Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-25


approached and the street gradually
cleared he paced up and down the
room in uncomfortable agitation. I
was about to make some remark to
him when I raised my eyes to the light
cd window and again experienced al
most 40 great a surprise 40 before.
clutched Holmes arm and pointed up.
ward.
1.-THE shadow has moved" cried.
It was indeed no longer the profile.
but the back, which was turned toward
| us.
Three years had certainly not smooth
ed the asperities Of his temper or his
impotence with less active intelli-
gence than his own.
"Of course 1t has moved" said he.
"An I such a farcical bunEler. Wat
son, that ] should erect an obvious
dummy and expect that some of the
sharpcst MOI in Europe would be de.
ceived by IL? We have been in this
room two hours, and Mrs. Hudson has
made some change in that figure eight
times, or once in every quarter of an
hour. She works 1t from the front
so that her shadow may never be seen
Ah!' He drew in his breath with n
shrill, excited intake. In the dim
light saw his head thrown forward,
his whole attitude rigid with attention.
Outside, the street was absolutely de-
serted. Those two men might still be
crouching in the doorway, but could
no longer see them. All was. still and
dark save only that brilliant yellow
screen in front Of us with the black
figure outlined upon It's center. Again
in the utter silence I heard that thin,
sibilant note which spoke Of intense
suppressed excitement. An instant
later he pulled me back into the black
est corner of the room. and | felt his
warning hand upon my lips. The fill
gers which clutched me were CULVER
ing Never had known my friend
more moved. and vet the dark street
still stretched lonely and motionless
before us.
But suddenly I was aware Of that
which his keener senses had already
distinguished. A low, stealthy sound
came to my ears not from the direc-
ton Of Baker street but from the
back of the very house in which we
lay concealed. A door opened and
shut. An instant later steps crept
down the passage-steps which were
meant to be silent but which reverber-
ated harshly through the empty house
Holmes crouched back against the
wall, and l did the same, my hand
closing upon the handle Of my revolver
Peering through the gloom. l saw the
vague outline of a man. shade black
er than the blacknesS OF the open
door. He stood for an instant, and
then he crept forward, crouchng men
acing into the room. He was within
three yards OF us, this sinister figure
and had braced myself TO meet bis
spring before I realized that he had
no idea OF our presence. He passed
close beside us, stole over to the win
dow and very softly and noiselessly
raised 1t for half foot. AS he sank
: to the level Of this opening the light OF
the street, no longer dimmed by the
dusty glass, fell full upon his face.
The man seemed to be beside himself
with excitement His two eyes shonf
like stars, and his features were work
ing convulsively. He was an elderly
man, with thin, projecting nose.
high, bald forehead and huge griz
Fled mustache. An opera hat was push
ed to the back OF his head, and Al
evening dress shirt front cleaned on
through his open overcoat. His fact
was gaunt and swarthy. scored will
deep, savage lines. In his hand he car
ricd what appeared to be stick, bu
as he laid 1t down upon the floor it gave
metallic clang. Then from the poke
Of his overcoat he drew bulky object
and he busted himself in some tasl
which ended with a loud sharp click
as IL a spring or bolt had fallen int
it's place. Still kneeling upon the floor
} he bent forward and threw all hi
. weight and strength upon some lever
with the result that there came long
: whirling. grinding noise, ending one
more in powerful click. He straight
ened himself then. and I saw that wha
he held in his hand was sort Of
gun with q curiOusly misshapen butt
He opened 1t at the brecch. put some
thing In and snapped the breechblock
Then, crOuchng down. he rested tn
end of the barrel upon the ledge of tn
open window, and saw his long mus
tachc droop over the stock and hi
eyes CLEAN as 1t pcered along tn
I sights. heard little sigh Of salts
: faction 40 he cuddled the butt into hi
shoulder and saw that amazing target
the black man on the yellow ground
Q standing clear at the end Of his fore
! sight. For an instant he was rig
and motionless. Then his finger tight
ened on the trigger. There was
strange, loud whiz and long. silver
! tinkle Of broken glass. AT that instan
Holmes sprang like a tiger OH to til
marksman's back and hurled him fla
: upon his face. He was ND again IN
: moment, and with cOnvulsive strengt
t ae seized Holmes by the throat. but
. struck him ON the heaG with the but
!. Of my revolver, and he dropped agai
\ upon the hoor fell upon him. and a
;. l held him my comradc blew shri
!. cail upon a whistle. There was tn
3 clatter of running feet upon the pave
9 ment. and two policemen In uniform
Q with ono plain clothes detective. rushe
through the front entrance and into til
| r0nn