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Show la! ' ' " . - ' ' . - " ' " l ". .iAr j.n.1 its shining Sherlock Holmes Solves a Strange Murder iMys-tery iMys-tery and Entraps a Subtle Criminal. r.S. HUDSON, the landlady of jl Sherlock Ilolmo. wns a loup-Y loup-Y Mif ferine woman. 2sol only 1-L Wna her first iloor flat in-ad"'l in-ad"'l t all hours by thrones of aingu lar and often tindcAlrnuiii characters, SSul hpr remarkable lodger showed an oe'ejilrielty and irregularity in his life which muft have eoroly tried her patience. pa-tience. JIi incredible uutidincis, his addition to music nt trswiRC hours, his ocuionl reviver practice within doors, his weird and often malodorous scientific experiment ami the atmosphere atmos-phere of violence and dancer which hung around him made him tho very worst tenant in Londou. On the other hand, his payments were princely. I have uo doubt that the house might have been mirchnsed at the price which Holmes paid for his rooma during tho yenrs that I was with him. Tho landlady stood in tho deepest awe of him and novcr dared to interfere inter-fere with him, however outrageous his proceeding might teem. She was fond wf him, too. for he had a remarkable ponllcnors and courtesy in his dealings with women. Ho disliked and distrusted distrust-ed the sex, but he was always a chivalrous chival-rous opponent. Knowing how genuine wns her regard for him, I listened earnestly to her story whon sho came to my rooms in tho second year of my married life- and told mo of tho sad condition to which my poor friend was reduced. 1 1 o dyinp, Dr. Watson, said he. "For throe duya ho haa been sink-ing, sink-ing, nnd I doubt' if ho will last tho day. Ho would not let me get a doctor. This morning whon J saw his bones stickiup out of his face and his great bright oyes looking at mo I could stand no more of it. 'With your leave or without with-out it, Mr. Holmoi, I am going for a doctor this very hour,' said I. 'Let it be Watson, then,' paid he. I wouldn't waste an hour in coming to him, sir, or you may not ace him alive." I was horrified, for 1 had heard nothing of his illness. I nood not say that 1 rushed for my coat and my hat. As we drove bark I asked for the details. de-tails. "There is little I can tell you, sir. Ho haa been working at a case down at Kotherhitho, in an alley near the river, and lie hat brought this illness back with him. He took to hit bed on Wednesday aftutnoou and haa never moved since. l?or these throe days noitber food nor drink haa pabsed his Hi.' "Good. Uod! Why did you not call in ! a doetur?" "He wouldn't have ir, sir. You kaow how mimturftil hu is. I didn't dare to disobey him. But lie's not long for tliiK world, as you will wo for your-' your-' self t lie moment that you set eyes on ttiw." lit was indeed a deplorable spectn- ilc. In this dim light of a fngjjy No-j No-j vembcr day tho tickiooin 'was a qlooiuy ifoi, hut it was that gaunt, wvbjii wasted fuce staring at inu from the IB bod which cut a chill to my heart. Hit1 cvej had the brightness of fovcr, in there w a hectic flush upon either i-hcek aiMi dark rmsw clung to hin 3 'il1; the thin hand upon the coverlet m tu itched incessantly, hi voice wax T rroaking and Hi&iiiadiV He lay lit 9 losly a 1 anteiod the room, but the S iRht of ma bruugjkit a lcum of rotop. S nit ton to hie iiyea. "Well, Watson, "e item to have $ fallen on ox'll dhvt," said he in a too- i tdf vwc, but with omothiug of his M, oi.l rryloi4ia of wuer. if "Mr dear felJowl" I cried, ap- 4JlHs prom-bios hint. "Stnad buck! Stand right bock!" 