Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-24
TODAY'S INSTALMENT.

TODAY'S INSTALMENT.
IL was difficult to refuse any OF
Sherlock Holiness requests Tor they were
ALWAYS so exceedingly definite, and put
ferwatJtwith such quiet air OF mastery
| felt. however, that when Whitney
was once confined in the cab my mission
was practically accomplished; and for the
rest | could not wish anything better
than to- be associated with my friend
IN one OF those singular adventures
which were the normal condition OF his
cNIstence In few minutes had written
my note. paid Whitneys bill, led HIM
ont to the cab. and seen HIM driven
through the darkness. In very short
time a decrcpit figure had emerged from
the opium den. and was walking down
the street with Sherlock Holmes. For
two streets he shufiled along with bent
back and an uncertain loot. hen,
glancing quickly round, he Strengthened
hlrnself out and burst into hearty mt
uf laughter.
II suppose Watson. said he, that
YOU imagine that have added opium
smoking to cocaine injections, and all
the other little weaknesses on which
vou have favored me with your medical
views.
4 was certainly surprised to find
YOU there.
But not moro 50 than l to find
You.
4 came to find friend.
Aud TO find All enemy.
"An enemy
y rs. one of my natural enemies,
ur shall SAY. my natural prey. Briefly.
Watson. | am IN the midst Ot II very
remarkable inquiry, and ! have hoped
tu hnd "A clew m the incOhcrcnt ramhhngS
ut these sots. rs have done before noN
Had | been. recognized IN that den my
life would not have been worth an
hours purchase; for | have used II
before now for my own purposes,
and the rasca!ly Lascal who runs II
has sworn to have vengeance upon
nc There IL trap-door AT the back ot
that building, near the corner OF Paul
Wharf. which could tel some strange
tales of what has passed through II upon
the moonless nights
What, You DO not mean bodies
Ave. bodies, Watson. We should
hc rich men II we had 900 pounds for
every poor devil who has been done To
death IN that den. Il is the vIlcst murder
trap on the whole riverside, and fear
that Neville St. Clair has entered II
never To leave IT more, But our trap
should he here" He put his two fore
fingers between his teeth and whistled
shrlly-n signal which was answered by
similar whistle from the distance, fol-
lowed shortly bv the rattle OF wheels and
the chnk of horses hoOis.
Now. Watson" said Holmes, as a
tall dog-cart dashed up through the
gloom. throwing out two golden tun-
nels Of yellow light from its side lanterns.
'You'l come with me, won't you?
If can be Of use.
oh. a trusty comrade is always OF
use; and a chronicler still more so. My
room at The Cedars' is double
hedded one
The Cedars?'
"Yes. that is Mr.. St. Glars house
! am s,sying there while ! conduct the
inquiry"
Where is il, them
Near Lee, in Kent. We have seven
mile drive before US.
But am al in the dark
OF course YOU are. You'll know
al about IL presently. Jump up here
All night. John; we shall not need you
Here's half crown. Look out for mt
tomorrow. about eleven. Give her hel
head 80 long, them
He flicked the horse with his whip
and We dashed away through The
endless succession Of sombre and de
serted streets. which widened grad
usllv. until we were flying across ;
broad hslustrade bridge, with the murk,
river flowing sluggishlv beneath us
Bcvond lay another dull wilderness O
hrcks and mortar, It's silence broker
only 10y the heavy regular football OF tn
policeman. or the songs and shouts o
some helsted party OF jewellers. y dul
wrack was drifting slowly across tn
sky. and a star or two twlnkled dlml'
here and there through the riffs OF tn
clouds Holmes drove in silence, with hi
head sunk upon his breast. and the al
of man who Is lost in thought, while
sat beside him curious tO learn what TIN
new quest might he which seemed 10 ia
his powers 20 sorclv, and vet AFRAID I
break IN upon the current OF his thought:
We had driven several miles, and wer
beginning 20 get to the fringe of the bel
Of suburban villas. when he shook hin
self shrugged ms shoulders, and lit up hi
pipe with the air of man who has salts
fed himself that he is acting for the best
You have grand GIFT OF silence
Watson said he. 1T makes yo
quite invaluable as o companion. 'Po
nv word, il is great thing for me {
have some one to talk to, for my ow
thoughts are not over pleasant ! wa
I L Al