The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-02-09

for Baker street, but Holmes stopped
the cab at tie corner or Cavendish
Square. l observed that as he stepped
out he gave the most searching glance
70 right and left, and at every subse.
1uent street corner he took the ut
saost pains to assure that he was not
followed. Our route was certainly a
Aigular one. Holmes knowledge of the
oy-ways of London was extraordinary,
and on this occasion he passed rapidly
md with al assured step through 8
network of news and stables, the very
existence of which l had never known.
We emerged at last into Q small road,
lined with old, gloomy houses, which
led us into Manchester street. and so
to Blandford street. Here he turned
smiftly down a narrow passage passed
through a wodden gate into a deserted
yard, and then opened with a key the
back door of d house. We entered to-
sether. n ne closed it behind us.
The place was pitch dark, but it was
evident to me that it was an empty
house. our feet creaked and craekled
sver the bare planking, n my out
stretched hand touched a wall from
which the paper was hanging In rib
oons. Holmes cold. thin fingers closed,
round my wrist and led me forwards
Sown a long hall, until 1 dimly saw the
murky lan-light over the door. Here
fiolmes turned suddenly to the right,
ana we found ourselves in a large,
square, empty room, heavily shadowed
N the corners but family lit in the
center from the lights of the street be-
You'd. There was no lamp near. and
he window was thick With dust, so
hat we. could only just discern each
SlheT'S IN pl1raC within NV nny,, ~ ,,tNn
nut his hand upon my shoulder and his
Ups close to my ear.
DO you know where We are" he
whispered.
Surely this is Baker street." I an
swered, staring through the dim VIM
dow.
~"I1xactly. We are in Camden house,
quarters"
But why are we here??"
1t commands so excellent
q view of that picturesque pile. Might I
Touble you, my dear Watson, to draw a
little nearer to the window. taking ev-
FRY ~Erecaution not to show yourself,
a9pd then look up at our old rooms-the
starting. point Of so many of your
ettle fairy tales? We will see if my
hree years of absence have entirely
away my power to surprise YOU"
crept onward and looked across
at the familiar window. AS my Eyes
FELL upon it, I gave n gasp and a cry Of
amazement. The blind was down, and
a strong light was burning in the room.
The shadow of a man who was seated
IN a chair within was thrown in hard,
black outline upon the luminous screen
of the window. There was no mistake
ing the poise of the head, the a
ness. of the shoulders, the sharpness of
the features. The face was turned
m tf-JNI1n6 or1 tho nFfNl{ x,-@- %I,-4 -
one of those black silhouettes which
our grandparents loved to frame. It
was a perfect reproduction of Holmes.
SO amazed was 1 that 1 threw out my
to make sure that the man him.
self was standing beside me. He was
qulyering with silent laughter.
We'll? % he said.
v%elous."
Il trust hat age doth not wither nor
custom stale my infinite VARIETY" said
he, and | recognized in his voice the Joy
and pride which the artist takes in his
creation. 1T really is rather like
me, is it not"
Il should be prepared to swear that
it was you
The credit of the execution is due to
Monsieur Oscar Meunier, of Grenoble.
spent some days in doing the
1t is a bust in wax. The
rest l arranged myself during my visit
Baker street this afternoon"
But why??"
Because, my dear Watson, 1 had the
strongest possible reason for wishing
people to think that l was there when
[ was really elsewhere"
And you thought the rooms were
u knew that they were watched.
by whom?"
BY my old enemies, Watson. BY
charming society whose leader lies
IN the Reichenbach Fall. You must re-
member that they knew, and only they
that I was still alive. Sooner
later they believed that I should
back to my rooms. They watched
them continuously. and his morning
they saw me arrive
How do o know"
Because I recognized their sentinel
when I glanced out OF my window. He
Es a harmless enough fellow, Parker by
name, q garroter by trade, and a re-
.arkable performer on the jews-harp.
cared nothing for him. But / cared
a great deal for the much more formid-
person who was behind him, the
friend of Moriarity, the man
who dropped the rocks over the cliff,
Inc mos cunning and dangerous GRIM
nal In London. This is the man who
Is after me tonight, Watson, and that
Is the man who is quite that
are after him"
My friends plans were gradually re-
themselves. From this convent
snt retreat, the watchers We're being
and the crackers tracked. That
shadow up yonder was the
n we We're the hunters. In
we stood together in the dark
ness and watched the hurrying fig
ures who passed and repassed i'm front
Of us. Holmes was silent and motion-
less; but l could tell that he vas keen
~ alert, and that his eyes we:e fixed
lntently upon the stream of passers-
by. 1t was q bleak and boisterous
plight. and h wind whistled shrilly
down the long street. Many people
moving to and fro, mos of them
in their coats and ravats.
Once or twice 1T seemed to me that /
had seen the same figure before, and
[ especially noticed two men who ap-
peared to be sheltering themselves in
the doorway of a house some distance
up the street. I tried to draw my com
attention to them. hit ha