'fJ'jifll a,l he tbo hnrp IwporioiiancAS ihf b Hi I hud nmoiatixl wily with mo- p-'3 "irMt wf criee. "If you approeh mo, '. i mJ Wnton, I bH ordr yun out )f the 'l 'l Tl house." I 'M why I" ' )'r y "B"camo it b my dotiro. Is that not r'l'jj '"onghr -iH ?" Irt" '-(M vas rSut- Ho wn 'J :jst '"one nuutcrfnl thajt war. It wha pitl- V.: Ifl however, to snc his exhaustion, j O 'W "I only wUknl to' help, 1 ca- Pfba " Exactly r Von will help beat by ?JtiBl ''omiC vkal ou aro told." Certainly, HoJmci." iHXjf'J ; " relaxed tbo austerity of hi raan- ;JjPl "Yon arc not nngryl" ho nsked, T-IW' C3,i tw brsnth. WkF Toor dotril. liow cvwUl I be nngry ' wkfn I aw him Irfwj: in sck n pliglit l jijni W(or mi of iu. "It's for yorr own sakct Waton," . jjUl, he roa k wl . i; n ' "For my Hike?' jiWfj. "I know what Is the matter with I n oiti dinfto from Suma- 1 Sa tin a thine that tbo Batch know more t abt th--n wr. th-Mjph thoy hnv made J Mi&9 litt 5 of it up to date. 0G thing onlv i JHw ,frtfli- It i inlalliblv deadly and i 't i horribly contar lotus.'' W ffiH 'P00 n0,!r u"n a fnvorish cner- 't (WH py. the Ions bund twitching and jerk IBJ: a motionn in away. . j) , "ContkRiouii by touch." Wnton r't?;;i that's it, by touch. Keep yor distance ,1.! and nil is well." il fl "0vmI henren. Helmm! D roil ? 'laW wprop that eiwk a considerafion if wciphs with mi' for an mutant? It I H wonli nri affc-f; me ,m the rase of a ; htranprr Do you jmag.nc it woaid pre I vent mc from doinp my duty to so old a friend?" , , , Again T advanced, but ho repulsed mo with a look of furious anger. "If vou will stand there I will talk. If you' do not you must leavo the room." " , J have so deep a respect for tho extraordinary ex-traordinary qualities of Holmes that L have always deferred to Iiir wishes, even when I least undorstood thorn. But now all my professional instincts wero aroused. I.ot him bo my matter elsewhere, I at loast was his in a sickroom. sick-room. "Holmes," T said, "you are not yourself. A sick man is hut a child, and to I will treat vou. Whether you like it or not. J will examine 3'our symptom and treat you for thorn. Ho looked at mo with venomous evos. ""If r am to have a doctor whether I will or not let me at leaat havo someone some-one in whom I have contidencc," said he. "Then vou have none in mo? ' "In voiir friendship, certainly. But facta arc facts, Watson, and after all vou are onlv a general practitioner with vcrv limited experieuce aud mediocre medi-ocre qualifications. It is painful to have to pay the?e things, but you leave mc uo choice," I was bitterly hurt. "Such a remark is unworthy of vou. Holmes. It shows mc very clearly the state of your own nerves. But it you have no confidence in mc 1 would not intrude my services. Let me bring Sir Jasper Ieek or Penrose Fisher or any of the best men in London. But someone some-one you must have, and that, is final. If vou 'think, that T am going to stand here and sec 3011 die without cither helping vou nscrf or bringing an3'one clso to lielp 3ou. then you have mistaken mis-taken your mnu. ' ' "You mean well. Watson," said the sick man with something between a sob and a groan. "'Shall I demonstrate vonr own ignorance? What do you now, pray, of Tapanuli fovor? What do 3'ou know of the black Formosa corruption?" cor-ruption?" "I have never heard of either." "There arc many problems of disease, dis-ease, manv strange" pathological possibilities possi-bilities in the east, Watson." He paused after each sentence to collect liia failing strength. "I have learned so much durinp soma recent researches which have a medico-criminal aspect. It was in the course of them that. I contracted this complaint. You can do nothing." "Possiblv not. But T happen to know that Dr. A'instrect, the greatest living nuthoritv upon tropical disease, is now in London. All remonstrance is useless. use-less. Holmes. I am going this instant to fetch him." I turned resolutely to the door. Never have 1 had such a shoctl In an instant, with a tiger spring, the dviug man had intercepted me. I heard the sharp snap of a twisted key. The next moment he had staggered back to his bed. exhausted and panting after liis one