we meet signs of hin
at every turn we never know where T.
find the man himself. He'll crack a cril
in Scotland one week and be raising none,
to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next
I've been on his track for years and hav,
never set eyes on him yet"
II hope that I may have the pleasure o
introducing you tonight. I've had one o
two little turns also with Mr. John Clay
and / agree with you that he is at tn
head OF his profession. 1t is past 10, how
ever and quite time that we started I
you two will take the first hanson, Wat
son and I will follow in the second"
Sherlock Holmes was not very communi
cative during the long drive and lay bacl
In the cab humming the tunes which h
had heard in the afternoon. We rattle
through an endless labyrinth of gas-li
streets until we emerged into Farringdo
street
/, I'VE are close there now" my friend re
: marked This fellow Merryweather is
bank director and personally interested 1
5 the matter. I thought IL as well 20 hav
b Jones with us also. He is not a bad fellow
e though an absolute imbecile in his profes
e sion. He has one positive virtue. He is a
e brave as bulldog and as tenacious as
}, lobster II he gets his claws upon any on,
!, Here we are and they are waiting for us.
o We had reached the same crowded tho,
r oughfsre in which we had found ourselve
d In the morning. Our cabs were dIsmisse,
d and following the guidance OF Mr.. Merr,
n weather. We passed down a narrow passa
c and through a side door. which he opene
y for us. Within there was a small corrido
J. which ended In a very massive iron gat
o This also was opened and led down
Ie night OF winding stone steps, which te
n minated at another formidable gate. NJ
A., MerryWeather stonnad ~ Ught a 1,....