The farmer and mechanic., 1911-10-17
trodden under

!
Il am afraid said /, rising. that
| in the pleasure of this conversation
am neg!ecting business Of Importance
which awaits me elsewhere
He rose also and looked al me in
silence, shaking his head sadly.
We'll. WELL said he. at last 1t
seems a pity. but l have done what
could l know every move Of your
game You can do nothing before
Monday. 1t has been duel between
YOU and me, Mr.. Holmes. You hope
to place me in the dock. / tell YOU
You hope to beat me. ] tell YOU that
you will never beat me. If YOU are
clever enough to bring destruction
upon me, rest assured that | shall do
as much TO YOU
You have paid rre several com
pliments. Mr.. Moriarty,' said |. Let
me pay you one in return when / say
that if | were assured OF the former
eventuality I would, in the interests
of the public, cheerfully accept the
latter
~ can promise you the one. but
not the other he snarled, and So
turned his rounded back upon me, and
went peering and blinking out ot the
room.
That was my singular interview
with Professor Moriarty. / confess
that it left an unpleasant effect upon
my mind. His soft, precise fashion
of speech leaves a conviction OF sin
cerity which a mere bully could not
produce Of course, you Will say:
Why not take police precautions
against him. The reason is that |
am Well convinced that it is from
his agents the blow would fan. /
have the best Of proofs that it would
be So.
You have already been assaulted 80
MY dear Watson Professor
NJ foYin &c WI, LAT l.A
grass grow under his feet. l went
out about midday to transact some
business in Oxford Street. AS | passed
the corner which leads from Ben
tlnck Street on to the Welbeck Street
crossing a tWo-horse van furiously
driven whizzed round and was on me
like flash. | sprang for the foot
path and saved myself by the frac
ton of a second. The van dashed
round by Marylebone Lane and was
gone in an instant. | kept to the
pavement after that Watson, but az
I walked down We're Street a brick
came down from the roof of one of
the houses, and was shattered to frag
ments at my feet. / called the police
and had the place examined. There
were states and bricks piled up on the
roof preparatory to some repairs, and
they would have me believe that the
wind had toppled over one of these.
OF course l knew better but l could
prove nothing. [ took a cab after
that and reached my brothers rooms
IN Pail Mall, where I spent the day.
Now T have come round to you, and
on my way l was attacked by rough
with a bludgeon. 1 knocked him down
and the police have him in custody:
but | can tell you with the most alb
solute confidence that no possible con-
nection will ever be traced between
the gentleman upon whose front teeth
q cd lyr, III =
retiring mathematical coach, who is,
| dare say. working out problems upon
a blackboard ten miles away You
will not wonder, Watson, that my first
act on entering your rooms was to
close. your shutters. and that / have
been compelled to ask your permis-
sion to leave the house by some less
conspicuous exit than the front door"
| had often admired my friends
courage, but never more than now.
as he sat quietly checking off a series
Of incidents which must have com
bined to make up q day Of horror
You will spend the night here ?'
l said.
No, my friend. you might find me
a dangerous guest. | have my plans
laid, and all will be we'll Matters
have gone so far now that they can
move without my help as far az the
arrest goes. though my presence is
necessary for conviction 1t is OBJ
Flous, therefore, that / cannot do bet
ter than get away for the few days
Wnlch remain before the police are at
liberty to act. 1t would be a great
pleasure to me, therefore, if you could
come on to the Continent with me"
The practice is quiet" said l, and
nave an accommodating neighbor
1 should be glad to come
ana TO start tomorrow morning?'
If neceSSar ry.''
oh yes, it is most necessary. Then
these are your Instructions and / beg
nv dear Watson, that you Will obey
1nem to the letter for YOU are now
paying a double-han5ed game with
the most powerful syndicate of Grim
lnals IN Europe. Now listen, You
VIII despatch whatever luggage you
intend to take bv a trustv messenger