The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-01

This is. indeed, like the old days.
We shall have time or a mounthful of
dinner before we need go. Well, then
about that chegn. | had no serious
difficulty in getting out of il, for the
very simple reason that ! never was
in it
You never We're in it,"
mo, Watson, never was in it. My
note to you was absolutely genuine. |
had little doutt that | had come TO the
end of my career when | perceived
the somewhat sinister figure Of the
late Professor Moriarity standing upon
the narrow pathway which led to safe
ty. ! read an memorable purpose IN
his gray eyes. | exchanged some re-
marks with him. therefore, and OBJ
tanned his courteous permission 10
write the short note which you after
wards received. | left it with my cl-
garet-box and my stick, and | walked
along the pathway, MoriaTity still at
my heels When | reached the end /
stood at bay. He drew no weapon,
but he rushed at me and threw his
long arm around me. He knew that
his own game was up and was only
anxious to revenge himself upon me,
We tottered together upon the brink
of the fall. | have some knowledge,
however, of baritsu, or the japanese
system of wrestling, which has more
than once been very useul to me. |
slipped through his grip. and he with
horrible scream kicked madly for
few seconds and clawed the air with
both his handc. But or all his efforts
he could not get his balance, and he
over he went With my face over the
brink | saw him fall for long way.
Then he struck a rock, bounded off
and splashed into the water"
l listened with amazement to this
explanation, which Holmes delivered
between the puffs of his cigaret.
But the tracks," | cried. Il saw,
with my own eyes, that two went down
the path and none returned
1T came about in this way The
instant that the Professor had disap-
peared, it struck me what a really ex-
traOrdinarily lucky chance Fate had
placed in my way. knew that
MOriarity was not the only man who
had sworn my death There were at
least three others whose desire for
vengeance upon me would only be in
creased by the death of their leader.
They were all most dangerous men,
One or the other would certainly get
me. On the other hand. if all the
world was Convinced that ! was dead
they would take liberties. these men,
they would soon lay themselves open,
and sooner or later | could destroy
them. Then il would be time for me
TO announce that was still in the land
of the living. SO rapidly does the
brain act that | believe ! had thought
this all out before Professor Moriarity
had reached the bottom of the Reich
enbach Fall
Il stood and examined the rocky
wall behind me. In your picturesque
account Of the matter, which | read
with great interest some months later.
you assert that the wall was sheer.
That was not literally true A few
small fOOthOlds presented themselves,
and there was some indication of a
ledge. The cliff is so high that to
climb it all was an obvious impOssi-
blllty. and II was equally impossible
10 make my way along the wet path
without leaving some tracks. ! might
1t IS true, have reversed my boots. as
l nave done On similar OCCASIONS but
the sight of three sets of tracks in one
direction would certainly have sug-
gested a deception. On the whole.
then, it was best that should risk the
climb 1t was not pleasant business.
Watson. The fall roared beneath me.
am not a fabciful person, but I give
YOU my word that seemed to hear
NOriarity's voice screaming at me out
Of the abyss. A mistake would have
been fatal More than once, as tufts
Of grass came out Of my hand or my
foot slipped ir the wet nOtches Of the
rock, ! though | was gone But
struggled upward and at last reach
ed a ledge several feet deep and Gov
vered with soft green moss, where l
could lie unseen in the most perfect