THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL.
to the two policemen uniform, with one heavy game our Eastern em- over a cigar may you coat, now he waa the Holmes o£ he had been a witness of his friend's Ft>n, to draw a little nearer in shot that afford some and dressing- window, talcing every precaution not plain clothes detective, rushed pire has ever produced. Ibelieve I profitable amusement." ola in the mouse-colored ny escape. He had wir- his etfi#y. d*ath and of to yourself, and then to look up through the front entrance and into am correct, colonel, in saying that Our old chambers had been left un- gown which he took from ed,-&cd making way to sfcow — nerves have not then his round at our old rooms the starting- the room. your bag of tigers still remains un- changed through the supervision of "The old shikari's cllli, steadiness, eyes their the top of th« he had endeavored point of so many of your little fairy "That you. Lestrade?" said Holme9. rivaled ?" Mycroft Holmes and the immediate lost their nor his to had see if my three years "Yes, Mr. Holmes. Itook the The fierce old man nothing, As I Ikeenness," he, with a laugh, aa succeed where his comrade 1ales'* We «rfl3 Job said but care of Mrs. Hudson. entered 3aid ot failed. ""%;\u25a0#\u25a0\u25a0 of absence has entirely taken away myself. It's good to see you back in still glared at my companion. With saw, it is true, an unwonted tidiness, he inspected ike shattered forehead surprise London, savage "Idid not take long to think about it, my piv.er to you." sir." his eyes and bristling mustache but the old landmarks were all in their hia bust. . looked at "Ithink you a unofficial he was wonderfully like a tiger him- place. was the chemical cor- "Plumb in the middle of th« ba^lc "Watson. AgKia 1 saw that grim face Iercpt forward and across want little There window, As my eyes fell help. Three undetected murders in self. nei acid-stained, deal-topped of the head and smack through the over cliff, and knew that it the famiHnr and the India, look the I upon it Igave a gasp and a cry of one year won't do, Lestrade. But you "I wonder that my very simple table. There upon a shelf was the brain. He waa the oest shot in was the precursor of another stone. I The blind was down, and handled the Molesey mystery with less stratagem could so old a shi- scrap-books and and Iext.ect that there are few better amazement. kari," deceive row of formidable scrambled down to the path. I a stron? light was burning in the than your usual— that's to say, you said Holmes. "Itmust be very- becks of reference which many of our in London. Have you heard the don't think Icould have done it in cold room. The shadow of a man who was handled it fairly well." familiar to you. Have you not teth- fkllow-citizens would have been so name .'" " It as a -hundred times more seated in a chair within was thrown We had all risen to our feet, our ered a young kid under a tree, lain glad, to burn. The diagrams, the "No, Ihave not." blood. hard, above it your — "Well, well, But. difficult than getting up. But Ihad no In black outline upon the lumi- prisoner breathing hard, with a stal- with rifle and waited for v.olin-case. and the pipe-rack even such i3fame! nous screen of the window. There was wart constable on each side of him. the bait to bring up your tiger? This the Persian slipper which contained then, if Iremember right, you had not time to think of the danger, for an- empty my are — eyes as name hung r.o mistaking the poise of the head, the Already a few loiterers had begun to house is tree and you the tobacco all met my Iheard the of Professor James other stone sang past me as I squareness of th°. shoulders, the collect in the street. Holmes stepped my tiger. You have possibly had glanced round me. There—were two Moriarty, who had one of the great "by. my hands from the edge of the sharpness of the features. The face up to the window, closed it and other guns in reserve in case there occupants of the room one, Mrs. brains ot the century. Just give me ledge. Half way down Islipped, but, was turned half-round, and the effect dropped the blinds. Lestrade had pro- should be several tigers or in the un- Hudson, who beamed upon us both as down my index of biographies from by .the blessing of God. Ilanded, torn was that of one of those black sil- duced two candles and the policemen likely supposition of your own aim we entered —the other, the strange the shell." houettes which