The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-01

an impossible one
Have you any suggestion to
make?' l asked.
"'You must drop it, Mr.. Holiness
said he, swaying his face about You
really must, you know
AFTER Monday" said l.
""Tut, TUT said he. Il am quite
sure that man of your intelligence
will readily see that there can be but
one outcome to this affair. 1t is
necessary that you should withdraw.
You have worked things in such
fashion that we have only one re-
source left. 1t has been an intellect
ual treat to me to see the way IN
which you grappled with this affair,
I and l say, unaffectedly, that it would
be a grief to me to be forced to take
any extreme measure. YOU smile,
sir, but 1 assure you that it really
, would
danger is part of my trade
| remarked.
This is not danger said he. 1T
is inevitable destruction. You stand
in the way not merely of an individ-
| ual, but of a mighty organization, the
full extent of which you, with all
your cleverneSS, have been unable to
realize. You must stand clear, Mr..
Holmes, or be trodden under foot
81 am afraid y said 1. rising, that
| in the pleasure of this conversation |
amneglecting business of Importance
which awaits me elsewhere.
HE rose and looked at me in 81
| lence, shaking his head sadly.
"'Well, WE'LL said he, at last. 1T
seems a pity, but / have done what 1
| could. l know every move of your
game. You can do nothing before
Monday. 1t has been a duel between
you and me, Mr.. Holmes. You hope
| to place me in the dock. ! tell you
that | will never stand in the dock.
You hope to beat me. 1 tell you that
you will never beat me. If you are
clever enough to bring destruction
upon me, rest assured that | shall do
as much to you
"'You have paid me several COM
piments, Mr.. Moriarty,' said l. Let
me pay you one in return when ! say
| that if l wore assured of the former
cvcntuality | would, in the interests
of the public, cheerfully accept the
| latter
f, 81 can promise you the one, but
not the other he snarIed, and So
turned his rounded back upon me.
and went peerng and blinking out OF
the room
'"That was my singular interview
with Professor Moriarty. | confess
that it left an unpleasant effect upon
my mind. His soft, precise fashion of
speech leaves Il conviction of sincerity
which a mere bully could not pro
duce. OF course, you will say: Why
not take police precautions against
him? The reason is that | am we'll
convinced that it is from his agents
the blow will fall. l have the best
of proofs that it will be So
You have already been assault
ed?"
my dear Watson, Professor Nor
iarrty is not a man who Tets grass
grow under his feet. / went out about
mid day to transact some business in
oxford Street. / passed the corner
which leads from Bentinck Street on
to the Welbeck Street crossing a two
horse van furiously driven whizzed
round and was on me like flash. |
sprang for the foot-path and saved
myself by a fraction of a second. The
VAN dashed round by Marylebone
Lane and was gone in an instant.
kept to the pavement after that,
Watson, but as l walked down We're
Street a brick came down from the
roof of one of the houses and was
shattered to fragments at my feet.
called the police and had the place
examined. There were states and
bricks piled up on the roof prepare
tory TO some repairs, and they would
have me believe that the wind had
toppled over one of these. OF course
/ knew better, but could prove moth
ing. l took a cab after that and
reached my brothers room in Pail
Mall where spent the day. Now I
have come round to you, and on my
way / was attacked by a rough with
bludgeon. / knocked him down, and
the police have him in custody: but l
can tell you with the utmost absolute
confidence that no possible connection
will ever be traced between the gem
tIeman upon whose front teeth l have
barked my knuckles and the retiring
mathematical coach. who is / dare
say, working out problems upon
blackboard ten miles away. You will
not wonder, Watson, that my first act
on entering your rooms was to close
your shutters, and that / have been
compelled to ask your permission to
leave the house by some less con-
spicuous exit than the front door,
/ had often admired my friends
courage, but never more than now az
he sat quietly checking off a series Of
incidents which must have combined
to make up a day of horror.
"You will spend the night here?" I
said.
mo, my friend, you might find me
dangerous guest. L have my plans
laid. and all will be well. Matters
have gone so far now that they can
move without my help as far as the
arrest goes, though my presence is
necessary for conviction. 1t is OBJ
vious, therefore, that l cannot do bet
ter than get away for the few days
which remain before the police are al
liberty to act. 1t would be a great
pleasure to me, therefore, if you
could come on to the Continent with
me-"
"The practice is quiet" said I, land
/ have an accommodating neighbor.
I should be glad to come"
"And start tomorrow morning."
eff necessary"
"Oh yes, it is most necessary. Then
these are your instructions, and beg,
my dear Watson, that you will obey
them to the letter for we are now
playing a double handed game with
me against the cleverest rogue and
the most powerful syndicate of GRIM
inals in Europe. Now listen! You
will despatch whatever luggage you
intend to take by a trusty messenger
unaddressed to Victoria tonight. In
the morning you will send a hanson,
| desiring your man to take neither the
first nor the second which may pre-