The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-05-06

He has to take the tray in. Surely
We could conceal ourselves and sec
him do IT. ss
The landlady thought for a moment.
Well, sir, there's the box-room ops
posite. I could arrange a looking
glass, maybe, and if you were behind
the door
Excellent" said Holmes. when
does he lunch?"
About one, sir"
Then DR.. Watson and I will como
round in time. For the present, Mrs.
Warren, goodby.''
At half-past twelve we found our
selves upon the steps of Mrs. War
ren's house-a high, thin, yellow
brick edifice in Great Orme street,
a narrow thoroughfare at the north.
east side of the British museum.
Standing as it does near the corner
of the street, it commands a view
down Howe street, with it's more pre-.
tentious houses. Holmes pointed
with a chuckle to one of these, row
Of residential flats, which projected
so that they could not fail to catch the
eye. . .r...
"See, Watson!" said he. "'High
house with stone facings.' There is
the signal station all right. We know
the place, and we know the code; so
surely our task should be simple.
There's a TO Let card in that won.
dow. 1t is evidently an empty fiat
to which the confederate has access.
Well, Mrs. Warren, what now?"
II have it all ready for you. If you
will both come up and leave your
boots below on the landing, I'll put
you there now"
1t was an excellent hiding-place
which she had arranged. The mirror
was so placed that, seated in the dark,
We could very plainly see the door op-
posite. We had hardly settled down
in it, and Mrs. Warren left us, when
a distant tinkle announced that our
mysterious neighbor had rung. Pres.
entity the landlady appeared with the
tray, laid it down upon a chair beside
the closed door, and then, treading
heavily, departed. Crouching togeth-
er In the angle of the door, we kept
our eyes fixed upon the mirror. Sud-
denly, as the landlady's footsteps died
away, there was the creak of a turn
Ing key, the handle revolved, and two
thin hands darted out and lifted the
tray from the chair. An instant later
1t was hurriedly replac ced, and caught
a glimpse Of a dark, beautiful, horri-
fled face glaring at the narrow open
Ing Of the boxroom. Then the door
crashed to, the key turned once more,
and all was silence. Holmes twitched
my sleeve, and together we stole down
the stair.
II will call again IN the evening" !"
said he to the expectant landlady. "T
think, Watson, We can discuss this
business better in Our own quarters. ''
my surmise, as you saw, proved tc
be correct" said he, speaking from
the depths of his easy-chair. "There
has been substitution Of lodgers
| w A"S N1u AOL lOAOSCt 1S ludC we
should find woman, and no ordinary
woman, Watson"
"She saw U.S."
well, she saw something to alarm
her. That is certain. The general
sequence Of events is pretty clear, is
1t not? A couple seek refuge in Lon
don from a very terrible and instant
danger. The measure of that danger
Is the rigor of their precautions. The
man, who has some work which he
must do, desires to leave the woman
In absolute safety while he does it.. 1t
Is not an easy problem, but he solved
1t in an original fashion, and so effec-
lively that her presence was not even
known to the landlady who supplies
her with food. The printed messages,
as Is now evident, were to prevent
her sex being discovered by her writ.
ing. The man cannot come near the
woman, or he will guide their enemies
to her. Since he cannot communicate
with her direct. he has recourse to the