er, as the hours passed I began to grow more and more nervous. The
talking-machine sang and chattered, but when four o'clock came and Holmes
had not yet returned, I became almost frenzied with excitement--and then at
the climax of the tension came the flash of his dark-lantern on the fire-
escape, and he climbed heavily into the room.

"Thank Heaven you're back," I cried.

"You have reason to," said Holmes, sinking into a chair. "Give me some
whiskey. That man Blank is a worse scoundrel than I took him for."

"What's happened?" I asked. "Didn't he play square?"

"No," said Holmes, breathing heavily. "He waited until I had busted the
thing open and was on my way out in the dark hall, and then pounced on me
with his butler and valet. I bowled the butler down the kitchen stairs, and
sent the valet holing into the dining-room with an appendicitis jab in the
stomach and had the pleasure of blacking both of Mr. Blank's eyes."

"And the stuff?"

"Right here," said Holmes, tapping his chest. "I was afraid something might
happen on the way out and I kept both hands free. I haven't much confidence
in philanthropists like Blank. Fortunately the scrimmage was in the dark, so
Blank will never know who hit him."

"What are you going to do with the $35,000?" I queried, as we went over the
booty later and found it all there.

"Don't know--haven't made up my mind," said Holmes, laconically. "I'm too
tired to think about that now. It's me for bed." And with that he turned in.

Two days later, about nine o'clock in the evening, Mr. Grouch again called,
and Holmes received him courteously.

"Well, Mr. Holmes," Grouch observed, unctuously, rubbing his hands together,
"it was a nice job, neatly done. It saved the day for me. Wilbraham was
satisfied, and has given me a whole year to make good the loss. My
reputation is saved, and--"

"Excuse me, Mr. Blank--or Grouch--er--to what do you refer?" asked Holmes.

"Why, our little transaction of Monday night--or was it Tuesday morning?"
said Grouch.

"Oh--that!" said Holmes. "Well, I'm glad to hear you managed to pull it off
satisfactorily. I was a little worried about it. I was afraid you were done
for."

"Done for?" said Grouch. "No, indeed. The little plan when off without a
hitch."

"Good," said Holmes. "I congratulate you. _Whom did you get to do the job?_"

"Who--what--what--why, what do you mean, Mr. Holmes?" gasped Grouch.

"Precisely what I say--or maybe you don't like t