The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-09
1.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE
EMPTY SE.-CONTiNUED

U.s.
Three years had certainly not
smoothed the asperlties OF his temper
or his impatience with q less active in
telligence than his own.
"Of course it has moved" said he.
Am l such a farcical bungler. Wat
son, that-1 should erect an obvious
dummy and expect that some Of the
sharpest men in Europe would be de-
ceived by 1t? 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 it from the front. so
that her shadow may never be seen.
"Ah!" He drew in his breath with
shrill, excited intake. In the dim light
whole attitude rigid with attention.
Outside the street was absolutely de-
serted. Those two men might still be
crouching In the doorway. but l could
no longer see them. All was still and
dark. save only that brilliant yellow
screen in front OF us with the black
figure outlined upon its center. Again
In the utter silence l heard that thin,
sibllant note which spoke Of intense
suppressed excitement. An instant
later he pulled me back into the black
est corner Of the room. and l felt his
warning hand upon my lips. The fin
gers which clutched me were quivering.
INcScI Itlu hIOWH IIly IIlOTe
moved, and yet the dark street still
stretched lonei, ana motionless before
us.
But suddenly was aware Of that
which his keener senses had already
distinguished. A low. stealthy sound
came to my ears, not from the direction
of Baker street, but from the back door
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
1Ailent. but which reverberated harshly
Through the empty house. Holmes
coruched back against the wall and
did the same. my hand closing upon
the handle OF my revolver. Peering
thr0Mgh the gloom, I saw the vague
OUTS OF man. a shade blacker than
the blac kness Of the open door. He
stood for an instant, and then he crept
forward, crOuching. menacing, 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 of
side us, stole over to the window, and
very softly and noiselessly raised it
half u foot. AS he sank to the level
of this opening. the light of the street.
no longer dimmed by the dusty glass.
fell upon his face. The seemed to be
beside himself with excitement. His
two eyes shone like stars. and his feat
ures were working convulsively. He
was an elderly man, with a thin, pro-
jecting nose. u high, bald forehead. and
q huge, grizzled mustache. An opera
hat was pushed to the back of his head,
and an evening dress shirt-front
cleaned out through his open overcoat.
His face was gaunt and swarthy,
scored with deep, savage lines. In his
hand he carried what appeared to be
a stick. but us he laid it down upon
the floor 1t gave a metallic clang. Then
from the pocket of his overcoat he drew
bulky object. and he busted himself
in some task which ended with n loud.
sharp click, MS IL a spring or bolt had
upon the floor he bent forward and
threw all his weight and strength upon
some lever. with the result that there
came long. whirling, grinding noise,
ending once more In powerful click.
He Strengthened himself then. and l
saw that what he held in his hand
was sort of u gun, with curiously
breech. put something In. and snapped
the breech-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 his eye CLEAN as 1t
peered along the sights. heard lit
tie sigh Of satisfaction as he cuddled
the butt to his shoulder. and saw that
amazing target, the black man on the
yellow ground, standing clear at the
end Of his fore sight. For an instant
he was rigid and motionless. Then his
finger frightened on the trigger There
was strange. loud whiz and lond.
silvery tinkle Of broken glass. At that
instant Holmes sprang like 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 I struck him on the head
with the butt of my revolver, and he
dropped again upon the floor. j fell
upon him, and az held him my COM
rade blew shrill call upon whistle.
There was the clatter Of running feet
upon the pavement, and two policemen
In uniform, with one plain-clothes de-
tectlve, 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
London. sir"
think you want little unofficial
help. Three undetected murders in
one year won't do. Lestrade. But you
handled the Molesey mystery with less
than your usual-that's to say, you
handled It fairly WELL"
We had all risen to our feet, our pris-
oner breathing hard. with q stAlwart
,gconstable on each side OF him. Al
4 ready g few loiterers had begun to
Z collect In the street. Holmes stepped
UP to the window, closed It, and
d dropped the blinds. Lestrade had pro-
tluced two camden. and the policemen
I had Uncovered their lanterns. was
able at last to have good look at our
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