The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-06-15

1 not the money, and there are none OF
her people in whom she could confide
Tomorrow is the last day of grace. and
unless we can get the letters tonight
this villain will be as good as his word
and will bring about her ruin. l must
/ therefore. abandon my client to hel
| fate or l must play this last card. Be
tween ourselves Watson, It's n sporting
duel between this fellow Milverton and
me. He had. us you saw. the best OF
the first exchanges. but my self respect
and my reputation are concerned to
\ fight 1t to a finish"
"Well. / don't like ii, but l suppose
it must be-" said /.
when do we start?"
You are not coming"
Then you are not going" said I.
I give you my WORD of honor--and l
never broke it my life-that will take
a cab straight to the police station and
give you away unless you let me share
this adventure with you.'
You can't help me-
"How do you know that? You can't
tell what may happen. Anyway. my
resolution is taken. sOther people be-
side you have self respect, and even
populations"
Holmes had looked annoyed, but his
brow cleared. and he clapped me on
the shoulder.
We'll. well. my dear fellow. be it So
We have shared this same room
for years, and it would be amusing If
we ended by sharing the same cell. You
know. Watson. don't mind confessing
to You that I have always had an idea
that 1 would have made a highly eff
cient criminal. This is the chance of
my lifetime in that direction. See here.".
He took d neat Mtt!c case out Of G
drawer, and opening it he exhibited a
number of shining Instruments. This
is a first class. up-to-date burglins kit,
with nickel plated Jimmy, diamond
tipped glass cutter, adaptable keys, and
every modern Improvement which the
march of civilization demands Here,
too. is my dark lantern. Everything is
in order. Have you Il pair OF silent
shoes?"
II have rubber soled tennis shoes"
Excellent! And a mask?"
II can make a couple out of blacl.
silk"
II can see that you have a strong,
natural turn for this sort of thing. Very
good, do you make the masks. We
shall have some cold supper before we
start. 1t is now nine-thirty. Al eleven
we shall drive as far as church row
It's quarter of an hours walk from
there to Appledore Towers. We shall
be at work before midnight. Milverton
is Il heavy sleeper, and retires punctual-
~ at ten-thirty. With any luck we
should be back here by two, with the
Lady Eya's letters in my pocket"
Holmes and put on our dress clothes,
SO that we might appear to be two
theatergoers homeward bound. In OK
ford street we picked up hanson and
drove to an address In Hampstead
Here we paid off our cab, and with our
great coats buttoned UP, for it was
bitterly cold and the wind seemed to
blow through us. we walked along the
edge of the heath.
It's a business that needs delicate
treatment" said Holmes. These docu-
ments are contained In safe in the
fellows study, and the study is the
ante-room of his bed chamber. On the
other hand. like all these stout, little
men who do themselves well, he is
plethoric sleeper. Agatha-that's my
tinancee-says it's joke in the SER
wants hall that It's impossible to wake
the master. He has secretary who
is devoted to his interests, and never
budges from the study all day. That's
why we are going at night. Then he
has beast of dog that roams the
garden. l met Agatha late the last
two evenings. and she locks the brute
up so as to give me a clear run. This
is the house, the big one in it's own
grounds. Through the sate-now to
the right among the laurels. We might
put on our masks here. think. You
any OF the windows, and everything is
working splendidly."
With our black silk face coverings.
which turned us into two of the most
truculent figures In London we stole
up to the silent gloomy house A sort
of tiled veranda extended along one
side of it. lined by several windows and
two doors.
That's his bedroom" Holmes whis-
pered. This door opens straight into
the study 1t would suit us best. but
1T Is bolted as well as locked, and we
should make too much noise getting in.
Come round here. There's green
house which opens in,o the drawing
ROOM"
The place was locked, but Holmes re-
moved circle of glass and turned the
key from the inside An instant after
wards he had closed the door behind
us, and we had become felons in the
eyes OF the law. The thick. warm
air of the conservatory and the
rich. choking fragrance of ex-
otto plants took US by the throat.
b He seized my hand In the darkness and
led me swiftly past banks OF shrubs which
brushed against our faces. Holmes had
remarkable powers, carefully cultivated.
of seeing In the dark Still holding my
hand IL one of his, he opened door. and
was vaguely conscious that we had en-
tered large room In which cigar had
been smoked not long before He felt his
way among the furniture, opened another