Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-06-03

like stars, and his features were work
ing convulsively. He was an elderly
man, with thin, projecting nose, a
high, bald forehead and huge griz-
zled mustache An opera hat was push
ed to 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 stick, but
as he laid it down upon the floor it gave
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 if a spring or bolt had fallen into
it's place. Still kneeling upon the floor,
he bent forward and threw all his
weight and strength upon some lever,
with the result that there came long,
whirling, grinding noise, ending once
more in a powerful click. He straight
ened himself then, and [ saw that what
he held in his hand was a sort of a
gun with a curiously misshapen butt.
He opened it at the breech, put some
thing in and snapped the breechblock.
Then, crouching down, he 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 it 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 ground,
standing clear at the end of his fore
sight For an instant he was rigid
and motionless. 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 to the
marksman's back and hurled him fat
upon his face. He was up again in q
moment, and with convulsive strength
he seized Holmes by the throat, but I
struck him on the head with the butt
of my revolver, and he dropped again
upon the floor. fell upon him, and as
1 held him my comrade blew 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, Lestrade?" said Holmes.
eyes, Mr.. Holmes. 1 took the job
myself It's good to see you back in
London, SIR
81 think you want little unofficial
help. Three undetected murders in one
year won't do, Lestrade. But you han
died the Molesey mystery with less
than your usual-that's to say, you
handled it fairly we'll"
We had all risen to our feet, our pris-
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 Il. to the !
window, closed it and drolj led the
blinds. Lestrade had produced two
candles, and the policemen had I'M
covered their lanterns. was able |
at last to have good look at our pris
oner.
1t was a tremendously virile and yet
sinister face which was turned toward |
us. With the brow Of a philosopher |
above and the jaw Of 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
lids, or upon the fierce, aggressive nose
and the threatening, deep lined brow
without reading natures plainest dan
ger signals. He took no heed of any of |
US, but his eyes were fixed upon
Holmes face with an expression in
which hatred and amazement were
equally blended 'You fend,' he kept
On muttering-"you clever, clever
iendr'
'Ah, colonel said Holmes, arrang-
ng his rumpled collar, Journeys end
n lovers meetings. as the old play
says. l don't think I have had the
pleasure Of seeing you since you ia
7ored me with those attentions as / lay
On the ledge above the Reichenbach
'aH.''
The colonel still stared at my friend
ike man in trance. "You cunning,
cunning fendv' was all that he could
'ay.
II have not introduced you yet" said
Holmes. "This, gentlemen, is Colonel
sebastian Moran, once of her majesty's
indian army and the best heavy game
'hot that our eastern empire has ever
produced. I believe I am correct, colo
lel in saying that your bag of tigers
till remains unrivaled?"
The fierce old man said nothing, but
IT'LL glared at my companion. With
lis savage eyes and bristling mustache
lie was wonderfully like tiger him
elf
II wonder that my very simple STRAIT
gem could deceive so old a shikari."
aid Holmes. cit must be very familiar
o you. Have you not tethered a young
i'd under tree, lain above it with
our rife and waited for the bait TO
'ring up your tiger? This empty