our grandparents had Iwas failing you. These," he pointed dummy played so im- over the pages laaily. and bleeding;, upon the path. Itook to loved uncovered their lanterns. around, which had He turned t' frame. Tt was a perfect reproduc- able to a good look at "are my other guns. The evening's ad- in his and blow- my heels,' did ten miles over the moun- at last have portant a part in the leaning back chair tion of Holmes. amazed was Ithat our prisoner. parallel is exact." # wax-colored model ing great clouds his cigar. in the darkness, and \u25a0 we k Pu ventures. It was a from tains later. Ithrew out my hand to sure that tremendously Colonel Moran sprang my friend, admirably that it "My of Ms Is a rlne one," Florence, with the make It was a virile and forward w-ith of so done collection Ifound myself in the men himself was standing besi>:« yet sinister face which was turned a snart of rage, but the constables wa.s a perfect fac simile. It stood on said he. "MorUtrty nimself is enough certainty that no aM in the worldknew me. He was quivering with silent toward us. With the brow of a phi- dragged him back. The fury upon his a small" pedestal table with an old to make any letter illustrious, and of < laughter. • losopher of a face waa terrible to look at. Holmes' so draped here is Morgan the poisoner, and Mer- what' 'had come me. . above and the jaw sensu- dressing-gown of only one confidant— my broth- "Well?" said he. alist below, the man have started "Iconfess that you had one small round illusion from the ridew of abominaoie memory, and "Ihad must me," it that the HycruCL Iowe you many apologies, "Good heavers!" Icried. "It Is with great capacities for good or for surprise for said Holmes. "I street was absolutely perfect. Mathews. who knocked out my left er. did not anticipate that you would you precau- at Charing my de«! Watson, but it was all-im- marvelous." evil. But one could not look v.ion hi.s "I hope preserved ill canine in th:? waiting-room "Itrust that ape doth not wither nor eyes, drooping, yourself make use of this empty house t'ons, Mrs. Cross, and, .Inaliy. here m our portant it should be thought I cruel blue with their Hudson?" said Holmes. friend that custom Male my infinite variety," said cynical lids, or upon the fierce, ag- and this convenient front window. I my knees, sir, just Ol to-night." dead, it is quite certain that imagined you as operating from "Iwent to it on was. and be. and Irecognized in his voice the gressive nose and the threatening, had you me." He handed over the book, and 1 you not have written so con- takes deep-lined reading the street, where my friend Lestrade as told Sobaatian, Would joy and pride which the artist in brow without na- You carried the thing read: "Moran. Colonel. vincing an account cf my unhappy end his own creation. "It really is rather ture's plainest dangar signals. He took and his merry men were awaiting you. "Excellent. Unemployed. Formerly i3t Bengalore that exception all has gone as Iout very well. Did you observe where had you not yours?lf thought that it 1 ke me, is it nnt?" no heed of any of us, but his eyes wer^ With Pioneers. Born London, ISU&. Son prepared swear upon 1 an expected." the bullet went?" Moran, C.8., once wa« true. times during thr- "Ishould be to that fixed HolmeB face w'th ex- of Sir Augustus Several you." Colonel Moran turned to the official "Yes. sir. I'm afraid it has spoiled years Ihave taken up my it was bust, right British Minister to Persia. Educated last three of the is due detective. your beautifu} for it passed Oxford, JowaJsi pen rite you. but always I "The credit execution flattened itself liton and rierved in to to to Monsieur Oscar Meunier of Greno- "You may or may not have just through the head and Campaign, Afghan Campaign. Char- feared lest your affectionate regard for ble, who some days in Joine the for arresting me," said he, "but on the wall. Ipicked it up from the spent cause it a&lab (despatches), Sherpur. and Ca- me should tempt you to some indis- molding. It is a bust in wax. The rest at least there can be no reason why carpet. Here is!" bul. Author of Heavy Game of the cretion which would betray my secret. Iarranged myself during my visit to Ishould submit to the gibes of this Holmes held it out to »me. "A soft Himalayas' USSIj; Three the bullet, as you perceive, Wat- Westsrn For Iturned away from Haker street this afternoon." peraon... If Iam in hands of the rt'volver Months In the