Chapter Four.
Burglar!
Sherlock
The mischievous plan of mine actually worked… until we got there. There was no way we would make inside without getting caught by at least five constables and/or Yarders at once. But, of course, we were going in one way or another if I had any say-so. So we made a mad dash to the back yard to try to find a way to get in without getting caught. As we were sneaking our way past, I overheard some Yarders talking about the burglar.
"Did you ask the maids what the burglar looked like and which way he came from?"
"I sure did. She said he was a tall chap, with dark brown eyes and light blond hair. He broke through the window in the study on the first floor. He was a fast fellow he was. Not even the stable boy, who was there at the time and said to me, he could run real fast, and even he could catch him."
"Are you coming?" Watson whispered.
"Yes, I just overheard that he broke through the window in the study on the first floor, which is where we should go."
We made our way around the back of the house to the window of which the glass was broken from the burglar.
Inside we saw an inspector talking to a lady fiddling with one of her buttons.
"Just what exactly did he steal miss?" asked the inspector, ready to write down her answer as soon as she spoke it.
"As far as I know, it was just a piece of old torn-up paper with, what it looked like to me, some sort of map on the front,"
"Do you know of what it led to?"
"No, I don't. Like I said it was just a torn-up piece of paper."
The inspector uttered a thank you and rounded up his men to leave.
"I believe it is time to go now Watson. C'mon, this way. We shall make our way back to Mr. Grover." I whispered as I crept around the corner.
But, of course, it wouldn't be that easy. For just out of sight was a tall man with blond hair and brown eyes, standing in the shadows.
"Holmes! Isn't that the burglar in the alley?" Watson whispered trying his hardest not to alert the man… but it didn't work. As soon as he saw us he ran as fast as he could.
"The guilty always run!" We both broke into a sprint, and I was right behind him. The man dashed around the corner with me right on his heels.
With every ounce of my strength I leaped onto the man and grabbed the collar of his coat, which only slowed him down a little bit. Suddenly he spun around, flinging me to the ground, and dashed off again, leaving his scarf in my hands.
"I grabbed his scarf Watson, I was that close, and he still got away. Had he wrapped this scarf around his neck one more time, I would probably have choked him and caught him. But no, fate had to intervene. Don't worry Watson, we'll catch him eventually. Let's go back to Mr. Grover now. It's sort of a long distance away, but we'll make it there in no-"
"Holmes?"
"Yes Watson?"
"It's alright to take a breath every once in a while. I don't think it would hurt you."
"Oh, yes, well, it's just the thrill of a chase, and the fact that I almost caught him, that sort of got me flustered a bit. That's all. I'm fine now."
After all that it was sort of a quiet walk home. And when we did finally made it back and down the stairs to Mr. Grover's abode there was a lot of explaining for us three to do.
"You boys look exhausted. Would you like some tea and biscuits?"
"Thank you. May I ask you a question? How did you know Mr. Barnaby?"
"Well… "He took a deep breath but before he continued he was interrupted by a knock at the trap door I supposed led outside. Mr. Grover got up to get the door, and then it was suddenly bright.
Watson stood up in surprise when he saw who had come in.
"Uncle Chester?"
"Ah Johnny, may I ask why you are here?"
"Oh that is a simple enough I could explain it Chester old' boy," said Mr. Grover with a twinkle in his eye. "This young man lives up there and has made acquaintance with your nephew, invited him over one day and they found me out. I gave them quite a fright I did when I discovered them down here." He said with a laugh at the end.
"And now you have those boys running errands for you?"
"All for a good cause, old boy. Now tell us what you have to report."
"Well," I gave a brief review of all our discoveries that day, and as I progressed the looks on their faces grew darker and darker.
"Did you catch up with him?"
"Just enough to grab his scarf from him," I said as I pulled the scarf out of my pocket.
"Marvelous Grover. Now we are all in trouble. Did you have any idea of what you've just-"
"Alright already Chester! Yes, I got us into this mess and I'll get us out just hold your horses."
"And I suppose you've got a plan too."
"Yes and its better than the last plan too."
