Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Legacy by David Ruffle

Author:David Ruffle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels, lyme regis
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2012
Published: 2012-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

“Your bullets may be found scattered along the lanes of Devonshire,” said Mycroft quite coolly, “your telegram concerning my brother raised my suspicions immediately. There was something about it that did not ring true. These suspicions became much more definite when on our ride to this god-forsaken place I noticed the revolver in your overcoat pocket. I took the liberty of removing it and then making certain adjustments to its contents.”

“Your joy will be short lived. How amusing it will be to kill you with the very revolver your brother brought here to use against me,” he snarled.

Laughing maniacally, he strode across the room towards the hall. As he passed the still form of Lestrade, the inspector’s arms shot out and his hands grabbed Stapleton’s ankles and brought him down to the floor. Stapleton kicked out wildly and managed to free one leg, still Lestrade held on despite receiving a savage kick to his face. I was aware of Holmes struggling to free himself; I had tied my knots in such a way as to deceive Stapleton, but would enable the bonds to be broken with just a little effort. Stapleton aimed another kick at Lestrade and with an almighty effort got to his feet and ran into the hall. He returned with my service revolver and aimed it at Lestrade, determined to vent his fury on him. A shot rang out, but not from Stapleton. Holmes had loosened the binds on his wrists and in his hand was a derringer pistol. His shot had sent the revolver spinning from Stapleton’s grasp. Now the hunter truly became the hunted. Stapleton took to his heels and we heard the sound of the front door being flung open.

Holmes snatched the snake away from Beatrice’s shoulder and flung it into the fire. He undid the ropes which held me. “Come, Watson, we must end this fellow’s villainy. I am sorry,” he said to Beatrice and Mycroft, “we will loosen you shortly.”

Holmes paused only to collect the revolver from the floor and we rushed out into the gloom of the afternoon followed by a battered and bloodied Lestrade. The distant figure of Stapleton could be seen heading towards the Grimpen mire, hoping to negotiate those pathways between the green-scummed pits and foul quagmires.

Holmes had undoubtedly gained on him a little; he was covering the ground far more quickly than we could ever hope to.

We heard a muffled shout somewhere ahead of us and as the mist cleared a little we could see Holmes sitting against the trunk of one of the stunted trees to be found on the moor.

“Are you all right, Holmes?” I shouted, “have you lost him?”

“No, he is here, Watson.”

And then we saw. In a patch of the quivering mire was Stapleton. He was covered up to his thighs and although he knew better than to struggle it was clear he would sink inexorably into this bog-hole unless we could reach him. I looked at the tree for a branch long enough to reach the man, but Holmes touched my wrist as if to stay me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.