tremendous outflnme of energy. "You won't take the key from me bv force, Watson. I've got .vou. my friend. Hero 3-ou are and hero vou will stav until I will otherwise. But I'll humor vou." (All this in little gasps, with terrible struggles for breath between). be-tween). "You've ouly my own good at heart. Of course T know that very well. You shall have your way, but give mo time to get m' strength. Not now. Watson, not now. It's 4 o'clock. At ti vou can go.' "This U insanity, Holmes." "Only two hours. Watson. I promise prom-ise you will go at G. Aro you content to wait?" "I seem to havo no choice." "Nona in the world, Watson. Thank vou. I need no help in arranging the clothes. You will please keep your distance. dis-tance. Now, Watson, there is ono other oth-er condition that I would mako. You will fteek help, not from the man you j mention, but from the one that I choose." "Bv all means." I "The first three scnsiblo words that J you havo uttered since .vou entered this room. Wntson. You will find some books over there. I am somewhat exhausted; ex-hausted; I wonder how a battery feels when it pours electricity into a nonconductor non-conductor I At b Watsou, we resume, our conversation." Bnt it was destined to be resumed long before that hour and in circumstances circum-stances which gae me a shock hardly cond to that caused by his spring to tho door. I had siood for some minutes min-utes looking at the silent figuro in the bod. His face was almost covered by tho clothes aud ho appcarod to bp. asleep. Then, unable to settle down to reading, I walked slowly around the room, examining the pictures of the celebrated criminals with which every i wall was adorned. Finally, in my aim-le-j perambulation, I came to the mantelpiece. man-telpiece. A litter of pipes, tobacco pouches, syringes penknives, revolver cartridges ami other debris was scattered scat-tered over it. In the midst of these wns a small black and white ivory box with a sliding lid. It was a nent little, thing aud I had stretched out my hand; to examine it more closeh' when It was a dreadful cr- tha"t ho gave a yell which might have been heard down the street. "My skin went cold and my hair bristled at that horrible stream. As I turned T caught a glimpse nf a convulsed faco and frantic eves. I stood paralyzed, with the little Ibox in mv hand. "Put it down! Down, this instant. Wateon this instant, I say!" His bead sank back upon tho pillow and ho gave -a deep algh of relief as I ronlaccd the box upon the mantelpiece. "I hate to have my things touched, Waton. You know that T hate it. You fidget me beyond endurance. You, a doctor you nre e.nough to driv a. patient pa-tient into an asylum. Sit down, man, and let mo have "my rest!" Tho incident left a most unpleasant imprcsrion upon my mind. The violent ana causeless excitement, followed bv tbi.i brutality of speech, so far rmovcil from bis usual suavity, f honed mo how deep was the disorganization of his mind. Of all ruins that of a nobl mind is the most deplorable. I at in tilont dejection untH the stipulated time had passed. H n?craed to have been watching tho clock as well as I, for it wn hardly 6 o'clock hforj he Ivepan to talk with tho w5 -feverish animation as before. "Now, Watson." said he. "have Ton any change in your pocket I" r'Yos." "Anv silver!" "A pood deal." "How many half-crowns I" "I ha e five' "There arc my prisoners," he said, indicating the row of bottles and jars. "Ah, too few! Too fowl How vcrv unfortunnte, Watsou. However, Mich, as they arc, you can put them in your watch pocket. And all the rest of 'our money in your left troiitcrs pocket. Thank 3ou. It will balance jou so much better like that." This was raving insanity. Ho shuddered shud-dered and again made a sound between a cough and a sob. "You will now light the gas, Watson, but you will be vcrv careful that not 'for one instant