The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-06-14
ny A. CONAN DOYLE.
Csp,risht. 1895.
By Mcclure. Phillips q Co.

1 not the money. and there arc none Of
| her people I'm whom she could confidc.
/ Tomorrow ls the last day of grace. aud
unless We can get the letters tonight.
this villain will be as good US his word
and will bring about her ruin. | must.
therefore. abandon my client To her
fate or I must play this last card. Re.
tween ourselves. Watson. it's n sporting
duel between this fellow MIlv~rton and
me. lie had. as you saw. the best OF
the FIRST exchanges. but my self respect
and my reputation are concerned to
fight Il to n fiuish.'
We'll. I don't like Il. but I suppose
II must be-" said I.
when do we start?''
You are not coming
Then you are not going said I.
| II give you my word OF honor--and
never broke u my life--that I win take
a cab straight To the police station and
give you away, unless you let me share
this adventure with you"
You can't help me"
How do you know that. You can't
tell what may happen. Anyway. my
resolution II taken. other people be-
side you have self respect. and even
\ POPULATIONS"
Holmes had looked annoyed. but his
brow cleared. and he clapped me on
the shoulder.
We'll. well. my dear fellow. he Il so.
We have shared this same room
for years. and IL would be amusing II
| we ended by sharing the same cell. You
know. Watson. I don't mind confcaSing
10 you that have always had an idea
/ that I would have made a highly cfli-
Client criminal. This ~ the chance OF
my lifetime I'm that direction. See here"
He took neat little case out OF n
drawer. and opening IL he exhibited a
number OF shining instruments. This
Is n first class. up-to-date burEling kit.
with nickel plated Jimmy. diamond
tipped glass cutter. adaptable keys and
every modern Improvement which the
march OF civilization demands. Here
too. f. my dark lantern. Everything is
In order. Have you pair oG silent
shoes?''
II have rubber Solcd tennis shoes"
Excellent! And mask
II can make couple out OF black
silk"
II can see that you have a strong.
natural turn for this sort of thing. Very
good. do you make the masks. We
shall have some cold supper before VIC
start. IL In now nine-thirty. AZ eleven
we shall drive M far m church row.
It's n quarter or an hours walk from
there To- Appledore Towers. We shall
be Mt work before midnight. Miiverton
is a heavy sleeper. and retircs punctual-
~ ut ten-thirty. With any luck We
should be back here by two. with the
Lady Eva's letters In my pocket"
Holmes and put on our dress clothes.
so that we might appear In be two
theatergoers homcwnrd bound. In OK
ford street ~e picked up "a hanson and
drove to an address In Hampstead.
Here we paid on our cab, and with our
great coats buttoned up. for IL wRs
bitterly cold and the wind seemed tn
blow through US. We walked along the
edge OF the heath.
Its n business that needs delicate
treatment" said Holmes. These docu-
ments are contained In a safe In the
fellows study. ana the study IN the
nnte-room OF his bed chamber. On the
other hand. like all these stout. little
men who do themselves well. he II n
plethoric sleeper. Agatha--thats my
financee-says it's a joke In the SER
wants hall that It's impossible Ia wake
the master. He has a secretary who
Is devoted to his interests. aud never
budges from the study all day. That's
why we are going at night. Then he
has n beast OF dog that roams the
garden. I met Agatha late the last
two evenings. and she locks the brute
up so as To- give me n clear run. This
IN the house. the big one In it's own
grounds. Through the gate-now TO
the rlsnt among the iuuIclS. W Hlknl
put on our masks here. think. You
any OF the windows. and everything Is
working splendidly."
with our black silk face coverings,
which turned us into two OF the most
truculent figures I'm London. we stole
up TO the silent gloomy house. a sort
OF tiled veranda extended along one
side OF Il. lined by several windows and
two doors.
That's his bedroom" Holmes whis-
pered. This door opens straight into
the study. IL would suit us best. but
II Is boited as well as locked. and we
should make too much noise getting I'm.
Come round here. There's n green
house which opens into the drawing
ROOM"
The place was locked. but Holmes re-
moved circle OF glass and turned the
key from the inside. An instant after
wards he had closed the door behind
us. and we had become felons In the
eyes OF the law. The thick. warm
air OF the conservatory and the
rich. choking fragrance OF ex-
otIc plants took US by the throat.
lie seized my hand In the darkness and
led me swiftly past banks OF shrubs which
brushed against our faces. Holmes had
remarkable powers. carefully cultivated.
OF seeing In the dark. Stiu holding my
hand a. one OF his. he opened door. aud
I was vaguely conscious that we had en-
tered n large room In which a cigar had
been smoked not long before. lie felt his
way among the furniture. opened another