Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-21
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Nilvcrton's study. and n p%ortiere at the
farther side showed the entrance to his
bedroom.
1t was a good fire. and the room was
Illuminated BY Il. Near the door ] saw
the CLEAN OF an electric switch. but 1t
was unnecessary. even II it had been safe.
10 tu;n 1t on. At one side of the fireplace
was : heavy curtain which covered the
bay window we had seen from outside. On
tn. other side was the door which COM
muEicated with the veranda. \ desk stood
in the center. with a turning chair OF shin
Ing red leather. Opposite was a large
bookcase. with a marble bust OF Athcne on
, the top. In the corner, between tho
| bookcase and the wall. there stood a tall.
| green safe, the freight flashing back from
tine polished brass knobs upon its face.
Holmes stole across and looked at 1t. Then
he crept TO the door CT the bedroom. and
, stood with s.anting head listening intent
ly. No sound came from within. Mean
, while 1t had struck me that 1t would bo
wise to secure our retreat through the out
1T door. so l examined it. To my amaze
; mcnt, It was neither locked nor bolted. 1
touched Holmes on the arm. and he turned
| his masked face in that direction. I saw
him start. ind he Was evidently AS su.-
! prised as I.
II don't like it," he whispered. putting
his lips to my very ear. II can't quite
II ONl. "a We HAhS ~ NtiAC
to lose"
Can I do arythiny?"
Yes. stand by the door. II you hea'
anyone come bolt II on the inside. and VIZ
can get away as We came. If they coma
the other way. we can sc. through tho
door If our job is Gonc. or hide bel nd
| these window c~-rtains IL 1. is not. Do
you underestimate"
nodded and stood by the door. My first
feeling o. fear had passed away. and I
thrilled Vow with a keencr zest than I
had ever enjoyed when we were the de-
tenders of the law instead OF It's defiers.
The high object OF our mission. the con-
seriousness that 1t was unselfish and chival.
rous. the villainous character Of our OPP
2onent. all added TO tho sporting interest
OF the adventure. Far from feeling guilty,
l rejoiced and cxultcd In oar dangers.
With a glow of admiration 1 watched
Holmes unrolling his case OF Instruments
and choosing his tool with the calm. scien-
titic accuracy Of a surgeon who performs
"A delicate operation. j knew that the
opening OF safes was a particular hobby
with him. and 1 understood the joy which
it gave him to be confronted with this
green and gold monster. the dragon which
held in its NAV the regulations OF many
fair ladies'. Turning up the cuffs OF his
dress coat-he had placed his overcoat on
a chair-Holmcs LAID out two drills, q
lIIlIu dIfi We hGiVtO hSyS.
stood at the center door with my eyes
CHANGING at each OF the others. ready for
any emergency though. indeed. my plans
were somewhat vague "a to what l should
do if we were interrupted. For half an
hour Holmes worked with concentrated
energy. laying down one tool. picking up
another. handling each with the strength
and delicacy of the trained mechanic.
Finally l heard a click. the broad green
door swung open, anu inside ] had q
glimpse of a number OF paper PACKETS,
each tied. sealed and Inscribed. Holmes
picked one out. but It was hard to read
b. tho Pickering fire. and he drew out his
little dark lantern. for 1t was too danger
Gus. with Milvcrton IN the next room. to
switch on the electric light. Suddenly I
saw him halt. listen intcntiy. and then in
ar instant he had swung the door OF the
safe to, picked UP his coat. stuffed his
tools into the pockets. and darted behind
the window curtain. motioning me to do
the same.
1t was only when I had Joined him there
that 1 heard what had alarmed his quick
er senses. There was a noise somewhere
within the house. A door slammed in the
distance. Then a confused. dull murmur
broke itself into the measured thud Of
heavy footsteps rapidly approaching. They
were in the passage outside the room.
They paused at the door. The door op-
ened. There was a sharp snick as tho
electric light was turned OH. The door
closed once more, and the pungent reek
OF . strong cigar was borne 20 our nos
trils. Then the footsteps continued back
wards and forwards. backwards and for
wards, within Il few yards of US. Finally
there was a crcak from a chair. and the
footsteps ceased. Then a key clicked in a
lock, and ] heard the rustic OF papers.
So far 1 had not dared to look out, but
now l gently parted the division of the
curtains in front of me ard peeped
through. From the pressure OF Holmes
shoulder against mine, l knew that he was
sharing my observations. Right In front
Of us. and almost within our reach, was
the broad. rounded back OF Milverton. 1t
was evident that we lad entirely miscal-
culated his movements. that ne had never
been to his bedroom. but tina. he had been
sitting up in some smoking or billiard
room in the farther wing OF the house, the
windows OF which we had not seen. His
broad. Grizzled head. With its shining
patch of badness. was In tine Immediate
foreground of our vision. He was leaning
Tar back in the red leather chair. his legs
outstretched. a long. black cigar project
ing at an angle from his mouth. He wore
4 semi-militsry smoking Jacket. ciaret-
colored. with q black velvet collar. In
his hand he held a long. legal documcn
which he was reading in an :ndolcnt FASH
ion. blowing rings of toba eco smoke from
his lips as he did SO. There was no prom.
Use OF a speedy departure In his composed
bearing and his comfortable attitude.
1 felt Holmes hand steal into mine and
give me a reassuring shake. MS II to say
that the situation was within his powers.
and that he was easy In his mind. I was
not sure whether he had seen what was
only too obvious from my position, that
the door Of the safe was imperfcctly closed
and that Milvcrton might at any moment
observe 1t. IN my own mind ] had .lc-
termincd that II 1 were sure. from me
rigidity OF his gaze. that It had caught
his eye. 1 would at once spring out. throw
my great coat over his head. pinion him.
and leave the rest to Holmes. But Mi,ycr.