shall it be more than half on. I implore you to be careful, Watson. Thank you, that is excellent.! No, j-ou need not draw tho blind. Now you will havo the kindness to place some letters and papers upon this table within my rench. Thank, vou. Now some of the litter from trio mantelpiece. mantel-piece. Excellent, Watson! Thero is a sugar tongs there. Kindly raise thai small ivory box with ill assistance. Place it here among tho PBpors. Good! You can now go nnd fetch Mr. Cul-vcrton Cul-vcrton Smith ot No. 13 Lower Blake street." To tell the truth, my desire to fetch a doctor had omcwbnt weakened, for poor Holmes vent so obviously delirious deliri-ous that it seemed dangerous 'to leave him. However, he was as eager now to consult tho pcr?on named ns he had been obstinate in refusing. "I never heard tho name," said I. "Posribly not, my good Watson. It may surpnso you jto know that tho man upon earth who is best vorsed in this discnw is not a medical man, hut a planter. !r. Culverton Smith is a well-known well-known resident of Sumatra, now visiting visit-ing London. An ontbrcak of the disease upon his plantation, which was distant from medtcal aid. rausrd him to htudv it himMrlf. with some rather far reach inp consequences. He is a vrry method ical person, and I did not desire you to start before six because 1 waa well aware that vou would not find him in his fctudy. If you could persuade him to come" here and givo us tho bonofit of his unique experience of this disease, the investigation of which has been his dearest hobby, I cannot doubt that ho could help me." I give Holmes's remarks a a consecutive con-secutive whole and will not attempt to indicate how thoy were intormptod by gaspings for breath and those clutcli-mgs clutcli-mgs of his hands which indicated tho pain from which he was suffering. His appearance had changed for the worso during the few hours that I had been with nim. Thoso hectic spots wore moro pronounced, the eyes sdionc more brightly out of darker hollows and a cold sweat glimmered upon his brow. Ho still rctainod, howevor, the jaunt3' gallantry of his speech. To tho l.'tst gasp of his life ho would always be the master. "You will tell hint oxactl- how you have left mc," fcaid he. "You will con vej- tho verj impression which is in your own mind a dj'ing man a dying and delirious man. Indeed, I cannot think why the whole bed of ihc ocoau is not ouo solid mass of oj'xtors, so prolific tho creatures scorn. Ah, I am wandering! Strange how the brain controls the brain! What was E ?iy-ine, ?iy-ine, Watson?" ''My directions for Mr. Culvorton Smith." "Ah, ycf, 1 rcmomber. My life depends de-pends upon it. Plead with him. Wnt-wb. Wnt-wb. There is no good feeling between u. Hin nephew, Watson I had suspicion suspi-cion of foul play and I allowed him to sc it. The boy died hornblv. Ho has a prudgo against me. You wiil often, him, Wation. 13cg hini, frav him, get him hero by any means. Ho can save mc only he!" "I will bring liim in a cab if I havo to carry him down to it." "You will do nothing of tho sort. You will persuade him to come. And then you will rotum in front of him. Mako any excuse so as not to come with him. Don't forget. Watson. You won't fail me. You never did fail mc. No doubt thorn aro natural cnemyes which limit the increase of tho creatures. You and I, Watwn. wo have dono our part. Shall the world, then, bu overrun by oi-stcra? No, no; horrible! You'll convey con-vey all that is in your mind." I left him full of the image of this magnificent intellect babbling like a foolish child. He had handed me the key, and with a happy thought I took it with mc lost ho should lock himself in. Mrs. Hudsou was wailiup, trembling trem-bling aud weeping, iu tho passage. Behind Be-hind mo an I pood from tho tint I heard Holmes's lug, thin voico in rome delirious chant. Below, as I stood whistling for