The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-02

the cab at the corner or Cavendish
Square. I observed that as he stepped
out he gave the most searching glance
to right and left, and at every subse-
quent street corner he took the ut
most pains to assure that he was not
followed Our route was certainly Il
slgular one. Holmes knowledge of the
by-ways OF London was extraordinary,
and on this occasion he passed rapidly
and with an assured step through Il
network of news and stables, the very
existence OF which had never known
We emerged at last into small road
lined with old. gloomy houses. which
to Blandford street. Here he turned
swiftly down narrow passage, passed
through wooden gate into deserted
yard. and then opened with key the
back door of house. We entered to-
sether. and he closed it behind us.
The place was pitch dark. but it was
evident to !ne that it was an empty
house. Our feet creaked and cracked
over the bare planking. and my out
stretched hand touched wall from
Which the paper was hanging in rib
oons. Holmes cold, thin fingers closed
:ound my wrist and led me forwards
Town long hall, until l dimly saw the
holmes turned suddenly to the right,
md we found ourselves in large,
iquare, empty room, heavily Swallowed
the corners, but family lit in the
enter from the lights Of the street be-
Jond. There was no lamp near, and
he window was thick with dust 80
hat we could only just discern each
'ther's figures within. MY companion
tut his hand upon my shoulder, and his
Fps close to my ear.
DO you know where We are?" he
whispered
Surely this is Baker street." an
iwered, staring through the dim VIM
low
Exact!1. We are in Camden house
luarters."
But why are we hcre?"
because it commands so excellent
view OF that picturesque pile Might |
rouble you, my dear Watson to draw a
lttle nearer to the window, taking ey-
ny Erecaution not to show yourself,
md then look up at our old rooms-the
starting point of so many of your
title fairy tales? We will see if my
hree years of absence have entirely
aken away my power to surprise YOU"
crept forward and looked across
1T the familiar window. AS my eyes
iell upon it. gave 4 gasp and a cry of
amazement. The blind was down. and
L strong light was burning in the room
The shadow OF man who was seated
IN chal: within was thrown in hard,
black outline upon the luminous screen
Of the window. There was no mistak-
Ing the poise Of the head, the square
ness OF the shoulders, the sharpness of
ne features. The face was turned
one OF those black silhouettes which
'ur grandparents loved to frame. 1t
was perfect reproduction of Holmes.
SO amazed was l that 1 threw out my
hand to make sure that the man him
self was standing beside me. He was
quivering with silent laughter.
''Well?" he said
Good heavens!" cried. 1T is mar
velous."
Il trust that age doth not wither nor
custom stale my infinite Variety" said
he, and l recognized in his voice the low
and pride which the artist takes in his
own creation. 1T really is rather like
me, is 1t not?"
II should be prepared to swear that
1T was you
The credit of the execution is due to
Monsieur Oscar Meunier of Grenoble,
who spent some days in doing the
moulding. 1t is bust in wax The
rest I arranged myself during my visit
to Baker street this afternoon"
But why?"
Because my dear Watson, 1 had the
strongest possible reason for wishing
people to think that I was there when
was really elsewhere"
And you thought the rooms were
watched?"
Il knew that they were watched"
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 thew
knew. that I was still alive. Sooner
or later they believed that 1 should
come back to my rooms. They watched
them continuously, and this morning
they saw me arrive"
How do you know?"
Because l recognized their sentinel
when glanced out Of my window. He
Is harmless enough fellow, Parker by
markable performer on the jews-harp.
l cared nothing for him. But I cared
O great deal for the much more formid-
able person who was behind him. the
bosom friend Of Moriarity, the man
who dropped the rocks over the cliff.
the most cunning and dangerous GRIM
inal in London. This Is the man who
is after me tonight. Watson. and that
ts 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 crackers tracked. That
angular shadow up yonder was the
bait and we were the hunters. In
silence we stood together in the dirk
ness and watched the hurryinr fip-
ures who passed and repassed in front
OF US. Holmes was silent and motion
less; but could tell that he was keen 4
~ alert, and that his eyes We're fixed
intently upon the stream Of passers-
by. 1t was bleak and boistero1s.
night, and the wind whistled shrillv
down the long street. Many people
We're moving to and fro, mos. Of them
muffted In their coats and crayats.
once or twice 1t seemed to me that
had seen the same figure before, and,
especially noticed two men who an
leared to be sheltering themselves in
the doorway Of a house some distance
up the street tried to draw nv com
panion's attention to them; but he
gave Il little ejaculation of impatience.
and continued to stare into the street. +
More than once he tidgeted with his
feet and tapped rapidly with his fingers
upon the wall. 1t was evident to me-
that he was becoming uneasy. and that
his plans We're not working altogether
al he had hoped. At last, as midnight
approached and the street gradually
cleared, he paced up and down the
room In uncomfortable agitation. I was
about to make some remark to him.