His Last Bow Part 5 (1/2)
My coave a sudden chuckle of comprehension ”And not a very obscure cipher, Watson,” said he ”Why, of course, it is Italian! The A means that it is addressed to a woman 'Beware! Beware! Beware!' How's that, Watson?
”I believe you have hit it”
”Not a doubt of it It is a very urgent e, thrice repeated toto theonceman and the whisk of the snals were renewed They came mor rapidly than before--so rapid that it was hard to follow theer,' isn't it? Yes, by Jove, it's a danger signal There he goes again! PERI Halloa, what on earth--”
The light had suddenly gone out, the gli square ofhad disappeared, and the third floor for, with its tiers of shi+ning case cry had been suddenly cut short How, and by whoht occurred on the instant to us both Hol up from where he crouched by the
”This is serious, Watson,” he cried ”There is soe stop in such a way? I should put Scotland Yard in touch with this business--and yet, it is too pressing for us to leave”
”Shall I go for the police?”
”We must define the situation a little more clearly It may bear soo across ourselves and see e can make of it”
Two As alked rapidly doe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left There, dimly outlined at the top , I could see the shadow of a head, a woht, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted e At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a ainst the railing He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces
”Holson!” said my companion as he shook hands with the Scotland Yard detective ”Journeys end with lovers' s you here?”
”The saot on to it I can't i up to the sanals?”
”Yes, from thatThey broke off in the middle We came over to see the reason But since it is safe in your hands I see no object in continuing this business”
”Wait a bit!” cried Gregson eagerly ”I'll do you this justice, Mr Holer for having you on my side There's only the one exit to these flats, so we have him safe”
”Who is he?”
”Well, well, we score over you for once, Mr Holive us best this tiround, on which a cabman, his whip in his hand, sauntered over from a four-wheeler which stood on the far side of the street ”May I introduce you to Mr Sherlock Holmes?” he said to the cabency”
”The hero of the Long Island cave mystery?” said Holmes ”Sir, I am pleased toman, with a clean- shaven, hatchet face, flushed up at the words of commendation ”I am on the trail of iano--”
”What! Gorgiano of the Red Circle?”
”Oh, he has a European fame, has he? Well, we've learned all about him in America We KNOW he is at the botto positive we can take him on I tracked him over from New York, and I've been close to hiet round in that big tenement house, and there's only one door, so he can't slip us There's three folk come out since he went in, but I'll swear he wasn't one of theson ”I expect, as usual, he knows a good deal that we don't”
In a few clear words Holmes explained the situation as it had appeared to us The Aether with vexation
”He's on to us!” he cried
”Why do you think so?”
”Well, it figures out that way, does it not? Here he is, sending outin London Then suddenly, just as by your own account he was telling theer, he broke short off What could it ht sight of us in the street, or in soer was, and that he est, Mr Holo up at once and see for ourselves”
”But we have no warrant for his arrest”
”He is in unoccupied preson ”That is good enough for the moment When we have him by the heels we can see if New York can't help us to keep hi him now”
Our official detectives ence, but never in that of courage Gregson climbed the stair to arrest this desperate murderer with the sa hich he would have ascended the official staircase of Scotland Yard The Pinkerton son had fire of the London force
The door of the left-hand flat upon the third landing was standing ajar Gregson pushed it open Within all was absolute silence and darkness I struck a match and lit the detective's lantern As I did so, and as the flicker steadied into a flaasp of surprise On the deal boards of the carpetless floor there was outlined a fresh track of blood The red steps pointed towards us and led away fro it open and held his light full blaze in front of hierly over his shoulders
In the ure of an enorrotesquely horrible in its contortion and his head encircled by a ghastly cri in a broad wet circle upon the white ork His knees were drawn up, his hands thrown out in agony, and from the centre of his broad, brown, upturned throat there projected the white haft of a knife driven blade- deep into his body Giant as he was, the one down like a pole-axed ox before that terrific blow Beside his right hand a er lay upon the floor, and near it a black kid glove
”By George! it's Black Gorgiano hiot ahead of us this time”
”Here is the candle in the , Mr Hol?”
Hol it backward and forward across the -panes Then he peered into the darkness, blew the candle out, and threw it on the floor
”I rather think that will be helpful,” said he He caht while the two professionals were exa the body ”You say that three people ca downstairs,” said he at last ”Did you observe them closely?”
”Yes, I did”
”Was there a fellow about thirty, black-bearded, dark, of middle size?”
”Yes; he was the last to pass ive you his description, and we have a very excellent outline of his footh for you”
”Notthe ht it best to summon this lady to your aid”
We all turned round at the words There, framed in the dooras a tall and beautiful woer of Bloomsbury Slowly she advanced, her face pale and draith a frightful apprehension, her eyes fixed and staring, her terrified gaze riveted upon the dark figure on the floor
”You have killed him!” she muttered ”Oh, Dio mio, you have killed him!” Then I heard a sudden sharp intake of her breath, and she sprang into the air with a cry of joy Round and round the roo with delighted wonder, and a thousand pretty Italian excla to see such a woht Suddenly she stopped and gazed at us all with a questioning stare
”But you! You are police, are you not? You have killed Giuseppe Gorgiano Is it not so?”