Show I The Adventure of the Dying Detective I Copyright 1921 by Harper Bros Special Special Special cial arrangement with the McClure Newspaper Syndicate PART SIX The story thus far Mrs Hudson the landlady of ot Sherlock Holmes went one day for help to Dr Watson Vatson saying Sherlock Holmes was dy dy- ing For three days he had been sinking He lie would have no doctor but finally agreed to see Watson When Watson reached him he was in a very bad way but would not let Watson Vatson touch him He said he was suffering from a a. strange coolie disease from Sumatra about which London doctors knew nothing Holmes condemned Watsons Watson's limited Dr Ur Watson was hurt Seeing this Holmes assured him that he only meant that Watson knew nothing of ot the obscure Eastern disease from which he suffered which he had caught while working among some coolies at the docks When Watson vatson insisted he would call a doctor Holmes sprang to the door and locked It He lie staggered back to bed saying that at atthe atthe atthe the end of two hours at 6 o'clock he would let lct Watson Waton go for help Watson while walking about bout picked picked up up a a. small at-small small black and white Ivory box Holmes gave a dreadful cry to Watson to put it down He seemed feverish and delirious At 6 he asked him to go fetch Mr Culverson Smith who knew about the treatment of ot othis his disease but to return ahead of him Watson Vatson left lect with instructions to tell Mr Ir Smith just what he saw Sherlock saw Sherlock Holmes a dying man Holmes wandered as he talked but finally Watson left him Below he met Mr Ir Morton of ot Scotland Yard who Inquired for Holmes Ie He then went to Mr Smiths The servant announced announced an an- announced I him but Smith wouldn't let him I i In n. n Watson however pushed back the servant and entered the room and found himself confronting a man with an enormous Enormous enormous enor enor- skull a yellow ellow coarse grained face and a frail twisted bod body body- Mr Smith was angry at the Intrusion but on learning that Watson alson came from Holmes H finally consented to go to see him Smith said he was an amateur in diseases as Holmes Homes was in crime and pointed to some tubes containing cultures cultures of strange and deadly maladies Watson Vatson returned ahead of Smith and Holmes asked him to hide himself behind the head of the bed He cautioned him on onno onno no account to do anything but listen Watson heard Smith enter and speak to Holmes II Smith and Holmes agreed that Holmes was waR suffering from the same disease from which Victor Savage had recently died which Holmes had accused Smith of ot causing caus caus- ing You couldn't prove it said Smith Smith told Holmes he was d dying and then proceeded to ask him If it he could remember r receiving a little ivory Ivon box by mall Holmes said he could a box th that t opened with a spring that drew blood He pointed to it and Smith put it In his pocket as the last shred of evidence saying he had killed l Holmes Holme hEc he lie knew too much of the fate of ot Victor Sav- Sav axe asre fl e. e Holmes asked etl Smith to turn up the gas Suddenly Holmes spoke In his natural natural nat nat- ural ral voice saying paving lie be h had d fast fasted d for three days the door and Inspector Morton of ot Scotland Yard entered TODAY'S INSTALMENT All is In order and this Is your man said sold Holmes The officer gave the usual cautions cautions' I arrest you vou on the charge of ot the murder murder mur mur- der er of ot one Victor Savage he concluded And you ou might add of th the t e d murder of one Sherlock Holmes HolmE's r remarked re- re marked my friend with a chuckle To save aye an an invalid trouble inspector Mr Culverton Smith was good rood enogh to toIve glue Ive our signal by turning up the gas pis By the wa way the prisoner has a a. small mall box in the right hand pocket of ot his coat which it would be as well to remove Thank you ou I 1 would handle It t gln gingerly gingerly- erly it If ItI I were you Put It down here It may play Its part In the trial tidal There was Voas a a. sudden rush and a II scuffle followed by the clash of ot Iron and a cry of ot pain pal YuU YuIl only get yourself hurt said the he inspector Stand still will you vou There was the click of ot the closing hand hand- cuffs A nice tran trap cried the high snarling voice It will bring you ou into the dock Holmes not me He UP asked mf mp to come hero to cure carp him Now he will pretend no nn doubt that I have said aid anything which he may nay invent which will corroborate corroborate corroborate rate his insane suspicions You can lie lieas lieas as 18 you ou like Holmes My word is always alwa's as IS good as yours ours Good heavens heavens' cried Holmes I T had totally forgotten him My Sly dear Watson aton owe you a a. thousand apologies To think that I should have overlooked you vou ou I 1 need eEd not Introduce you ou to air Mr oIl Smith sine since I understand that you ou met somewhat earlier In the ev evening liars Have the cab cah below I J will follow you ou you OU when I am dressed for I may be of ot some use ISO at the station I I 2 never n needed ded it more said Holmes as lS he refreshed himself with a a. Klas- Klas of ot ret laret and somA same biscuits In the Intervals of t his toilet However as you know my habits are Irre Irregular and such a a fe re feat t t. means less to me than to most men It was vas very essential that I should impress Mrs Hudson with the reality of my condition condition con on since she was to convey It to you ou and 0 VOM ot 1 in turn to him You wont won't be offended Watson Waton You will realize that among Imong your our many talents dissimulation finds no place and that if vou you had sha shared shaded ed edn mv my n secret you vou would never have been able to impress Smith with the urgent necessity of ot his presence which was th the e vital point o of ot the whole scheme Knowing Know Know- I ing his vindictive nature I 1 was perfectly certain that he would come to look upon his handiwork But nut your appearance Holmes your HOlmes your ghastly face Three days o of absolute fast does not i improve ones one's beauty Watson Vatson For the rest there 1 is 1 nothing which a sponge may not cure With vaseline upon ones one's fore tote forehead head bella belladonna onna in ones one's eyes rouge over the cheek bones ana and crust o of beeswax round ones one's lips a very satisfying effect can be produced Malingering Is a subject sub sub- j upon which I 1 have sometimes thought of writing a a. monograph A little occasional occasional occasional occa occa- talk about half halt crowns oysters or any other extraneous subject produces a pleasing effect of delirium But why would you not let me near you since there was In truth no DO infection Infection in In- In Can you ask my dear Watson Watson Do you imagine that I have no respect for your medical talents Could I 1 fancy that your our astute Judgment would pass a dy dy- ing man who however weak had no DO rise of ot pulse or temperature At four yards I could deceive you I If It I 1 failed tailed to do so who would bring my Smith within m my y grasp No Watson I would not touch that box You can Just see It 1 If you look at It sideways where the sharp spring g like a vipers viper's tooth emerges as you open It I dare say it was by some such de device device devico de- de vice vico that poor Savage who stood between this monster and a reversion was done to death My correspondence however is as vou you know a varied one and I 1 am somewhat my guard against any packages which reach me It was cleato clear clea r to me however that my pretending that he had really succeeded In his design I might surprise a confession That pretense pretense pretense pre pre- tense I have carried out with the thoroughness thoroughness thor- thor of the true artist Thank you OU Watson Vatson you must help me on with m my y coat When we have finished at the police station I 1 think that something g nutritious at Simpsons Simpson's would not be out gt t of ot place pace The End |