The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-15

door, and closed it behind us. Putting gu
my hand l felt several coats hanging from
the wall. and l understood that / E.s 4,
a passage. We passed along il, and Holme.
very gently opened a door upon the right
hand side. Something rushed out at II.
and my heart sprang into my mouth, bu,
L could have laughed when l realized tina
IT was the cat. n hrc was burning in thi:
new room, and again the air was heay,
with tobacco smoke. Holmes entered o,
tiptoe, waited for me to follow. and Their
very gently closed the door. We We're In
Milverton's study. and a portiere at the
farther side showed the entrance to his
bedroom.
1t was a sood fire. and the room wa;
Illuminated by it. Near tho door l saw
the CLEAN OF an electric switch. but i,
was unnecessary, even ii it had been safe,
TO turn IT on. AZ one side of the fireplace
was a heavy curtain which covered the
bay window we had seen from outside. On
the other side was the door which COM
municatcd with the Neranda. A desk stood
IN the center, with q turning chair of shin
ing red leather. Opposite was a large
bookcase, with a marble bust of Athene on
the top. In the corner, between the
bookcase and the wall. there stood a tall,
green safe. the freight flashing back from
the polished brass knobs upon its face.
Holmes stole across and looked at 1t. Their
'E ~ nv AoOl VI lllc DtIlOOii, dliQ
stood with s%lanting head listening intent
lN. No sound came from within. Mean
While it had struck me that it would be
wise to secure our retreat through the OUT
er door. SO 1 examined it. To my amaze
ment, 1t was neither locked nor bolted. I
touched Holmes on the arm, and he turned
his masked face in that direction. l. saw
him start. and he was evidently as sur
priscd as /.
II don't like it," he whispered. putting
his lips to my very car. II can't quite
make it out. Anyhow, we have no time
to lose
Can l do anything?"
"Yes, stand by the door. If you hear
anyone come bolt it on the inside. and we
can get away as we came. If they come
the other way, we can get through tho
door if our job is done. or hide behind
these window curtains If it is not. Do
you understand"
! nodded and stood by the door. My first
feeling o. fear had passed away, and 1
thrilled now with a keener Zest than I
had ever enjoyed when VIC We're the de-
tenders of the law instead of its deliers.
h high object of our mission, the con-
seriousness that it was unselfishand chival.
rous. the villainous character of our OPP
all added TO the sporting interest
of tho adventure. Far from feeling guilty.
I rejoiced and eSultcd in our dangers.
With a glow OF admiration l watched
Holmes unrolling his case OF instruments
and choosing his tool with the calm, scien-
titic accuracy of a surgeon who performs
a delicate operation. 1 knew thai the
opening of safes was a particular hobby
with him, and l understood the JOY which
1t gave him to be confronted with this
green and gold monster, the dragon which
held in its NAV the regulations of many
fair ladies. Turning up the cuffs of his
dress coat-hc had placed his overcoat on
chair-Holmes laid out two drills. a
and several skeleton keys. L
at the center door with my eyes
at each of the others, ready for
my emergency, though. indeed. my plans
were somewhat vague as to what 1 should
10 If We were interrupted. For half an
hour Holmes worked with concentrated
handling each with the strength !
d~elicacy of the trained mechanic.
1 heard a click. the broad green
ioor swung open, and inside / had a
glimpse Of a number of paper packets,
ZACH tied, sealed and inscribed. Holmes
picked one out, but 1t was hard 20 read .
~ the Pickering Are, and he drew out his
little dark lantern. for it was too danger
'us, with Milverton in the next room. to
switch on the electric tight. Suddenly I
him halt. listen intently, and then in
m instant he had swung the door of the
to, picked up his coat. stuffed his
ools into the pockets, and darted ehind
ne window curtain, motioning me to do
he same.
1t was only when I had Joined him there
hat I heard what had alarmed his quick |
r senses. There was a noise somewhere
within the house. A door slammed in the
%istancc. Then a confused, dull murmur
itself into the measured thud Of
leavy footsteps rapidly approaching. They
in tho naCGoOn N,itCi1a ~ 49, /
paused at the door. The door OPP
ned. There was a sharp snick as the
light was urn on. The door
losed once more, n the punsent rcek
a strong cigar was borne to our nos
rils. Then the footsteps continued back
sards and forwards, backwards and for
Yards, within a few yards of US. Finally
here was a creak from a chair, and the
ceased. Then a key clicked in q
ock, and / heard the rustic of papers.
So far I had not dared to look out, but
l gently parted the division OF the
urtains In front of me and peeped
through. From the pressure of Holmes
boulder against mine, / knew that he was
haring my observations. Right In front
( us, and almost within our reach, was
he broad, rounded back of Milverton. 1t
7as evident that we had entirely miscal-
his movements. that he had never
cen to his bedroom, but that he had been
lttlnS up IN some smoking or billiard
DOM in the farther wing of the house, the
of which we had not seen. His
road, grizzled head, with Its shining
atcl of badness. was in the Immediate 4,
foreground of our vision. He was leaning
ar back in the red leather chair, his legs
utstretched. a long, black cigar project
1g at>an angle from his mouth. He wore
semt-military smoking Jacket, claret-
olored, with a black velvet collar. In
is hand ne held a long, legal document
'hich he was reading in an INDECENT fash
IN, blowing rings of tobacco smoke from
is lips as he did so. There was no prom
Sc OF n speedy departure in his composed
caring and his comfortable attitude.
1 felt Holmes hand steal into mine and
i've me a reassuring shake, as IL to say
hat the situation was within his powers,
that he was easy in his mind 1 was
OF sure whether he had seen what was
My too obvious from my position, that
door Of the safe was impcrfectly closed
nd that Milvcrton might at any moment
bserve it. In my own mind I had de-
srmined that If l were sure, from tina
Igidity Of his gaze, that 1t had caught
Is eye, I would at once spring out. threw