a cab, a man camo on mo through the fop. "How is Mr. Holmes, sir?" he asked. II was an old aequuintancci Inspector Morton of Scotlmtd Yard, dressed in unofficial tweedu. "He is very ill," I answered. He looked at me in most singular fnshion. Had it not been too fiendish I could havo imagined that the gleam of tho fanlight showed, exultation in hi faca. "1 hoard -fomo rumor of it," taid he rho cab had driven up and I left him Lower liurke street proved to be a' line of fine houses Ivinp In the vague lorderlnnd between "Notting Hill ;,nd Kning!on The particnlar one at which mv cabmnn pIIed np had an air Irf r-r.-ia ami t!uur" rcspc-tabHitv in its o!d fahioccd iron railings ha WatJoui Very good, r. ' ' "1' V"Who is this person; What (Iocs l.c want? Dear mc, Staples, 1 o ot ten have 1 .said that 1 am ol to dis turbed in my hours of studp . , There came a gentle i nn ot s.oounnn explanation from, tho buller. i'V I I won't sen ni . .r-- . can't have my work interrupted like Hii I am not at homo. Sav so. ic him to conlo in the morning if he really must sec me." Again the gentje iiiiirniiir. "Vcll well, give him that message. Ho S V tho Tri.f ; or ho onn stay aw. My voxk must iiol il ""'uISoRh't of Holmes tossins '! nulied past him andwn.s in the room. PUWUh u shrill cry of anger a man rose from a reclining chair beside the ii re tufted and sandy brows. A high bald head had n small velvet Hinokiup cap poised coqucttishly upon one side of its pink curve. The skull was of cnor-inous cnor-inous capacity, and .yet, as I looked down, I saw to my amazement that ; tho liguro of tho man was small and trail, twisted in tho shoulders and buck like ono who had suffered irom rickets in his childhood. . . . , "What's this?" he cried in a high, screaming voice. "What is tho meaning of this intrusion? Didn't I bond you word that 1 would see you tomorrow ,M "fan 'sorry," said L "but the mat-ter mat-ter ennnot bo delayed. Mr. Sherlock Holmes " . . , , Tho mention of my friend s name had an extraordinary effect upon tho little man. The look of anger passed in nn instant from-his face. His featuros became tense and alert. "Have you come trom Holmcsv ne asked. . , . ,. "I havo just loft him." . " What about Holmes? How is he? "He is desperately ill. That is why I have come." . , The man motioned mc to a chair and turned to resume his own. As he did so I caught a glimpse of hia faco in tho mirror over the mantelpiece. I could have sworn that it was set in a malicious mali-cious and abominable smile. Yet T persuaded per-suaded mvsolf that it must have been some nervous contraction which I had surprised, for he turned to mc an instant in-stant later with genuine concern upon his features. "T am aorrv to hear this," said ho. "I onlv know'Mr. Holmes through some business dealings which wo have had, but I have, every respect for his talents and his character. Mc is an amateur of crime, as 1 am of disease. For him tho villain, for mc the microbe. There arc mv prisons," he continued, pointing to a row of bottles and jars which stood upon a side tabic. "Among those gclntino cultivations sonic of the very worst offenders in the world arc now doing tiino. " "It was on account of your special knowledge that Mr. Holmes desired to sec you. He has a high opiniou of you, and'tnought that you wcro the-one mini in London who could help him." B The little man started and tho jaunty smoking cap slid to tho floor. "Why?"' ho asked. "Why should Mr. Holmes think that I could help him in his trouble'.'" "Because of your knowledge of east-cru east-cru diseases, " "But why should he think that this disease which he has contracted is eastern?" "Because in some professional inquiry in-quiry ho has boon working among Chi-ncse Chi-ncse sailors down in the docks." Mr. Culvorton Smith smiled pleasantly pleasant-ly and picked up his smoking cap. " "Oh. that's it, is