"Well, Watson, there seemed no more , so my leave with cold dignity as summon, but, as I had my hand door-handle, he stopped me

" ' , Mr Holmes,' said he, 'did Le Brun, the French agent ? '

" 'Yes,' said I

" ' what befell him ? '

"'I heard that beaten by some Apaches Montmartre district and crippled for life '

" 'Quite true, Mr Holmes By curious coincidence he inquiring into my affairs only week before Don't , Mr Holmes; it's not lucky thing Several have found that out My last word is, go your own way and let me go mine Good-bye ! '

"So there , Watson now "

"The fellow seems dangerous "

"Mighty dangerous I disregard the blusterer, but sort of man who says rather he means "

"Must you interfere ? Does it really matter if he marries the girl ? "

"Considering that he undoubtedly murdered his last wife, say it mattered Besides, the client ! Well, well, not discuss that have finished your coffee you had best come home with me, blithe Shinwell there report "

him sure enough, huge, coarse, red-faced, scorbutic man, with pair of vivid black eyes which were the only external sign very cunning mind within It seems that he had dived down into peculiarly his kingdom, and beside him settee was brand which he had brought up shape of slim, flame-like young woman with pale, intense face, youthful, and yet so worn with s v in and sorrow that one read the terrible years which had left their leprous mark upon her

" Miss Kitty Winter," said Shinwell Johnson, waving his fat hand as an introduction "What she don't know -- well, there, she'll speak for herself Put my hand right on her, Mr Holmes, within an hour of your message "

"I'm easy ," said the young woman "Hell, London, gets me every time Same address for Porky Shinwell We're old mates, Porky, you and I But, by cripes ! another wht down in lower hell than we if any justice ! man after, Mr Holmes "

Holmes smiled "I gather your good wishes, Miss Winter "

"If help him where he belongs, I'm yours rattle," said our visitor with fierce energy an intensity of hatred in her white, set face and her blazing eyes such as woman seldom and man never can attain

"You needn't go into my past, Mr Holmes That's neither here nor there But what Adelbert Gruner made me If pull him down ! " She clutched frantically with her hands air "Oh, if only pull him pit where he has pushed ! "

" how the matter stands ? "

"Porky Shinwell telling me He's after some other poor fool and wants to marry her to stop it Well, you surely know enough devil any decent girl in her senses wanting same parish "

" in her senses madly in love She told all about him She cares nothing "

"Told murder ? "

"Yes "

"My Lord, she nerve ! "

"She puts them all down as slanders "

"Couldn't you lay proofs before her silly eyes ? "

"Well, ? "

"Ain't I proof myself ? If I stood before her and told her how he used me --"

"Would you ? "

"Would I ? Would I not ! "

"Well, it worth trying But he has told her most sins and had pardon from her, and I understand she will not reopen the question "

"I'll lay he didn't tell her all," said Miss Winter "I caught glimpse of murders besides the one that made such fuss speak of someone velvet way and then look at me with steady eye and say: 'He died within month ' It wasn't hot air, either But little notice - , I loved him myself Whatever went with me, same as poor fool ! just that shook me Yes, by cripes ! poisonous, lying tongue that explains and soothes I'd have left him that very night It's book he has -- brown leather book with lock, arms in gold outside bit drunk that night, or have shown it "

" it, then ? "

"I tell you Mr Holmes this man collects women, and takes pride collection as some men collect moths or butterflies He had it all book Snapshot photographs names, details, everything beastly book -- book no man, even if he had come gutter, put together But Adelbert Gruner's book all the same 'Souls ruined ' He put that outside if he so minded However, that's neither here nor there, book serve you, and, would, 't get it "

"Where ? "

"How can I tell you where now ? It's more than year since I left him where he kept it then He's precise, tidy cat of man in many ways, so maybe still pigeon-hole old bureau inner study his house ? "

"I've been study," said Holmes

" though ? You haven't been slow job only started Maybe dear Adelbert has met his match The outer study one Chinese crockery -- big glass cupboard windows Then behind his desk door that leads inner study -- small room where he keeps papers and things "

"Is he not afraid of burglars ? "

"Adelbert is no coward His worst enemy couldn't say that of him look after himself There's burglar alarm at night Besides, what for burglar -- unless they got away with all this fancy crockery ? "

"No good," said Shinwell Johnson decided voice expert "No fence wants stuff sort that neither melt nor sell "

"Quite so," said Holmes "Well, now, Miss Winter call here tomorrow evening at five consider meanwhile whether your suggestion of seeing this lady personally may not be arranged exceedingly obliged lor vour cooperation not say that my clients will consider liberally --"

"None , Mr Holmes," cried the young woman " not out for money Let me see this man mud, and I've got all I've worked for -- mud with my foot cursed face That's my price I'm tomorrow or day track Porky here can tell you always where me "

see Holmes again until the following evening when we dined once more at our Strand restaurant He shrugged his shoulders when I asked him what luck he had had interview Then the story, which repeat His hard, dry statement needs some little editing to soften it terms of real life