Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-13

Zled than ever l retraced my steps tC
Kensington. / had not been in my
study five minutes when the maid en-,
tered TO say that a person desired tO
see me. To my establishment it was
none other than my strange old book
collector, his sharp. wizened face peer
ing out from frame of white hair, and
his precious volumes. a dozen of them
at least, wedged under his right arm.
You're surprised to see me. sir
said he in a strange. croaking voice.
acknowledged that was
| well. I've conscience, sir. and
when | Glanced 10 see you go into this
house as l came hobbliug after you.
thought to myself I'll just step in and
see that kind gentleman and tell him
that if l was a bit gruff in my manner
there was not any harm meant and that
1 am much obliged 10 him for picking
up my books
You make too much OF a trifle." said
1. May l ask how you knew who l
was?"
Yes, sir. If it isn't too great liber-
ty am neighbor OF yours. for you'll
find my little bOokshop at the corner of
Church street, and very happy 10 see
you. | am sure. Maybe You collect
yourself, sir Here's British Birds
and 'Catullus' and The Holy War'-a
bargain, every one of them. With five
volumes you could just I'LL that gap on
that second shelf. 1t looks untidy,
does it not, sir?"
! / moved my head to look at the cabi
net behind me. When / turned again
| Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling
at me across my study table. l rose to
my feet, stared at him for some sec
| ondS in utter amaZement, and then ii
| appears that | must have tainted for
the first and the last time in my life.
| Certainly a gray mist swirled before
my eyes, and when ii cleared | found
my collar ends undone and the tingling
after-taste of brandy upon my lips.
Holmes was bending over my chair.
his flask in his hand.
My dear Watson" said the we'll re-
membered voice. Il owe you IA thou
sand apologies. l had no idea that you
would be so affected"
l gripped him by the arms
Holiness cried. is it really you?
it possible that You succeeded In climb
| IllS OAll VI tudl NV VI dOl
Wait a moment" said he Are you
| sure that you are really tit to discuss
things? l have given you serious
shock by my unnecessarily dramatic
temperance"
Il am all right. but indeed. Holmes, l
can hardly believe my eyes. Good
heavens, to think that you-you OF all
men-should be standing in my STUDY
Again l gripped him by the sleeve and
felt the thin, sinewy arm beneath it.
well, you're not a spirit anyhow"
said l. My dear chap, I'm overjOyed
to see you. Sit down and tell me how
you came alive out of that dreadful
chasm.'
He sat opposite to me and lit ciga-
rette in his old nonchalant manner.
He was dressed in the seedy frock coat
OF the book merchant, but the rest OF
that individual lay in a pile of white
hair and old books upon the table.
Holmes looked even thinner and keener
than Of old, but there was a dead white
tinge in his aquiline face which told
me that his life recently had not been
healthy one.
Il am glad to stretch myself, Wat
son." said he. at is no joke when
tall man has to take a foot off his
stature for several hours on end. Now,
my dear fellow, in the matter of these
explanations, we have, if l may ask
for your cooperation, hard and dan
gerous nights work in front OF us. Per
haps it would be better If | gave you an
account of the whole situat ton when
that work is finished
Il am full of curiosity l should
much prefer to hear now
you'll come with me tonightF''
when you like and where you like"
This is. indeed. like the old days.
We shall have time for mouthful Of
dinner before we need go. Well. then,
about that chasm. l had no serious
difficulty in getting out OF it for the
very simple reason that l never was
I'm it
You never were in it:''
mo Watson, | never was in it, Ny
note to you was absolutely genuine.
had little doubt that l had come to the
end OF my career when | perceived the
somewhat sinister figure OF the late
Professor Moriarty standing upon the
narrow pathway which led to safety.
gray eyes. / exchanged some remarks
with him. therefore and obtained his
courteous permission TO write the short
note which you afterward received.
left it with my cigarette box and my
stick. and / walked along the pathway,
Moriarty still at my heels When
reached the end l stood at bay. He
drew no weapon. but he rushed at me
and threw his long arms around me-
He knew that his own game was up
and was only anxious to revenge him
self upon me. We tottered together
upon the brink OF the fall I have some
/ knowledge. however. Of baritsu, or the
Japanese system Of wrestling, which
has more than once been very useful
10 me l slipped through his grip. and
he with a horrible scream kicked mad
" FOR Il few seconds and ella wed the air
with both his hands But for all his
efforts he could not get his balance,