it?" said he. " I trust tho matter is not so grave as vou suppose. How long has he been ill?' "About three dhvs." "Is ho delirious?" " Occasional! v." "Tut, tut! That sounds serious. It would be inhuman not to answer his call. T very much resent any interruption interrup-tion to my work, Dr. Watson, but this case is certainly exceptional. I. will conic with 3-ou at once." E remembered Holmes's injunction. "T have another appointment," said T. -"Vory good. I will go alone. I have 0 a note of Mr, Holmes's address. Vou can rely upon my being there within half an hour at most." 1 If, was with n sinking WBajfr re-entered Holmes's bcdTrw:rt4M -that I knew ,hR worst m 5 peued iu my nbsi'iicc. To m -'P relief, he had iinpro;cl f.r,?M L interval. His appoarnuco, J'Kk y a? ever, but all trace of di bK, lctt him and he bpoko in flM it is true, but with even tnorMp1 usual enspneta aud lucidity Well, did you sco him. -.jMLl "cs; he is coming." ' 3l(K)rr "Admirable, Wataoal kaL' You arc the best of mcesowSSt h "Ho wished to return tB 9 ' That would uovor Km .1 aT'what aSS'VnpOS55WW ffl.-m nbout ticcii4' "Exactly! Well Wat80D, jMfrt done all that a trood tnA JJ.TV3 can now disappear from tho kiB "I must wait and hear hjTfKli1 Holmes." 'Ww "Of course you must. ButltB-sous ButltB-sous to suppose that this onintaB1 i" be very much more frank and fc if ho imagines that wc are altMKrt is just room behind the h74rBI. bod, Watson." "My dear Holmes!" -Kikt "I fear there is no aUeraatlsBTS son. Tho room docs not lendlHr concealment, which is as well tu" tho Icha likely to arouso fUBnitiKji just there, Watson, I fancvBi could be done.'' Suddenly hKJF with a rigid intentness npon fcRi gard face. "There arc tho whutfMP- son. (t'uii.'k man, if. you love dHb don 't budge, whntever hnppeBs3Kf C ever hap hens, do yon licarnM? speak! Don't move! Itut-Hi'r with all your cars." Then 'iM int:int hia sudden access ot iKk departed and his masterful pB talk droned away into tho' lotifHfei murinurings of a scmi-dclirtow'u From the hiding placo into'M' f had boon so swiftly hustled tMM the footfalls upon tho stair. wK opening and tho closing of ttKfc room door. Then, to my tB"' there came a long silence, uroliB by the heavy breathing and Hl ot' the sick man. I could imaraHv our visitor was standing by ttBT sido and looking down at tho H At last that strange hush wasKL "Holmes!" he cried. "IIoUaB the insistent tone of ono who aiB a sleeper. "Can't you hujB Holmes?" There was a rnstliiiB he had shaken the sick man TrlHr I by the shoulder. K "Is that you. Mr. Smith?" Hi whispered. "T hardly dared hoBJ you would come." M The oilier laughed. "ill "I should imagine not,' tjjH "And yet. you acts, I am heriH of fire. Holmes conls of firoljH "It is very good of you viH of you. 1 appreciate yoorjB knowledge." -H - Our visitor snickered. "You do. You aro, forttnuitH only man in London who dtH vou know what is tho maUH you?" ''ffl "The same," said Holmes .H "Ah! You rocognizc tho JH do vou'"' .H "Oulv too well." .rH "Well, I shouldn't be aH Holmes. I shouldn't bo BurprSH were the same. A bad hxl(jH you if it is, Poor Victor waH man on the fourth day 'i.B hearty young fellow. It was cH nS" you said, very uurprisiujH should huvn contracted an OujH way Asiatic diucaso in the.lH London a disease, too, ofH have made such a very spccii Singular coincidence, HojmefH smart of you to notice it, bjHH uncharitnlile to suggest tbatH cause and effect." bbb " T knew that you did it.'jH "Oh, you did. did you? eouldn 't'provo it. anyhow. BiH do you think of yourself fH reports about me like that tiH crawling to mo for help tba'jl you are m trouble? What game is I hat ch?" ..'H I heard the rasping, lahorei'H ing of the sick man. "Oirc'iM water!" he gasped. "!LH "You're precious near your ''tH friend, but T dou't want you tlJK I have had a word with vou. 