The Washington herald., 1912-03-03

the center door with my eyes glancinc
at each of the others, ready Tor any
emergency though, indeed, my plans
were somewhat vague as to what |
should do ii we were interrupted For
half an hour, Holmes worked with con-
centrated energy, laying down one tool,
picking up another, handling each with
the strength and delicacy of the trained
mechanic. Finally ! heard click. the
broad green door swung open, aud in
side ! had glimpse of number OF
paper packets, each tied, sealed, and in
scribed. Holmes picked one out, but
it was hard 10 read by the Pickering
fire, and he drew out his little dark
lantern, for il was too dangerous, with
Milverton in the next room. to switch
on the electric light Suddenly ] 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 be-
hind the window curtain, motioning me
to do the same.
1t was only when | had joined him
there that | heard what had alarmed
his quicker senses. There was noise
somewhere within the house. A door
slammed in the distance. Then con-
fused, dull murmur broke itself into the
measured thud OF heavy footsteps rap
idly approaching. They were in the
passage outside the room. They paused
at the door. The door opened There
was a sharp snick as the electric light
was turned on. The door closed once
more, and the pungent reek OF strong
cigar was borne to our nostrils. Then
the footsteps continued backward and
forward, backward and forward, within
a few yards OF us. Finally there was
a creak from the chair. and the foot
steps ceased. Then a key clicked in 4
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 in front of me and
peeped 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 Ii was evident that we
had entirely miscalculated his move
ments, that he had never been to bis
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. His
broad, grizzled head, with its shining
patch OF badness, was in the immedi-
ate foreground OF our vision. He was
leaning far back in the red leather chair,
his legs outstretched, long, black
cigar projecting at an angle from his
mouth He wore a semi mi-military smok-
ing jacket, claret- -colored, with black
velvet collar In his hand he held a
long legal document which he was
reading in an indolent fashion. blowing
rings of tobacco smoke from his lips
as he did so. There was no promise
OF a speedy departure in his composed
bearing and his comfortable attitude.
l felt Holmes hand steal into mine
and give me reassuring shake, as il
to say that the situation was within his
powers, and that he was easy in his
mind. | was not sure whether he had
seen what was only too obvious from
my position, that the door OF the safe
was impertectly closed, and that Mil
verton might at any moment observe il.
In my own mind | had determined that
II l were sure, from the rigidity Of his
gaze, that it had caught his eye ] would
at once spring out, throw my great
coat over his head, pinion him, and
leave the rest to Holmes. But MilveI-
ton never looked up. He was languidly
interested by the papers in his hand, and
page after page was turned as he fol-
tDNNh tiS Argument VI lilt lawyer. NJ
least, | thought, when he had finished
the document and the cigar he will go
TO his room, but before he had reached
the end OF either, there came remark
able development, which turned our
thoughts into quite another channel
Several times had observed that
Nlilverton looked at his watch and
once he had risen and sat down again,
with gesture OF impatience The idea,
however, that he might have an appoint
ment at so strange an hour never oc-
CURED to ME until faint sound reached
my ears from the veranda outside. Mil
verton dropped his papers and sat rigid
in his chair, The sound was repeated,
and then there came gentle tap at the
door. Milverton rose and opened il
Well" said he, curtly, you are
nearly half an hour late"
So this was the explanation OF the
unlocked door and Of the nocturnal
NtOiI nf AI,l,ar0,,