Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-15

door, and closed IL behind us. Putting out
my hand l felt several coats hanging from
the wall, and l understood that l was In
a passage. We passed along IL. and Holmes
very gently opened a door upon the right
hand side. Something rushed out at US
and my heart sprang into my mouth, but
could awe laughed when l realized that
il was the cat. A fire was burning in this
now room, and again the air was heavy
with tobacco smoke. Holmes entered on
tiptoe, waited for me 10 follow. and then
very gently closed the door. We were in
Milverton's study. and q portiere at the
farther side showed the entrance TO his
bedroom.
1t was d good fire, and the room was
Illuminated by II. Near the door | saw
the CLEAN Of an electric switch, but 1t
was unnecessary, even if 1t had been safe,
to turn 1t 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
municated with the veranda. A desk stood
/ i'm the center. with a 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 It's face.
Holmes stole across and looked at it. Then
he crcpt TO the door of the bedroom, and
stood with slanting head listening intent
~. No sound came from within. Mean
while il had struck me that it would be
wise to secure our retreat through the out
or door, so | examined IL, To my amaze
ment. IL was neither locked nor bolted. L
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 |.
Il don't like it," he whispered, putting
his lips to my very ear. Il cant quite
make it out. Anyhow, we have no time
to lose"
Can | do anything"
YES. stand by the door. II you hear
anyone come bolt 1t on the inside. and we
can get away as we came. II they come
the other way. we can get through the
door if our job is done, or hide beb nd
these window curtains X II Is not. DO
you understands
| nodded and stood by the door. My first
feeling q" fear had passed away, and |
thrilled now with a keeneT Zest than |
had ever enjoyed when We were the de-
tenders of the law instead of its deters.
The high object Of our mission, the con-
/ seriousness that it was unselfsh and chiVal-
rous. the .villainous character or our OPP
poncnt, all added TO the sporting interest
! Of the adventure Far from feeling guilty,
reioiced and eXultcd in our dangers.
with o glow Of admiration l watched
Holmes unroliing his case Of instruments
and choosing his toOl with the calm, sClen-
tiRC accuracy Of a surgcon who performs
a delicate operation. | knew that the
/ opening of safes was a particular hobby
with him, and understood the joy which
! il gave him to be confronted with this
green and gold monster, the dragon which
held i'm it's nav tho regulations of many
fair ladies. Turning up the cuffs of his
dress coat-he had placed his overcoat on
a chair-Holmcs laid out two drills, a
Jimmy and several skeleton keys. |
stood at the center door with my eyes
glancing at each of the others, ready for
any emergency. though. indeed, my plans
were somewhat vague as to what should
do if we were interrupted. For half an
hour Holmes worked with concentrated
energy. laying down one tool, picking up
another. handling each with the strength
and dcIicacy OF the trained mechanic
Finally l heard a click, the broad green
door swung open, and inside | had Il
glimpse of a number of paper packets,
Zach tied. sealed and inscribed. Holmes
picked one out. but It was hard 20 read
by the pickering fire, and he drew out his
little dark lantern, for it was too danger
Gus, with Milvertou in the next room. to
switch on the electric light Suddenly l
saw him halt, listen %intently, and then in
an instant he had swung the door of the
safe to, picked up his coat. stuffed his
tools into the pockets, and darted behind
the window curtain, motioning me to do
the same.
1t was only when / had joined him there
that | heard what had alarmed his quick
er senses. There was a noise somewhere
within the house, A door slammed in the
distance. Then a confused. dull murmur
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heavy footsteps rapidly approaching, They
were in the passage outside the room.
They paused at the door. The door OPP
ened. There was a sharp snick as the
electric light was turned on. The door
closed once more, and the pungent reck
Of a strong cigar was borne to our nos
trils. Then the footsteps continued back
wards and forwards, backwards and for
wards, within a few yards of US. Finally
there was a creak from a chair, and the
footsteps ceased. Then a key clicked in a
lock, and l heard the rustic of papers.
So far had not dared to look out, but
now / gently parted the division OF the
curtains I'm front OF me and pceped
through. From the pressure of Holmes
shoulder against mine, | knew that he was
sharing my Observations. Right in front
of us, and almost within our reach. was
the broad, rounded back of Milverton. 1t
was evident that we had entirely miscal-
culated his movements, that he had never
been TO his bedroom, but that he had been
sitting UP in some smoking or billiard
room In the farther wing of the house, the
windows of which we had not seen. Ills
broad, grizzled head, with it's shining
patch OF badness, was in the immediate
foreground of our vision. He was leaning
far back In the red leather chair, his legs
outstretched, a long. black cigar project
ing at an angle from his mouth. He wore
a semi-military smoking jacket. claret-
colored, with a black velvet collar. In
his hand ne held a long, legal document
which he was reading in an indolent fash
ion, blowing rings of tobacco smoke from
his lips as he did so. There was no prom
Use of a speedy departure in his composed
bearing and his comfortable attitude.
L felt Holmes hand steal into mine and
give me a r~eassuring shake, as IL to say
that the situation was within his powers
and that he was easy in his mind l was
not sure whether he had seen what was
only too obvious from my position, tina
the door of the safe was imperfectly CLOSED
and that Mllverton might at any moment
observe 1t. In my own mind / had de
termined that Ii I were sure, from the
rigidity Of his gaze, that II had caugh
his eye, 1 would at once spring out. throw
my great coat over his head. pinion him
and leave the rest to Holmes But Milver
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