'K why I givo vou water. IkwjrRj; slop it about! That's risht. CljH. understand what I say?" l .Holmes groaucd. Ta "Do what you can for m?. uH' goncs be bygones," ho whUptre&'Mf put. the words out of my head IK I will. Only cure mo and I'll foflWjf "Forget what?" m "Well, about Victor Savage'sn You as good as adnnttod jnst MJK you had dono it. I'll forgot iK "You can forgot it or resoHl just as vou like.'I don't see woK witness box. Quite another S"8! my good Holmes. assure ?Oa-,1IB ters not to mc that you S0U.'?R bow mv nephew died. It's D?J?B aroalking about. It'a you." ".Tho follow who camo for nijijt forgotten his name said tnat 9K trncted it down in tbo East sdjJP the sailor. " iB "T could only account iorttfm "You arc proud of vour JK Holmes, are vou not? Thins JK smart, don'tyou? You cam fiomcone who was sinartar Now cast vour mind kJH Can vou think of no other could 'have got this thingT . ' I can 't think. My mind ) tV heaven's sake help mo! lJH "Yes, I will help you. I to understand just whera jm fH how you got thorc. I'd like yw before vou die." . JLH "Give mc something to 1a" Painful, is it? Yes, tbecajjM (Continued on roUovtoggjM r-1 i htinucd from Preceding Page.) nli pome squealing toward t ho end. you as a cramp, J fancy." jj 6, yes; it is a cramp. " lil ji '.M. yo can hoar what I say, any-jHi any-jHi paten now. Can yon 'remember ji ('usual incident in your life just '"J tc tinio your symptoms began?" no; nothing." D !nb again," iajf Ita too ill to think." nug fll, then, I Ml help you. Did any-ml any-ml P by post?" tjht tiox bv chance?" ii li fainting I'm gone! " .jSlltW, -Holmes!" There, was a ?SBas if he was Hhaking the dying flfWPd.'l' Vsls a" 1 could do to hold sWquiet in my hiding place. " irou ,Jfim?M ? You shall hoar me. Do unombur n box an ivorv box? Wednesday. You opened it yes, I opened it. Thcro was a fllMJpnng insido it. Some joke " lllH?8 V. 'iokc' ils y" i" to rjBt. You fool, you would have it! irimi have pot it. Who nsked you fmi my path I Jf you had left mc would not. have hurt you." jfMMMncnibor." Holmes gasped. '''The. BMKx W dr?vv bltfod. 'JChis bos this SffMp very one, by George I And it miel1 ,eaV0 th,i roo' i v im. There goes your last shred o"f jlWRc. But you have tho truth now, Ami yo can dio with tho .Mdsc Hint I killed you. You know f fJBpa of tho fate ot Victor Savage, y$m'e Bcn' 3'ou to share it. You are. BUV&r your end, Ilolmcti. 1 will sit id I will watch you die." ,jea s voice had sunk to an almost jle whisper. 9MMut is thuU" said Smith. "Turn afJHti'Jl06',. Ah, tho .shadows begin Wm $ they? Yes, I will turn it WWZ ,inay eo you tho bettor." He . "jm. oo room and the light sud-VXightcned. sud-VXightcned. " Is there any f,th?r jervlce thnt I can do you, my ' JHmatcb and a cigarette." irly called out in my jov and HBent. He was speaking in his HW voice n little weak, porhapa, .very voko I knew. Thoro was a VMftUHo, and I felt that Culvcrton etauding in fcilont ama.o- foK,lnS down at his companion. "What's the meaning of this?" I heard him say at last in a dry, rasping tone. "The best way of successfull' acting a part is to be it," said Holmes. "I give you my word that for three days T have tasted neither food nor drink until you were good enough to pour mc out that glass of water, But it is tho tobacco to-bacco which I find most irksome. Ah, here aro some cigarettes." I hoard the striking of a match. "Thnt is vcrv much better. Halloa! halloa! Do "J hear tho step of a friend?" Thcro wcro footfalls outside, tho door opened and Inspector Morton appeared. "All is in order and this is your man,' said Holmes. The officer gave tho usual cautione. "T arrest you on the charge of tho murder of one Victor Savnge, Tie concluded. con-cluded. "And you might add of the attempted at-tempted murder of one Shorlock "ITolmos," renin rked my friend with a chuckle. "To aavo an invalid trouble, inspector, Mr. C'ulvorton