The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-10-01

I could not have believed that an
alarm could have spread so swiftly.
Looking back, the huge house was one
blaze of light. The front door was
open, and figures we're rushing down
the drive. The whole garden was
alive with people, and one Fellow
raised a view-halloa as we emerged
from the veranda and followed hard at
our heels. Holmes seemed TO know
the grounds perfectly, and he threaded
bis way swiftly among a plantation OF
small trees, | close at his heels, and
cur foremost pursuer painting behind
us 1t was a six-foot wall which
| barred our path, but he sprang to the
| top and over AS did the same | felt
| the hand of the man behind me grab
at my ankle, but | kicked myself free
| and scrambled over a grass-streWn
coping. l fell upon my face among
| some bushes, but Holmes had me on
my feet in an instant, and together We
dashed away across the huge expanse
of Hampstead Heath. We had run
! two miles, | suppose, before Holmes at
/ last halted and listened intently. All
was absolute silence behind US. We
! had shaken off our pursuers and were
safe.
| We had breakfasted and were smok-
ing our morning paper on the day
after the remarkable experience which
| have recorded, when Mr.. Lestrade, of
Scotland Yard, very solemn and i'm
pressive. was ushered into our modest
sitting-room.
Good morning, Mr.. Holmes" said
he; good morning. May I ask if you
are very busy just now?"
Not too busy to listen TO you"
Il thought that, perhaps. if you had
nothing particular on hand, you might
care to assist us in a most remarkable
case, which occurred only last night at
Hampstead"
: Dear me-" said Holmes. What
was that?"
"A murder-a most dramatic and re
markable murderer. | know how keen
you are upon these things, and
would take it as a great favor if you
would step down TO Appledore Towers
and give US the benefit of your advice
II is no ordinary crime. We have haC
our eyes upon this Mr.. Nilverton fol
some time, and, between ourselves, he
was a bit of a villain. He is known tc
have held papers which he used fol
black-mailing purposes. These papers
= have all been burned by the murder
ers. No article of value was taken, as
it is probable that the criminals were
men OF good position, whose sole OBJ
/ ject was to prevent social exposure
Criminals ?' said Holmes. "Plural?' p
Yes, there were two of them. They
t were as nearly as possible captured
red-handed. We have their footmarks
, we have their description, it's ten t
one that we trace them. The first fel
: low was a bit too active, but the sec
! ond was caught by the under-gardner
! and only got away after a struggle
He was a middlesized, strongly bull
man-square jaw, thick neck, nous
tache, a mask over his eyes
That's rather vague" said Sherlocl
! Holmes. Why, it might be descrip
| ton of Watson"
ITS true" said the inspector, witt
J amusement. ut might be a descril
| tion of Watson"
| We'll, I'm afraid can't help you
! Lestrade," said Holmes THE fact i
that knew this fellow Milverton, tha
| considered him one of the most dan
gerous men in London, and that
think there are certain crimes whicl
| the law cannot touch, and which there
fore, to some extent, justify private re
venge. No, it's no use arguing hav
made up my mind. Ny sympathie
are with the criminals rather than wit
the victim, and l will not handle thi
J case"
Holmes had not said one word to m
about the tragedy Which we had wi
messed, but observed all the mornin
2 that he was in his most thoughtfu
mood. and he gave ME the impression
from his vacant eyes and his abstrac
ed manner, of man who is strivin
to recall something TO his memory. "
were in the middle of our lunch, whe
he suddenly sprang to his feet. "B
Jove, Watson, I've got it," he criet
} Take your hati Come with me-" H
hurried at his top speed down Bake
Street and along Oxford Street. unit
we had almost reached Regent Circu
Here on the left hand, there stands
shop window filed with photographs {
:, the celebrities and beauties of the da,
IS Holmes eye fixed themselves upon on
of them and following his gaze sa
the picture of a regal and stately lad
in Court dress. with a high damon