The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-02-08


md on this occasion he passed rapidly
and with an assured step through o
network OF news and stables. the very
| existence OF which had never known
We emerged ut last Into a small road.
lined with old. gloomy houses. which
led as into Manchester street. and 90
TO Blandford street Here he turned
swiftly down a narrow passage. passed
through a wooden gate into . deserted
yard. and then opened with a key the
back door OF n house. We entered to-
| yether. and he closed II behind up.
The place was pitch dark. but d was
svident to me that IL was an empty
pver the bare pianking. and my out
stretched hand touched a wall from
which the paper was hanging On rib
bons. Holmes cold. thin fingers closed
round my wrist and led me forwards
Town long hall. until dimiy saw the
murky fan-iight over the door. Here
Holmes turned suddenly to the right.
square. empty room. heavily Swallowed
n the corners. but fnintiy fft In the
senter from the lights Of the street be-
yond. There was no lamp near. and
he window was thick with dust. so
hat we could only just discern each
,ther's figures within. My companion
,ut his hand upon my shoulder and his
DO you know where we are:" hs
whispered.
Surely This is Baker street" I an
Iwered. staring through the dim win
low.
Exactly. We are In Camden house.
which stands opposite to our own old
quarters"
But why are we here--
because u commands no excellent
A tat saf mi ME Hf~k
roublc you. my dear Watson. to draw n
little nearer tn the window. taking ev-
sry precaution not TO show yourself.
ana then look up at our old rooms--the
starting point of 80 many OF your
little fairy taies7 We VIII see IL my
-hree years OF absence have entirely
aiken away my power TO surprise YOU"
1 crept forward and looked across
at the familiar window. NJ my eyes
fell upon 81. gave gasp and n cry OF
Amusement. The blind Was down. and
a strong light was burning In the room.
The shadow OF n man who was seated
In chair within was thrown I'm hard.
black outline upon the luminous screen
OF the window. There was no mistak-
ms the poise OF the head. tho square
ness OF the shoulders the sharpness OF
the features. The face was turned
haif-rouud. and the effect was that OF
one or those black silhouettes which
our grandparents loved TO frame. IL
was n perfect reproduction OF Holmes.
So amazed was that threw out my
hand To make sure that the man him
self was standing beside me. Hs was
quivering with silent laughter.
Well" he said.
Good heavens!" cried. 1T is mar
velouA-
Il trust that age doth not wIther nor
custom stale my Infinite variety" said
he. and recognized I'm his voice the 10Y
and pride which the artist takes I'm his
own creation. 1T really Is rather like
me. In IL not?'
Il should be prepared to swear that
II was you"
The credit OF the execution In due to
Monsieur Oscar Meunier. OF Grenoble,
who spent some days I'm doing the
moulding. II II a bust I'm wax. The
rest arranged myself during my visit
to Baker street this afternoon"
But Why
strongest possible reason for wishing
people To think that was there when
l was really elsewhere"
And you thought the rooms were
watched?''
Il knew that they were watched" q,
by whom
by my old enemies. Watson. BY
the charming society whose leader lies
In the Reichenbach Fall You must re-
member that they knew. and only they
knew. that i was still alive. Sooner
or later they believed that should
come back to my rooms. They watched
them continuously. and this morning
they saw me arrive"
How do you know"
Because recognized their sentinel
when glanced out OF my window. He
10 n harmless enough fellow. Parker by
name. a garroter by trace. and q re-
markable performer on the jews-harp.
I cared nothing for him. But T cared
n great deal for the much more formld-
able person who was behind him, the
bosom friend OF Moriarity, tho man
who dropped the rocks over the cliff.
the most cunning and dangerous Grim
inal In London. This In the man who
Ia after me tonight. Watson. and that
10 the man who Is quite unaware that
we are after him."
My friends plans were gradually re-
vealing themselves. From this Convent
ent retreat. the watchers were being
watched and the trackers tracked. That
angular shadow up yonder was the
bait and we were the hunters In
silence we stood together I'm the dark
ness and watched the hurrying fig
ures who passed and repassed In front
less: but I could tell that he was keen
ly alert. and that his eyes were fixed
intentiy upon the stream OF passers-
by. IL was a bleak and boisterous
night. and the wind whistled shriily
down the long street. Many people
were moving 10 and fro. mos. OF them
mutfied In their coats and cravats.
Once or twice II seemed To me that I
had seen the same figure before. and
especially noticed two men who APP
peared To be sheltering themselves In
the doorway OF a house some distance
up the street. tried to draw my COM
psnion'r attention To them: but he
gave little ejaculation OF impatIence,
and continued to stare into the street.
More than once he fidgeted with his
feet and tapped rapidly with his fingers
upon the wall. II was evident TO me
that he was becoming uneasy, and that
his plans were not working altogether
as he had hoped. Al last. as midnight
approached and the street gradually
cleared. no paced up and down the
room In uncomfortable agitation. I was
about tn make some remark 10 him.
when ! raised my eyes To- the lighted
window, and again experienced almost
az great q surprise as before. I clutched
-