Jungle' (ISS4>. Address: that reason law let things be done in a legal way." sun. There's genius in that, for who you this evening when you upset my "But why?" thing Conduit street. Clubs: The Anglo-In- "Because, Watson, "Well, that's reasonable enough," would expect to find such a fired Bagatelle danger at time, my dear Ihad the dian, the Tankerville, the booics. for Iwas la the strongest wishing any ,and r-ossible reason for Card Club." and show of suiprise emo- certain people to think chat I was the margin was written in tion upon your might On part have drawn there when 1 was really elsewhere." Holmes' precise hand: "The second attention to my identity and led to the "And you thought the rooms were most dangerous man in London." most <]:-i>lorable and irreparable re- watched?" "This is astonishing," said Ias I sults. As to Mycroft, Ihad to con- "Iknew that they were watched." handed back the volume. "The man's in to obtain the "By whom?" career is that of an honorable soldier." fide la him order '"By my enemies, By Up money which Ineeded. The course of old Watson. "Itis true," Holmes answered. the charming society whose leader lies point he did well. He vrtm events run well as to a certain in London did rot M in the Reichenbach Fall. You must always man of iron nerve and the htped. th Morl- knew, a Ihad for trial of the remember that they and only story is still told in India how he arty ccng left two of Its most dan- they knew, that Iwas still alive. Soon- crawled down a drain after a wounded gerous members, my own most vindic- or or later they believed that Ishould man-eating tiger. are some my There er.cn. at liberty. Itraveled for cftre back to rooms. They watched trees, Watson, grow to a cer- tive continuously, morning which yt-ars Tibet, therefore, and them and. this tain height and then suddenly develop two 'in they saw me arrive." emused myself by visiting Lhassa. and some unsightly eccentricity. You w*Jl How do you know?" see in humans. Ihave a Spending j-dne days the head . it often with "Because I recognized their sentinel theory represent* in may re- that the individual Llama You have read of the when Iglanced out my window. He is his development the whole procession mark. «-xploiatlons of a Norwegian a harmless enough fellow, Parker. by ancestors, such a sud- name, trade, of his and that Ststroott, but Iam sure that it a garroter by and a re- to good or evil stands for named performer den turn never occurred to you that you were markable upon the jews- crept torward, crouching, menacing presslon in -wjhich hatred and amaze- some strong influence which came Into harp. Icared nothing for him. equally pedigree. person receiving news of your friend. Ithen But Iinto the room. He was within three ment were blended. "You the line of his The cared a great deal for the much more kept muttering, "you becomes, epitome of tn« passed through Persia, looked in at person yards of us, this sinister figure, and I fiend!" he on as it were, the formidable who was behind clever, history own family." Mecca, and paid a short but interesting the had braced myself to meet his spring clever fiend!" of his him. bosom friend of Morlarty, the no "Ah, colonel!" said Holmes, arrang- "Itis surely rather fanciful." visit to the Khalifa at Khartoum, the man before Ilealized that he had idea collar, " who dropped the rocks over the presence. passed close be- ing his rumpled 'journeys end "Well, Idon't insist upon it. What- v. communicated cliff, the most cunning and dangerous of our He meeting,' play results of hi. Ihave side us, stole over to the window and in lovers' as the old ever the cause. Colonel Moran began Foreign Office. Returning to criminal in London. That is the man says. Idon't think Ihave had thi to go wrong. any open scan- to the to-night. Watson, very softly and noiselessly raised it for Without France, Ii-ptnt MOM in a re- who is after me and too to hold months quite half a foot. As he sank to the level of dal he still made- India hot ;he derivatives, that is the man who is unaware street, him. retired, came to London and search into coal-tar that we are after him." this opening, the light of the He a laboratory at longer by the dusty glaas, again acquired an evil name. It was which Iconducted in My friends plans were gradually re- no dimmed Mo'ntpellicr. of France. fell full uoon his face. The man at this time that he was sought out in the South vealing themselves. From this "con- by Moriarty, for a Having my seemed to be beside himself with ex- Professor to whom concluded this to satisfac- venient retreat the watchers a ore V>- eyes time chief of Mo- tion, my ing citement. His two shone like he was the staff. and learning that only one of watched and the trackers tracked. working riarty supplied him liberally with, That up yonder stars and his features were enemies was now left in London, Iwas anr.ular shadow was an elderly man, money and used him only in one or the bait, and we convulsively. He was about to return when my movements were the hunter.