Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-29
TODAYS INSTALMENT.

MY opSCINdtlOns OF NO. AZ iaIh
Lane did little to clear up the problem
in which l was interested. The house
was separated from the street by a low
wall and railing, the whole not more
than five feet high. II was perfectly
easy, therefore, for any one to get into
the garden, but the window was entirely
inaccessible, since there was no water
pipe or anything which could help the
mot active man TO climb it. More
puSAed than ever, ! retraced my steps
TO Kensington. / had not been in my
study five minutes when the maid en-
tered TO say that a person desired 10
see me. To my astonishment it was
none other than my strange old book
collector, his sharp, wixened face peer
ing out from a frame of white hair,
and his precious volumes, dozen OF
them at least, wedged under his right
arm.
You're surprised to sec me, sir"
said he in a strange croaling voice.
acknowledged that ! was.
We'll, I've conscience, sir, and
when | chanced to see YOU go into this
house, ms l came hobbling after you,
] thought 10 myself. I'll just step in and
sec that kind gentleman, and tell him
that If ! was bit gruff in my manner
there was not any harm meant, and
that am much obliged to him for pick
ing up my books."6
"You make too much of trifle," said
]. May ! ask bow you knew who I
was!"
We'll, sir, il il isn't too geat q liberty,
! am a ncighbor Of yours, for you'll
find my little bookshop at the corner
OF Church street, and very happy
70 zee you, am sure. Maybe you
collect yourself, sir. Here's British
Birds and Natullus,' and Tho Holy
Wars bargain, every one of them.
With five volumes you could just
fill that gap on that second shelf. 1t
looks untidy, docs it not, sir?
| moved my head 20 look at the
cabinet behind me. When ! turned
again, Sherlock Holmes was standing
smiling at me across my study table.
l rose TO my feet stared at him for
eorne seconds in utter amazement, and
then il appears that ! must have tainted
for the FIRST time and the last time II
my life. Certainly a gray mist swirlec
before my eyes, and when il cleared
found my collar-cnds undone and
the tingling aftertaste Of brandy upor
my lips. Holmes was bending ovel
nv chair, his flask in his hand.
NV dear Watson" said the wcll-re-
membcrcd voice, Il owe you thousand
apologies I had no idea that you woulc
be 20 affected"
! gripped him by the arms.
Holiness cried. II. il really your
Can it indeed he that you are alive
Is il possible that you succeeded IL
climbing out OF that awful abyss?"
Wait . moment" said he. Are yor
sure that you are really fit to discuss
things? l have given you a seriou:
shock by my unnecessarily dramatic
rcappcarance:"
II am all right, but indeed, Holmes,
can hardly believe my eyes. Goot
Heavens! to think that you-you OF al
men-should be standing in my study
Again I gripped him by the sleeve, snc
felt the thin, sinewy arm beneath it
well, you're not spirit, anyhow,
said I. My dear chap, I'm overjoyec
70 see you. Sit down, and tell me how
you came alive out of that dreadful
chasm."
He sat opposite to me, and lit &
cigarette in his old, nonchalant man
ner. He was dressed in the seed,
frock-coat OF the book merchant, bu
the rest OF that individual lay in pill
of white hair and old books upon tn
table. Holmes looked even thinne
and keencr than of old, but there wa
a dead-white tinge in his aquiline fac
which told me that his life recently ha'
not been . healthy one.
II am glad TO stretch myself, Wat