Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-13

do not propose to leave before II
o'clock and II Is unlikely that we shall
be back before morning. You'll dine
with us, Lestrade, and then you are
welcome to the sofa until II In time for
us TO start. In the meantime. Watson.
should he glad n you would ring for
| an express messenger, for have let.
ter to send. and IL Is important that IL
| should go nj once"
Holmes spent the evening In rum
maging among tho files Of the old daily
| papers with which one of our lumber
rooms was packed. When at last he de-
scended it wns with triumph in his
eyes, but he said nothing to either Of
us Ms to the result OF his researches.
For my own part had followed step
by step the methods by which he had
traced the various windlngs Of this
complex case. and, though I could not
vet perceive tho goal which we would
reach. understood clearly that Holmes
expected this grotcsque criminal to
make nm attempt upon the two remain.
ing busts, one Of which. remembered,
was ut Chiswick No doubt the object
of our journey was 10 catch him in the
worry act, and could not but admire
the cunning with which my friend had
inserted wrong clcw in the evening
paper. 80 as 10 give the fellow the idea
that he could continue his scheme with
inpunty ! was not surprised when
Holmes suggested that should take
my revolver with me. lie had himself
picked up the loaded hunting crop,
which was his favorite weapon.
A four wheeler was at the door at II.
and in it we drove to spot at the
other side of Hnmmcrsmith bridge
Here the cabmnn was directed to wait
A short walk brought us to n secluded
road fringcd with pleasant houses,
each standing in its own grounds. In
the light Of n street lamp we read
T.aburnum villa" upon tho gatepost
of one of them. The occupants had ev.
identity retired TO rest, for all was
dark save for a fanlight over the hall
door, which shed single blurred cir.
Gle on to the garden path. The wood
en- fence which separated the grounds
from the road threw a dense black
shadow upon the inner SIDE and here
1t was that we crouched.
II fear that you'll have long wait"
Holmes whispered. I'VE may thank
our stars that it is not raining.
don't think we can even venture to
smoke to pass the time. However, it's
two TO one chance that we get some.
thing to pay us for our trouble"
1t proved, however that our vigil
was not to b. 80 long ms Holmes had
led Via 10 fear. and it ended in very
sudden and singular fashion. In an
instant, without the least sound to
warn us of his coming. the garden
gate swung open, and 1.-the, dark
figure. as swift and active as an ape
rushed up the garden path. We saw
it whisk past the light thrown from
over the door and disappear against
the black shadow of the house There
was long pause. during which we
held our breath, and then very gen
tie creaking sound came to our ears
The window was being opened. The
noise ceased, and again there was {
long silence. The fellow was making
his way into the house. We saw the
sudden flash Of a dark lantern inside
the room. What he sought was evi
IDENTITY not there, for again we saw the
flash through another blind and Their
through another.
Let us get to the open window
We will nab him as he climbs out,
I.oStrade whispered.
But before we could move the mar
had emerged again. AS he came ou
into the glimmering patch Of light We
saw that he carried something whit,
under his arm. He looked stealthil!
all round him. The silence Of the de
serted street treasured him. Turninl
his back upon us, he laid down his bur
den. and the next instant there was th'
sound of sharp tap. followed by ;
clatter and rattle The man was s.
: intent upon what he was doing that h
mover heard our steps as we stol'
across the grass plot. With the boun,
. OF tiger. Holmes was on his back
and an instant later Lestrade and
had him by either wrist and the hand
cuffs had been fastened. AS we turn
ed him over I saw q hideous. sallov
face. with writhng. furious features
glaring up at us. and l knew that i
was indeed the man Of the photograph
whom we had secured.
; But it was not our prisoner to whom
Holmes was giving his attention
SQuatted on the doorstep. he was en-
gagged in most carefully examining tina
which the man had brought from thu
house. 1t was bust Of Napoleon, lik,
: the one which we had seen that morn
; ing, and 1t had been broken into similar
fragments. Carefully Holmes held eacl
: separate shard to the light. but in NJ
way did 1t differ from any other shat
tered piece Of plaster. He had JUS
completed his examination when thu
hall lights flew up, the door opened ant
the owner Of the house. jovial. rotunl
figure in shirt and trousers. presented
: himself.
Mr.. Josiah Brown, l SUPPOSED" sale
Holmes.
eyes, sir: and you, no doubt, are Mr.
Sherlock Holmes? had the note
which you sent by the express messen
ger. and did exactly what you tolt
me. We locked every door on the in
side and awaited developments. Well
I'm very glad that you have got the ras
cal. ! hope, gentlemen. that You wi!
come in and have some refreshment.