The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-05-06
agony column 81 paper. 50 far IL

agony column ot : paper. So faT II
Is Clear
But what is at the root Of It =
"Ah, yes, Watson severely practi.
cal, as usual! What is ct the root
Of it all? Mrs. Warren's whimsical
problem enlarges somewhat and %.
sumes q more sinister aspect as We
proceed. This much we can say:
that 1t is no ordinary love escapade.
You saw the woman's face at the sign
Of danger. We have heard. too. Of the
attack upon the landlord, which was
undoubtedly meant for the lodger.
These alarms. and the desperate need
for secrecy, argue that the matter 10
one of life or death. The attack upon
Mr.. Warren further shows that the
enemy, whoever they are. are them.
selves not aware of the substitution
of the female lodger for the male. It
is very curious and complex, Wat
son.
why should you go further in it1
What have you to gain from it?''
What. indeed? It is Art for Arts
sake, Watson. suppose when you
doctored you found yourself studying
cases without thought Of a fee?"
"For my education, Holmes"
'Education never ends, Watson. It
is series Of lessons with the greatest
for the last. This is an instructive
case. There is neither money nor
credit in it, and yet one would wish
to tidy it up. When dusk comes we
should find ourselves one stage ad.
vanced in our investigation"
When we returned to Mrs. War.
ren's rooms, the gloom of a London
winter evening had thickened into one
gray curtain, a dead monotone of COL
or, broken only by the sharp squares
of the windows and the blurred haloes
of the gas lamps. AS we peered from
the darkened sitting-room Of the
lodging-house, one more dim light
glimmered high up through the OBJ
security. -
Someone is moving in that room,"
said Holmes in a whisper, his gaunt
and eager face thrust forward to the
window-pane. Yes, can see his
shadow. There he is again. He has
a candle in his hand. Now he 10
! peering across. He wants to be sure
that she is on the lookout. Now he
begins to flash. Take the message
also, Watson, that we may check each
other. A single fash-that is A.
surely. Now, then. How many did
you make it? Twenty. So did I. That
should mean IT. A That's intelli-
gible enough! Another IT. Surely
this is the beginning of a second
word. Now, then TE N IA. Dead
stop. That can't be all, Watson?
"A T T E N T A. gives no sense. Nor
Is it any better as three words-'A T.
T e N. T A. unless 'T.A.' are a per.
sons initials. There he goes again!
What's that? A TT E-why, it is the
same message over again. Curious,
Watson, very curious! Now he is of
once more! AT-why, he is repeat.
ing 1t for the third time. .ATTEN
r A three times! How often will he
repeat it? No, that seems to be the
finish. He has withdrawn from the
window. What do you make Of it.
Watson?" ?, -. .
"A cipher message, Holmes"
My companion gave sudden
chuckle of comprehension "And not
very obscure cipher, Watson" said
he. "Why, of course, 1t is Italian!
The "A means that it is addressed
to woman. Beware! Beware! Be-
ware!' How's that, Watson ?" 80
"I believe you have hit it." .-
"Not doubt of it. 1t is very ur.
gent message, thrice repeated to make
It more so. But beware of what?
| Wait bit; he is coming to the win
| dow once more" .--.I~ l. ... .-..z
! Again we saw the dim silhouette
Of crouching man and the whisk Of
the small fame across the window, as.
the signals were renewed. They came
more rapidly than before--so rapid
that it was hard to follow them.
| p PERICOLO'- -'pericolo,- Eh.
what's that, Watson? Danger, isn't
It? Yes, by Jove, its's danger
signal. There he goes again! PEI T.
Halloa, what on earth"
The light had suddenly gone c,,t.
the glimmering square of window had
disappeared, and the third floor formed
q dark band round the lofty building.
with Its tiers of shining easements.
| That last warning cry had been sud.
denly cut short. How, and by whom
The same thought occurred on the in.
stant to us both. Holmes sprang I'm
from where he crouched by the win.
dow. :. =
-, This is serious, Watson" he cried,
There is some deviltry going forward
Why should such message ston n
such a way? should put Scotland
Yard in touch with this business-and
yet, it Is too pressing for us to leave. .
Shall | go for the police?"
We must define the situation : III,
tie more clearly. 1t may bear some
more innocent Interpretation. Come.
Watson. let us go across ouraelvea
ana see what we can make of It,"