The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-23
PART SIX.

placed my revolver, cooked. upon |
the top Of the wooden case behind
which | crouched. Holmes shot the
slide across the front of his lantern.
and left us in pitch darkness-such
an absolute darkness as / have never
before experienced. The smell of hot
metal remained to assure us that the
light was there. ready to fash out at
a moments notice. To me, with my
nerves worked up to a pitch of ex-
pectancy, there was something de-
pressing and subduing in the sudden
gloom, and in the cold, dark air of
the vault.
They have but one retreat" whis-
pered Holmes. THAT is back through
the house into Saxe-Coburg Square.
l hope that you have done what L
asked you, Jones?"
Il have an inspector and two Off
GERS waiting at the front door"
Then we have stopped all the
holes. And now we must be silent
and wait"
What time it seemed! From COM
! pairing notes afterwards it was but
an hour and quarter, yet it appeared
| to me that the night must have al
| most gone, and the dawn be breaking
( above US. My limbs were weary and
| stiff, for l feared to change my posi-
| ton; yet my nerves were worked up
| to the highest pitch of tension, and my
| hearing was SO acute that l could not
| only hear the gentle breathing of my
companions, but l could distinguish
the deeper, heavier in-breath of the
bulky Jones from the thin, signing
note of the bank director. From my
| position | could look over the case in
the direction of the floor. Suddenly
my eyes caught the CLINT of light
At first it was but lurid spark
upon the stone pavement. Then it
heightened out until it became a yell
| low line, and then, without any warn
| ing or sound, a cash seemed to open
and hand appeared; white, almost
womanly hand, which felt about in
the center of the little area of light
For a minute or more the hand, with
its writing fingers, protruded out of
the floor. Then it was withdrawn as
suddenly as it appeared, and all was
| dark again save the single lurid spark
which marked a chink between the
stones.
It's disappearance, however, was but
momentary. With a rending. tearing
sound, one of the broad, white stones
turned over upon it's side, and left
a square, gaping hole, through which
streamed the light of a lantern. Over
the edge there peeped clean-cut, boy
ish face, which looked keenly about it,
and then, with hand on either side
of the aperture, draw itself shoulder
high and waist-high, until one knee
rested upon the edge. In another
instant he stood at the side of the
hole. and was hauling after him a
companion, 1.-THE and small like him
self, with pale face and a shock OF
very red hair.
Its all clear" he whispered. Have
you the the chisel and the bags?
Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and
I'll swing for it,"
Sherlock Holmes had sprung out
and seized the intruder by the collar
The other dived down the hole, and
! / heard the sound of rending cloth as
: Jones clutched at his skirts. The
light flashed upon the barrel of re
volver, but Holmes hunting croI
came down on the mans wrist, ano
the pistol clinked upon the stone floor
Its no use, John Clay" sale
T Holmes, blandly. "You have no chance
at ALL
$50 l see," the other answered, with
the utmost GOODNESS. Il fancy tina
{ my pal is all right, though l see yol
| have got his coat-tails."
There are three men waiting fol
him at the door," said Holmes.
ooh, indeed! You seem to have
l done the thing very completely.
must compliment you"
g "And l you," Holmes answered
Your red-headed idea was very new
v and effective
' you'll see your pal again present
|, ly," said Jones. He's quicker a
2 climbing down holes than l am. Jus
!, hold out while fix the derbies."
n 81 beg that you will not touch m,
!, with your filthy hands" remarked gu
!, prisoner, as the handouts clatteret
upon his wrists. "You may not b.
< aware that l have royal blood in m.
S veins. Have the goodness, also, whel
you address me always to say sir
and please
"All right said Jones, with star
and Singer. well, would yo1
G please, sir, march upstairs, where W
can get cab to carry your highnes
l. to the police station?"
, THAT is better" said John Clay
! serenely. He made a sweeping boy
to the three of us, and walked quietl
e off in the cusody of the detective
u Really, Mr.. Holmes" said Mr.. Mel
IL ryweather, as we followed them fror
the cellar, II do not know how tn
bank can thank you or repay yol
I There is no doubt that you have de
tected and defeated in the most con
] plete manner one of the most detel
|. mined attempts at bank robbery tina
: have ever come within my exper
= ence"
e Il have had one or two little score
of my own to settle with Mr. job
~ Clay" said Holmes. 81 have been a
e some small expense over this matte,
r. which l shall expect the bank to r,
\ fund, but beyond that l am amply r,
4 paid by having had an experienc
a which is in many ways unique, and b
n hearing the very remarkable narr:
n tive of the Red-headed League"
al "You see, Watson" he explained,
! the early hours of the morning, a
h we sat over glass of whiskey-an,