Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-29

bring trouble to the roof he was un-
d~, and that that was the motive |
which impelled him To 60. With n few |
hurried words as 20 our plans for the |
morrow he rose and came out with Inc |
into the garden, clamberlng over the |
call which leads into Mortimer Street, |
and Immediately whistling for han |
som, in which | heard him drive away. |
In the morning l obeycd Holiness
injunctions to the letter. 4 hanson
was procured with such precautions rs
would prevent its being one which was
placed ready for us, and | drove inn
mediately after breakfast to the Lowther
Arcade, through which / hurried at the
top of my speed. A brougham was
waiting with a vary massive driver
wrapped in a dark cloak, who, the in
slant that l had stepped in, whipped up
the horse and ratified off to Victoria
Station. On my alighting there he turned
the carriage, and dashed away again
without so much as look in my direc-
ton.
80 far all had gone admirably. My
luggage was waiting for me, and had
no difficulty in finding the carriage
which Holmes had indicated, the less
so as il was the only one in tho train
which was msrked Engaged" My
only source of anxiety now was the
non-appearance Of Holmes. The sta
ton clock marked only seven minutes
from the time when we were due 10
start. In vain | searched among the
groups of travellers and lcave-takers
for the 1.-THE figure of my friend. There
was no sign of him. | spent few
minutes in assisting venerable Italian
priest, who was endeavoring to make
porter understand, in his broken
English, that his luggage was 20 be
booked through to Paris. Then, having
taken another look round, l returned
to my carriage where | found that the
porter, in spite Of the ticket, had gwen
me my decrepit Italian friend rs
travelling companion. II was useless
for me 10 explain to him that his pres
ence was an intrusion, for my Italian
was even more limited than his En-
glish, so | shrugged my shoulders re-
! signedly. and continued TO look out
anxiously for my friend. 4 chill of
/ fear had come over me, as ] thought
that his absence might mean that some
blow had fallen during the night. Al
] lklt utNlS WI itth sAAlN tAlu
the whistle blown, when
MY dear Watson" said voice, you
have not even condescended 10 say
good-morning.
1 turned in uncomfortable astonish-
ment. The aged ecclcsiastic had turned
his face toward me. For an instant
the wrinkles were smoothed away,
the nose drew away from the chin,
the lower lip ceased to protrude and the
mouth 10 humble, the dull eyes re-
gained their fire, the dropping figure
expanded. The next the whole frame
collapsed again. and Holmes had gone
as quickly as he had come.
Good heavens cried; chow you
startled mew
Every precaution is still necessary,
he whispered Il have reason TO think
that they are hot upon our trail. Al
there Is Moriarty himself"
The train had already begun 10 move
as Holmes spoke. Glancing back,
saw a tall man pushing his way fun.
ously through the crowd, and waving
his hand as If he desired 10 have The
train stopped. II was too late, how
ever, for We were rapidly gathering
momentum. and an instant later haC
shot clear OF the station.
with all our precautions, YOU SEE
that We have cut It rather fine" saiC
Holmes, laughing He r2Se, and throw
. ing off the black cassock and hat whicl
, had formed his disguise he packed then
away in a handbag.
Have you seen the morning paper
! Watson"
"No"
"You haven't seen about Bake
Street, them"
Baker Street,
D They set fire 70 our rooms las
night No great harm was done
Good heavens, Holmes! this Is IN
' iolerable"
e They must have lost my tracI
? completely after their blungeon-ma
: was arrested. Otherwise they coul
= not have imagined that | had returne
o TO nv rooms. They have evidentl
: taken the precaution of watching yo
c however, and that is what has brough
!, Moriarty to Victoria. You could nc
e have made any slip in coming"
Z Il did exactly what YOU advised
}, Did YOU find your broughan?"
q ''Yes, il was waiting"
e Did you recognize your coachman?
u mo"
II 1T was my brother Mycroft. II
?, an advantage TO get about in such
:, case without taking mercenary int
: YOUR confidence. But we must pla
: what we are to do about Moriart
u now"
,, LAS this is an express, and as th
K boat runs in connection with II.
l. should think We have shaken him o
i very effectively"
n MY dear Watson, YOU evidently di
not realize my meaning when ! san
that this man may be taken as BEN
+ quite on the same intellectual plane {
e myself. You do not imagine that if
were the pursuer ! should allow myse
5, To be bafiled by so slight an obstacl
Why. then, should you think so meanl
Of him?"
= What will be do?"
l.