-. In projecting nose, a high, two very high-class jobs, which no or- rilence we stood together In the dark- with a rhin. were hastened by the news of this very forehead and a huge grizzled dinary criminal could have undertaken. ness and watched the hurrying figures bald may remarkable Park Lane mystery, which who passed mustache. An opera hat was pushed You have some recollection of tbe and repassed in front of death of Mrs. Stewart not only appealed to me by its own us. motionless; to the back of his head and an evening of Lauder in Holmes- was silent and through 1837. Not? Well, Iara sure Moran was merits, but which >--<.-nitd t«> offer some but Icould tell that he was keenly dress shirt-front gleamed out his open overcoat. His face was at the bottom of it, but nothing could most peculiar personal opportunities. alert, and that his eyes were fixed In- tently upon the gaunt and swarthr, scored with deep, be proved. So cleverly was the colonel Icame over at MUI to London, called stream of passersby. concealed that even when the Moriarty It was a bleak night, savage lines. In his hand he carried my own person at Baker street, and boisterous appeared a stick, gang was broken up we could not in- in and the wind whistled shrilly down ihe wh:u to be but as threw Mrs. Hudson into violent hys- Many he laid it flown upon the floor it gave criminate him. You remember at tJyit; long street. people were moving date, your terics, and Mycroft a metallic clang. Then from the when Icalled upon y>u in found that hal to and fro. most of them muffled in up my n-.y their pocket of his overcoat he drew a bulky rooms, how Iput the shutters for preserved rooms ami papers ex- coats and cravats. Once or of air-guns? No doubt you actly as they ha 1 always be. So it twice it seemed to me object, and he busied himself in some fear that I task which ended with a loud, sharp thought me fanciful. Iknew exactly was, my dear Watson, Jhat at 2 o'clock had seen the same figure be- fore, and I especially click, as if a soring or bolt had fallen what Iwas doing, tor Ikne»v of the to-day Ifound myp_».f in my old arm- noticed place. kneeling upon the of remarkable two men who appeared to be sheltering into its Still existence this sun and chair in my own old "•om, and only themselves floor he bent forward and threw all Iknew also that one of the best ahota from the wind in the door- weight strength Wjien '.wishing that Ico'jllhave seen rrj old way of a house some his and upon In the world would be behind it. distance up the lever, the result we were In Switzerland he followed us friend Watson in the other chair which street. Itried to draw my compan- some with • came a long, whirl- with Moriarty and it was undoubtedly jjj ion's attention to them, gave that there he• has often ad<»rn<"l." but he ing, grinding noise, ending once more he who gave me that evil rive min.- \u25a0 a little ejaculation of impatience Such was the remarkable narrative and in a powerful click. He straightened utes on the Reichenbach ledge. •to which 1 on that Aprileven- continued to stare into the street. then, — listened once he fidgeted himself u^ and Isaw that wliiit. "You may think that Iread the ing narrative which would have More than with his he held in his hand was off^jl my feet and tapped rapidly fingers assort papers with some, attention during \u25a0 with his been utterly incredible to me had it upon gun with ji curiously misshapen butt. sojourn on the flor the wall. It was evident to me breech, In France lookout not been confirmed by the actual sight that he was becoming uneasy He opened it at the put some- any chance of laying him by the heels. and that thing and snapped the breech- my of the tall, spare figure and the keen, his plans were not working in So long as he was free in London out alto- block. Then, crouching down, ,htt would really not have been worth \u25a0eager face, which Ihad never thought gether as