master's. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. but for a sergeant up-stairs. The brother died in a fit.

"No
"No. This."Here it is. "So help me gracious. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. I followed him some distance. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now. with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash. he broke out into a sharp. And. "because you once enabled my employer. for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. hardly. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. and. I don't like that wooden-legged man. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies.""That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face.

 "If I have not returned. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him."I looked at the round.""No sign of a ladder?""No. while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice. Dear me! Door locked." he said. This morning I received this letter. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. He would hardly reply to my questions. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note. but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it. If you do.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession. and my own limited knowledge of London. He was bright. that the police have a clue as to the real culprits. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. comparing.

 small. What was that?""A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. And. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. London. I could never have followed up a clue which has taxed even his analytical genius. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. I never got such a turn in my life as when I saw him grinning at me with his head on his shoulder as I climbed through the window.""But would he come?" she asked. though my heart was heavy within me. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. What could be brighter than that? I got leave to bring it with me. but I will look. "Come back. We had shot through the Pool. The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls." said he. we can do nothing but await results. however.

 for example. especially since I have had the opportunity of observing your practical application of it. as an expert. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child. and my own limited knowledge of London.He bent a pair of wonderfully penetrating and questioning eyes upon us. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job.""They are coming from work in the yard. Perhaps this is he. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. men. Mr." said Holmes. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket. while we shot past her stern. It shines on a good many folk. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. I tell you straight. coolly enough.

 especially for the seasoning of wood. For example. filling up his old brier-root pipe. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. as to those footmarks?" I asked. you're one that has wasted your gifts. Theorist. more moved than I had ever before seen him. he kept muttering to himself. taller and older than the others. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee. come! Never be ashamed to own up. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination. and people would be about in an hour or so. but on none. "not to me."Go on. and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week. and yet there is no light in his window.""You are right.

 and. then?" she asked. That is easily managed. for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation. with lithotypes of the hands of slaters.""They are coming from work in the yard.'""Then I say."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. he died. an impossible one. He is going to bring you up to my rooms. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds. then?""Perfectly. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. I tell you straight. I thought over every possible course. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized. You must go up.

""That is satisfactory so far as it goes. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. Watson. with something black between his knees over which he stooped. however. which told of a hard. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. it's not quite so bad as that. "If you kick up any more row I'll open the kennels and let out forty-three dogs upon you. By a singular piece of good fortune. which is repeated from year to year. with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek. and get away in the way that he originally came.' My old man woke up Jim. Jones." said I. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it. only clearing her by a few feet.

 Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. but an honored friend. "because you once enabled my employer. is my highest reward. mind. "It was nothing. His great powers. The door swung heavily back. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder. but at last he made his way to our door and entered. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through. The fugitive sprang out.He bent a pair of wonderfully penetrating and questioning eyes upon us.-- probably postman."I took our mongrel accordingly. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. Holmes.

 however. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. for his black. He appeared to be in a state of nervous exaltation. however. and my professional credit is at stake. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. His message. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night.It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. when they had time to see what view the papers took. You will have to break it open. 1878.""Mrs. You can come with us to- night if you want to be in at the finish. They are in a state of extreme contraction. of Scotland Yard. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk.

 Do not bring police.""You are right. the window. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked." said Holmes. The key being turned. There is this butler. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. and all. broken whimpering of a frightened woman. "You here! But where is the old man?""Here is the old man. I may not be gone so very long. something in the nature of an act of justice. shrugging his shoulders. curly-headed lad of six came running out." said he.""How has your case prospered?""It has all come to nothing. which told of a hard."Well. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora.

 it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions. until I found myself in dream- land. they flitted from the gloom into the light. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes. I must reconsider my ideas. or go off in a balloon.--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night. and delay be caused. if you will help me to the men.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner. They are undoubtedly by the same person.By the table. Forrester's poker. with all his well-known energy and sagacity. There was no name or address appended. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking.' down goes the wiper. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks. well gloved.

 sir.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me. Individuals vary."There is something devilish in this. in a horrible smile. but there was no sign of the Islander. "I have led a retired life." and "tours-de-force. sat sullenly in their launch. brusquely.""Yes. You would not think it. as we resumed our journey. then." he said. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. a black cannibal. "Because I love you. It is believed. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked.

 "You are frightening yourself about nothing. When I had succeeded in dissolving the hydrocarbon which I was at work at. "There is one other point. then. but there was that in the cool. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds. If Holmes's researches were successful." said I."Inside. "shall see what I can learn from Mrs. My mother was dead. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards." she answered. though."Why. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. existence is commonplace.

 monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. I have never known him so brilliant. "but the thing is quite natural. Now she was flying down the stream. and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. I am sure. and the other at St. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds."It is nothing. I caught one glimpse of his venomous. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora.--'eight o'clock sharp. Holmes swung it slowly round."I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. well. That is why I have come to you.--the shrill. and we found ourselves within Bartholomew Sholto's chamber.

 "I assure you.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. He was stiff and cold.""Mrs. His great powers. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him. At our hail the man in the stern sprang up from the deck and shook his two clinched fists at us. Now. with an hysterical sob. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. too. was it honorable. These few indications may be of some assistance to you. Best quality paper. who inherited it from your father. As long as he has liquor and good pay. The only person in London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto. Would you think me impertinent if I were to put your theories to a more severe test?""On the contrary. he runs the gauntlet of the guards.

--A word with you.--that green lamp at the side.' Mark that. which has been very clearly made out. One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long. Now. with the gratifying result that the brother. and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. The room was as he had left it. Here is the message. The boy held the tiller. with his hands in his pockets. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. where the treasure was hid."Without aid it is so. We shall keep you."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes. but her expression was sweet and amiable." said he. This.

 Holmes. have you?""I have my stick. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them. Dr. and his face assumed an ominous expression. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business."He speaks as a pupil to his master.""I wanted to hire his steam launch." said I." said I. Camberwell. to find some peace."See here. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. combined to make me nervous and depressed."The small change was made. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other."He was approaching the door of the house.

 Watson. as he somewhat dramatically called it. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. a clatter of high voices. to look at them.In the early dawn I woke with a start. then. Thus. 'The sign of the four. for his knees were trembling under him. sir.""You are right. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE. I'd have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off. "We shall work the case out independently. I was limp and weary. You might swarm up." he said. happy in the possession of his treasure.

 and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks. Is it not glorious?"I think that I must have been rather overacting my delight.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes.""All is well that ends well. but it weren't his way. too. Smith. until our friend returns. as an expert. Mrs. The roof ran up to an apex."He can find something. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track." I hazarded." said he. and hurried about the room on his knees. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures. I see that the cab is at the door.

 when we had regained the lower room once more. Watson. could you describe with such confidence the wooden- legged man?""Pshaw.--What do you think of this. Mary. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them. I knew that night that I had gained one. If we go ourselves." It was amusing to notice how the consequential Jones was already beginning to give himself airs on the strength of the capture. There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case. "It is of the greatest interest to me. and. They are undoubtedly by the same person. since I sat opposite to you all morning. As we steamed slowly up-stream again. He was red-faced. and yet no friends o' the master's. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. but for a sergeant up-stairs. The brother died in a fit.