Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-02-22
THE ADVENTURE OF THE
EMPTY SE.=CONIlNuEp
1t was indeed no longer the profile,
but the hack which Mas turned toward

1.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
EMPTY HousE.-coNTiNuED
1t was indeed no longer the profile,
but the back which was turned toward
Us.
Three years had certainly not
smoothed the aspertes of his temper
or his impotence with a less active in
telligence than his own.
"Os course 1t has moved" said he.
Am l such a farcical bungler. Wat
son. that l should erect an obvious
sharpest men in Europe would be de-
ceived by IT? We have been in this
room two hours, and Mrs. Hudson has
made some change in that figure eight
times, or once in every quarter OF an
hour. She works II from the front. 80
that her shadow may never be seen.
'.Ah," He drew in his breath with a
shrill, excited intake. In the dim light
l saw his head thrown forward, his
whole attitude rigid with attention.
Outside the street was absolutely de-
serted. Those twos men might still be
crouching in the doorway, but / could
no longer see them. All was still and
screen in front of us with the black
figure outlined upon its center. Again
in the utter silence ! heard that thin.
sibilant note which spoke OF intense
suppressed excitement An instant
later he pulled me back into the black :
est corner of the room, and I felt his
warning hand upon my lips. The fin
gers which clutched me were auivering.
Never had l known my friend more
moved. and vet the dark street still
stretched lonci- ana motionless before
us.
But suddenly was aware Of that
which his keener senses had already
distinguished. A low. stcalthy sound
came to my ears not from the direction
of the house in which we lay con-
cealed. A door opened and shut. An
instant later steps crept down the pas
sage-Steps which We're meant to be
silent, but which reverberated harshly
through the empty house. Holmes
coruched back against the wall and I
did the same. my hand closing upon
the handle of my revolver. Peering
through the gloom, saw the vague
outline of a man, a shade blacker than
the blackneSs OF the open door. He
stood for an instant, and then he crept
forward, crouching. me::acing. into the
room. He was within three yards OF
us this sinister figure. and had
braced myself TO meet his spring be-
fore I realized that he had no idea al
our presence. He passed close be-
side ue. stole over TO the window, and
very softly and noiselcssly raised it
half foot. AS he sank to the level
OF this opening. the light of the street.
no longer dimmed by the dusty glass.
beside himself with excitement. His
two eyes shone like stars, and his feat
ures We're working convulsively. He
was an elderly man, with a thin. pro-
jecting nose I, high, bald forehead, and
a huge. grizzlcd mustache. An oper;,
hat was pushed to the back of his head.
and an evening dress front
His face was gaunt and swarthy,
scored with deep. savage lines. In his
hand he carried what appeared to be
n stick, but as he laid 1t down .pon
the floor 1t gave a metallic clang. Then
from the pocket of his overcoat he drew
a bulky object, and he busted himself
in some task which ended With n loud.
sharp click. as If a spring or bolt had
fallen into its place. Still kneeling
upon the floor he bent forward and
threw all his weight and strength upon
some lever. With the result that thee
came long, whirling, grinding noise,
ending once more in Il powerful click.
He Strengthened himself then and /
saw that what he held in his hand
was a sort OF Il gun. with curiously
misshapen butt He opened 1t at the
brecch, put something in. and snapped
the breech-lo lock. Then. crouching
down, he rested the end of the barrel
upon the ledge of the open window,
and saw his long mustache droop
over the stock and hts eye sleam as it
pcered along the sights. l heard lit
tie sigh of satisfaction as he cuddltd
the butt TO his shouldes, and saw that
amazing target. the black man on the
yellow ground. standing clear at TIE
end OF his foresight. For an instant
he was rigid and motionless. Then his
finger frightened on the trigger. There
WAS e. strange, loud whiZ and n lond.
silNery tinsle of broken glass. AT that
instant Holmes spranE like a tiger on
to the marksman's back. and hurled
him fiat upon his face. he was up
again in a moment. and with convulsive
strength he seized Holmes by the
throat, but struck him on the head
with the butt of my revolver. and he
dropped again upon the floor. fell
upon him. and as l held him my COM
radc blew shrill call upon a whistle
There WAS the clatter OF running feet
upon the pavement. and two policemen
In uniform, with one plain clothes de-
tecuve. rushed through the front en-
trance and into the room.
THAT you, Lestrade?" said Holmes.
Yes. Mr.. Holmes. took the Job
myself. It's good TO see you back in
Landon, sir
.. think you want a little unofficial
help. Three undetected murders In
one year won't do, Lestrade. But you
handled the MoleseS mystery with less
than your usual-thats to say, you
handled it fairly we'll"
We had all risen to our feet our pris-
oner breathing hard. with a stalwart
constable on each side of him. AL
ready few loiterers had begun to
collect In the street. Holmes stepped
up to the window. closed it. and
dropped the blinds. Lestrade had pro-
duced two candles and the policemen
had uncovered their lanterns. way
able at last to have a good look at our
prisoner.
1t WAS a tremendously virile and yet
sinister face which was turned toward
us. With the brow of philosopher
above and the Jaw of n sensualist be-
great capacities for good and evil But
one could not look upon his cruel blue
eyes, with their dropping. cynical lids.
or upoE the fierce, aggressive nose and
the reatening. deep-lined brow. with
out reading natures plainest danger
signals. He took no heed of amy of us.
but his eyes We're fixed upon Holmes
face with am expression in which
hatred ana amaZement We're equally
blended. You tiend!'' he kept on NUT
tering, you clever, clever ficnd!"
"Ah, colonel" said Holmes. arrang-
ing his rumpled collar, journeys end
in lovers meetings. as the old play
says. l don't think l have had the
pleasure of selling you since you ia
vored me with those attractions as
lay on the ledge above the Reichenbach
Fall"
The colonel still stared at my friend