Smith was good enough to give our signal by turning turn-ing up the gas. J-ty the way, tho prisoner prison-er has a small box in tho right-hand pocket of his coat which it would bo as well to remove. Thank you. I would handle, it, gingerly if I were you, Put it down here. It may play its part in lac trial." Thcro was a sudden rush and a scuffle, scuf-fle, followed by tho clash of iron and a cry of pain. "You'll only get yourself hurt," said the inspector. "Stand still, will you?" There was the click of tho closing handcuffs. "A nice trap!" cried tho high, suarl-mg suarl-mg voice. "It; will bring you into tlio iloclc, llolmos, not mo. ITo apkod mo to come hern to cure him. I was sorry for him and. I came. Now ho will pre'tond, no doubt, that T have said nnvthing which he may invont which will corroborate cor-roborate his insane suspicions. You can lie as you like, Holmes. My word is always as good as yours. ' ' "Good hoavcnal " criod Hnlm.es, "I had totally forgotten him. My doar Watson. I owe you a tfioueaud apolo. gics. To think that I should have over-looked over-looked you I T need not introduce vou to Mr. Culvcrton. Smith, sinoo I understand under-stand that you met somowlmt earlier in 1ho evening. 7Iav-0 you tho cab below? be-low? T will follow when lam dressed, for I may be. uf somo use at. tho station." sta-tion." "I never needed it more." said .Holmes au he refreshed himsolf with a glass of claret and somo biscuits in tho intervals of his toilet. "However, as you know, my habits aro irregular, and such a feat means less to mc than to most men. 11 was very essential that should impress Mr?. Hudson with the reality of my condition, and you in turn to him. You won't be otfended, Watson'.' You will realize that among your many talents dissimulation finds no place, and that if you had shared my secret you would never have been alilo "to impress Smith with tho urgent necessity of his presence, which was tho vital point of tho whole scheme. Knowing his vindictive nature. I was perfectly certain that, he would come to look upon his handiwork." "But your appearance, Holmes your ghastly fnco?" "Throe days of absoluto fast docs not improve one's beauty, Watson. For tho rest, there is nothing which a spongo may not euro. With vaseline upon ono's forehead, belladonna in one's O3'03. rouge over tho cheek lioncs and crusts of beeswax around ono's lips a very satisfying effect can be produced. Malingcrfng is a subject upon which I liavo sometimes thought of writing n monograph, A littlo occasional talk-about talk-about half-crowns, 03'sters or any other extraneous subject produces a pleasing suggestion of delirium," 'But why would you not let mo near vdu, fiinco thoro was iu truth no in foe-lion foe-lion 7" "Can you ask, my doar Watson? Do you imagine that 1 have no respect for your medical talents? Could I fancy that your astute jnTlgmcnt would pass a dying man who, however weak, had no rise of pulse or temperature? At four yards 1 could deceive yon. If I. failed to do so who would bring my Smith within my grasp? No, "Watson, I would not touch that. box. You cau just see if you look at it sideways whnro tho sharp spring Hko a viper's tooth emergen as you open it. I dare sny it, was by somo such device t.liat poor Savage, ' who stood botwoon this monster ami n reversion, wns done to death. My correspondence, however, is us you know, a varied one, and I am somewhat upon my guard against any packages which, reach mo. It was clear to me, however, that by protending that ho had really succeeded in his design I might surpnso a confossion. That pre-tonso pre-tonso I have caried out with tho thoroughness thor-oughness of tho truu artist. Thank you, Watson, you must help mo on wilh"iny coat. When wo have finished at thn polico station 1 think that something nutritious at Simpson h would nof be out of place. " |