he had hoped. At last, as r fife midnight approached rested the end of the barrel upon th« living. Night and day the shadow to see again. In some manner he had and the street ledge of the open window, and Isaw over me sooner bereavement, gradually cleared, he paced up and would have been and learned of mv own sad his long mustache droop over the stock or his chance have come. down the room in uncontrollable agi- eye later must .and his sympathy \u25a0»• shown in.his I and his gleam as it peered along What could Ido? Icould not shoot tation. was about to make some re- the sights. Iheard a sigh of manner rather than in his words. mark to him, when Iraised my eyes little him at sight or Ishould myself be tn •"Work is the best antidote to sorrow, window, satisfaction a3 he cuddled the butt the dock. There was no use appealing to the lighted and again ex- into his shoulder and saw that arnuz- my dear Watson," said he; "and Iperienced almost as great a surprise to a magistrate. They cannot inter-* ing target, the black man on the yel- fere on the strength of what would have a piece of woik for us both to- as before. I clutched Holmes' arm low ground, standing clear at the end and pointed upward. appear to them to be a wild suspicion. 'night which, if we can bring it to a of his fore-sight. For an instant ho So Icould do nothing. But Iwatched conclusion, wi'.l in jus- "The shadow has moved!" Icried. was rigid and motionless. Then hia knowing successful itself It was indeed no longer the profile, the criminal news, that soon- tify,a man's life on this planet." In finger tightened on the trigger. Ther» er or get • but the back, which was turned to- a strange, whiz and, a long, later Ishould him. Then vain 1 begged him to tell me more. was loud came the death of this Ronald Adair. ' ward us. silvery tinkle of broken glass. Atthat "You will hear and see enough before Three years had certainly My chance had come at last. Knowing not did, morning," he answered. "We have smoothed the asperities of his temper what I was it not certain that Colonel Moran had done it? had three jt-ars of the past to discuss. or his impatience with a less active He intelligence played cards with the lad, he had fol- Let that suflice until half-past nine, than his own. club, "Of moved," lowed him borne from the he had \u25a0when we sum up >n the notaole adven- course it has said he. through open "Am Isuch a farcical bungler, Watson, shot him the window. , ture of the eni:>«.y house." was not a doubt when, that Ishould erect an obvious dummy There of it. The bul- "'.lt.am* ...Leeu tike old times lets alone are enough to put his head at" th.i hour, ifound myself beside and expect that some of the sharpest h-iiEom, my my men in Europe would by in a noose. Icame over at once. I bins in a revolver in be deceived was seen by the sentinel, who would, \u25a0 pocket; the ihtin adventure in it? We have been in this room ana of two knew, the colonel's my he..; i was and hours and Mrs. Hudson has I direct attention to Hoirr.es cold stern malt my presence. not t. ehtx.t. giearu of the street some change in that figure eight times, He could fail and ...s Ute my return with lamps lathed upon austere teat- or once in every quarter of an hour. nect sudden his crim*. his and to be terribly alarmed. I was .uree, 1 Raw that his brows ueie drawn She urorki it from the front, so that down -la thought and his thin lips her shadow may never be seen. Ah!" sure that he would make an attempt He drew to get me out of the way at ones and .compUttccL I knew not what wild • in his breath with a shrill, would bring round his murderous beast we were about to hunt down xeited intake. In the dim light Isaw In the dark junkie of criminal Lon- his h.-ad thrown forward, his whole weapon for that purpose. Ileft him don, assured, attitude rigid with an excellent mark in the win- but 1 «t» well from the attention. Outside dow, bearing of ih:s master huntsman, that the street was absolutely deserted. and having warned the— police — they might be by th« auventuie \vs.s a most one Thost two men might still be crouch- that needed the crave ing in the doorway, way, Watson, you spotted their pres- :..while the sardonic smile which occa- but Icould no \u25a0 sionally broke through his ascetic longer see them. All was stilly and ence in—that doorway with unerring ac- •gloom boded little good for the object dark, save only that brilliant yellow curacy Itook up what seemed to pae of our