The Lost Radio Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free PDF

Dr.
Watson, I am so glad to see you back again!” exclaimed Miss Norton excitedly. “Did
you get the filigree box?”
    “Yes, Miss
Norton. And here it is!”
    “Holmes, I didn’t
know you took the box when we—”
    “Quiet, Watson.
Why not open it, Miss Norton,” he said, holding the box out to her.
    “Open it, my
dear,” he continued, “there may not be love letters inside it, but there is a
note.”
    Miss Norton
opened the box and pulled out the note, quite puzzled, as was I, by Holmes’
actions.
    “Please read it
to us, my dear,” he said, a smile crossing his lips. Miss Norton carefully
unfolded the note and read:
    “LET THIS BE A
WARNING, MISS NORTON. CRIME DOES NOT PAY. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME, ASK YOUR
MOTHER. SINCERELY, SHERLOCK HOLMES.”
    “Mr. Holmes, you
knew my secret all the time!”
    “Not all the
time, but I realized it as soon as I opened the filigree box.”
    “What on earth
are you talking about, Holmes?” I asked in a state of total confusion.
    “Miss Norton was
under the impression that she could use me as a cat’s paw, as a dupe to commit
a burglary for her.”
    “I still don’t
understand, Holmes,” I exclaimed.
    “You will
remember she asked us to ‘promise not to open the box.’ ”
    “Yes, but you
did open it just before that fellow held us up with a revolver. What was
inside?”
    “An impressive
green stone which I knew to be the Kitmanjar Emerald!”
    “But where is
the emerald now?” asked Miss Norton.
    “Without Watson
realizing it at the time, I slipped it back into Mr. Litton-Stanley’s desk and
locked it. I brought the box here because I wanted to see your expression, Miss
Norton, as you opened it.”
    “Great Scott!
And I thought you were a poor little thing in trouble,” I said, dismayed by the
realization of Miss Norton’s true nature.
    Holmes’ tall,
gaunt figure overshadowed Miss Norton as he gazed directly into her eyes.
    “What do you
have to say for yourself, young lady?”
    “I’m terribly sorry,
Mr. Holmes, terribly sorry. It seemed like a wildly exciting idea, but I really
didn’t mean to steal it.”
    “Oh, of course
not, no, no,” Holmes said cynically, “Of course you didn’t. You meant me to steal it for you! Miss Norton, I’m
convinced you know that your mother once outwitted me, and you presumed to
think that you could do the same. I should turn you over to the police.”
    “Please don’t,
Mr. Holmes, you can’t do that!”
    “I certainly
could!” Holmes exclaimed angrily, “but I’m not going to, for two reasons:
First, you are young and impressionable and this may teach you a lesson. And,
in the second place, I have a . . . well, a great admiration for your mother.
But I warn you, Miss Norton, you have had a narrow escape—a very narrow escape!”
    Miss Norton was
as white as a sheet. Tensely, she rose from the chair she had occupied, drew a
handkerchief from her sleeve, and pressed it against her cheek. She took a deep
breath and looked at Holmes with the slightest of tears in her eyes.
    “Mr. Holmes,
before I go, there is one favor I’d like to ask you.”
    “Really, What is
it?”
    “Could I keep
this filigree box with your note inside it? It would be a reminder all my life
of how we met.”
    Holmes turned to
me, smiling.
    “Well, what do
you say, Watson?”
    “It isn’t your
box to give, Holmes.”
    “True, old
fellow, quite true. But I fail to see how we can return it now without
disclosing our share in the attempted robbery. In any case, I don’t like Mr.
Litton-Stanley. I think we might indulge in a little petty larceny without feeling
too guilty. Very well, Miss Norton, you may keep the box.”
    “I shall always
treasure it. Thank you. Goodbye, Dr Watson. Don’t think too badly of me. Good
night, Mr. Holmes.”
    Before I
realized it, Miss Norton was gone, leaving Holmes and I to reflect upon the
days events. I am sure that Holmes was deeply affected by this young lady, for,
as the daughter of “THE