The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-02-16

By Asclsr.. PAiiliss q Co.
I Indian army. and the best heavy-game
shot that u eastern empire has ever
produced. I belieYe I am correct, COL
onel, In saying that your bag OF tigers
still remains u%nrivaled.
The fierce old man said nothing. but
still glared at my ~companionist with
his savage eyes,, and bristling mustache
he was wonderfully like a tiger him
self.
Il wonder that my very simple STRAIT
agem could deceive 80 Did a shikari.'
said Holmes. ut must be very familiar
to you. Have you not tethered a young
Kid under a tree, lain above it with
your rifle. and waited for the bait to
bring up your tiger? This empty house
Is my tree. and you are my tiger. You
nave possibly had other u in reserve
in case there should be other tigers, or
In the unlikely supposition OF your own
aim falling you. These" he pointed
around the room, "are my other guns.
The parallel is xact."
Colonel Moran sprang forward with
ia snarl Of rage but the constables
dragged him back. The fury upon his
face was terrible to look at.
i" confess that you had one small
surprise for me-" said Holmes. II did
not anticipate that you would yourself
make use OF this empty house and this
convenient front window. I had i'm
agined you as operating from the
street, where my friend Lestrade and
his merry men were awaiting you.
With that exception, all has gone as
I expected"
Colonel Moran turned to the official
detective.
You may or may not have 1ust
cause for arresting ne" said he. but
at least there car be no reason why
I should submit to the gibes Of this
person. II I am in the hands of the
law. let things be done In a legal way
We'll. that's reasonable enough"
said Lestrade. Nothing further you
Holmes had picked up the powerful
air-gun from the floor, and was ex-
aiming Its mechanism.
An admirable n unique weapon"
said he, "noiseless and tremendous
power. I knew Won Herder, the blind
German mechanic. who constructed it
to the order Of the late Professor MORT
arity. For years I have been aware of
Its existence. though I have never be-
fore had the opportunity Of handling
1t. I commend it very specially to
your attention. Lestrade, and also the
bullets which At It,"
- " SuAA 10 ~ " llC IlldI,
Mr.. Holiness" said Lestrade. as the
whole party moved towards the door.
Anything further to say?" A
Only to ask What charge you intend
to prefer?"
What charge. sir? Why of course.
the attempted murder of Mr.. Sherlock
Holmes"
Mo- SO. Lestrade. 1 do not propose
to appear in the matter at all. To you,
and to you only, belongs the credit
of the remarkable arrest which you
have effected. Yes, Lestrade. 1 con-
graduate you! With your usual happy
of cunning and audacity, you
lave got him.
Got him! Got whom. Mr.. Holmes? 81
THE mar that the whole force has
been seeking in vain-Colonel Sebas-
tian Moran. who shot The Honorable
Ronald Adatr with an expanding bullet
from an air-gun through the open win
Park lane, upon the Both OF last
month. That's the charge. Lestrade.
And now. Watson. If you can endure
the draught from a broken window, I
think hat half an hour in my study
over a cigar may Afford some profitable
amusement" ~
changed through the supervision of
Mycroft Holmes and the immediate
care of Mrs Hudson. AS I entered
l saw, 1T is true. an unwonted tidiness.
but the old landmarks, were all in place.
There vas the chemical corner and the
acid-stained. deal-topped table. There
a shelf vas the row of formidable
scrap-books and books of reference,
which many of our fellow citizens
would have been so glad to burn. The
diagrams. the v~lOlin-caSe. and the pipe
rack-even the Partisan slipper which
contained the tobacco-all met my eyes
as I glanced round me. There were
two occupants OF the room-one, Mrs.
Hudson. who beamed upon us both as
we entered-the other. the strange
dummy which had played so important
a part in the evenings adventures. 1t
was -colored. model OF my friend.
SO admirably lone that 1T was a perfect
fac-simile. 1t stood on a small ped
estal table with an old dressing gown
of Holmes so draped round 1t that the
illusion from the street was absolutely
perfect.
II hope you preserved all precau-
tons, Mrs. Hudson?" said. Holmes.
Il Went to 1t OF my knees, sir, just
as you told me-"
Excellent. You carried the thing
out very we'll. Did you observe where
the bullet went?"
Yes, sir. I'm afraid it has spoilt
your he;a....:.fu!. k.Ss., for it passed right
}llr;rsh the head and fattened itself
IN the wall. I picked it up from the
carpet. Here /. Isl"
Holmes held 1t out to me. "a soft
revolver bullet. as you perceive, Wat
son. There's genius in that. for who
would expect to find such a thing fired
from an air-gun. All right, Mrs. Hud-
son, l am much Obliged for your assist
ance And now, Watson. let me see
o In the old seat once more. for there
are several points which I should like
to discuss with you"
He had thrown off the seedy frock
coat, and Q he, was the Holmes of
old in he mouse-colored dressing
gown which he took from his efngy.
The old shikari's nerves have not
lost their steadiness. nor his eyes their
keeless.' said he with a laugh. as he
inspected the shattered forehead OF the
bust.