The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-02
cssy,ishs. 1895.
BY hsclsss. PAiii;ss q Co.

two bundles of it. l thing it will be
or the greatest assistance in producing
the witness whom l require. Thank
you Very much. | believe you have
Now. Mr.. Lestrade. I will ask you all
to accompany me to the top landing"
AS l have said. there was a
broad corridor there, which ran
outside three empty bed rooms.
AL one end of the corridor we
were all marshalled by Sherlock
Holmes. the constables grinning and
Lestrade staring at my friend with
amazement. expectation, and derision
chasing each other across his feat
ures. Holmes stood before US with the
air OF a conjurer who is performing a
trick.
would you kindly send one of your
constables for two buckets OF water:
Put the straw on the floor here, free
from the wall on either side. Now 1
think that we are all ready
I.estrades face had begun TO grow
red and angry.
II don't know whether YOU are play
ing game with us, Mr.. Sherlock
Holiness" said he. IF you know any
thing, you can surely say it without all
this tomfoolery."
Il assure you. my good Lestrade.
that ! have an excellent reason for
everything that l do. You may pos
sibly remember that you chaffed me
little some hours ago. when the sun
seemed on your side of the hedge, so
you must not grudge me a little pomp
and ceremony now. Might l ask you,
watson. to open that window, and then
to put match to the edge of the
straw
l did so. and driven by the draught.
a coil of grey smoke swircd down the
corridor, while the dry straw cracked
and hamed.
Now we must see if we can find this
ask you all to join in the cry of Fire q
NOW. then: one. two, three"
"Fire!" we all yelled
'"rhank you. will trouble you once
again"
"Fire!"
Just once more, gentlemen. and all
together"
"Fire!" The shout must have rung
over Norwood
1t had hardly died away when an
amazing thing happened. A door sud
denly flew open out of what appeared
to be solid wall at the end of the COR
ridor. and little, wizened man darted
out OF it, like rabbit out of it's bur-
row.
Capital" said Holmes. calmly
Watson. a bucket OF water over the
straw. That will do! Lestrade. allow
me to present you with your principal
missing witness. Mr. Jonas Oldacre."
The detective stared at the new
conner with blank amazement. The
latter was blinking in the bright light
Of the corridor. and peering at us and
at the smouldering fire. 1t was an obi
Gus face-craIty. vicious. malignant,
with shifty. light grey eyes and white
lashes.
What's this. then?" said Lestrade at
last. What have you been doing all
this time. eh?"
shrinking back from the furious red
face OF the angry detective.
Il have done no HARM"
No harm? You have done your best
TO get an innocent man hanged II IT
wasn't for this gentleman here, am
not sure that you would not have sue
ceeded."
The wretched creature began to
Il am sure. sff, 1t was only my prac-
teal joke"
"Oh! u joke. was it? You won't find
the laugh on your side. promise you.
Take him down. and keep him in the
sitting room until come. Mr. Holmes"
he continued, when they had gone. II
could not speak before the constables.
but don't mind saying. in the pres
- 49, VeltSO4, llldl ltllS Ine
brightest thing that you have done yet,
though 1t Is a mystery to me how you
did 1t. You have saved an innocent
mans life. and you have prevented a
very grave scandal. which would have
ruined my reputation in the force"
Holmes smiled, and clapped Lestrade
upon the shoulder.
Instead of being ruined. INV good
sir. you will find that your reputation
has been enormously enhanced. Just
make few alterations in that report
which you We're writing, and they will
understand how hard it is to throw
dust in the eyes OF Inspector Les
trade"
And you don't want your name to
appear?"
Not at all. The work is its own re-
ward. Perhaps l shall get the credit
also at some distant day, when 1 per-
init my Jealous historian to lay out his
foolscap once more-eh, Watson? Well.
now, let Us see where this rat has been
lurking
A lath-and- plaster partition had
been run across the passage six feet
from the end, with the door cunningly
concealed in it. It was lit within by
Sits under the caves. A few articles
.of furniture and supply of food and
water We're within, together with a
number of books and papers.
.LHere Lne advantage OF being
builder" said Holmes, as we came out,
He was able to fix up his own little
hiding place without any confederate
save, of course, that precious house,
keeper of his, whom should lose no
time in adding to your bag, Lestrade,,
'Ill take your advice. But how did
you know of this place. Mr.. Holiness"
made up my mind that the fellow
was In hiding in the house. When I
paced one corridor and found 1t six feet
shorter than the corresponding one be-