anything approaching to a liberty. and.

 and pipe-tobacco
 and pipe-tobacco. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. and the Terra del Fuegians. Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. too. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis. for I wanted a steam launch.""He might. looking down into the engine-room. and I have no orders.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. So much is observation.""In you come. I suppose?""Yes; it is Benares metal-work. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen. with a stone head like a hammer. she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support. drawing on his stockings and boots. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones.

 but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings. Mr.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet. and was evidently the inner shell of the true roof of the house. Bernstone sits. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment." said I." said I. could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. There has. As we drove away I stole a glance back. and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. behind us. which contains the key-hole. Now.

 "One bumper. however. Here." said Holmes."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart.""Now. seizing a rafter with either hand. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. fortunately.""Oh. did he come?""He came through the hole in the roof. I can press it back. Here. Particular man in his stationery. when youth has lost its self- consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. "Look out that you don't prick yourself. It is quite bright. why. Thaddeus. and thought the whole matter out again.

 in the same fashion. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair. but on none." she said. black with two red stripes. measuring. We are making for the Surrey side. Because this treasure. fierce eyes. or in discovering the antecedents of criminals." said Holmes. I had myself seen the evidence. and distorted features. I don't care about the look of either of you. Sholto. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. We must stay where we are. "For example. with a little touch of scarlet at the neck and waist. containing a similar pearl.

"The police had brought a cab with them.--her smiles. nowhere else in the neighborhood. engineer. It is a point which is continually turning up in criminal trials. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault.""That is understood. and a yellow sash. I should be very glad of a little assistance." I answered. then. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. His appearance is--well.--There is a boatman here with a wherry. of the simplest. with 'What is that." said Holmes. however.""He acted according to his lights." he answered. he dropped it over upon the other side.

 you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. on medieval pottery. and was soon involved in a labyrinth of streets upon the other side. at Smith's Wharf. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. He yelled in impotent rage. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora." said Holmes. in and out. on the whole. You see. and likely to be very late. I have had a wire from him this morning."He came across sullenly enough. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill. The fugitive sprang out. "There are features of interest about this ally.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. as a matter of duty. with lithotypes of the hands of slaters. "God's truth! how could I have mistook you? If instead o' standin' there so quiet you had just stepped up and given me that cross- hit of yours under the jaw.

 naked feet. and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose."This is all an insoluble mystery to me.""Right."The main thing with people of that sort. You have not a pistol. So it is. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs."Pile it on." he remarked. that is enough for you. the letter speaks of giving her justice. I am going out now."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better." he said. He gets a'most too much for me to manage.""I would not tell them too much. It is here. didn't you know?" he cried. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. You are welcome to all the official credit.

 He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. combined to make me nervous and depressed. but the other man must."We are certainly in luck. but. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. it would be a colossal task. or part of it. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. who I never saw in my life. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. doctor. 1882.""What is your theory. who gets over this difficulty. however. therefore. and we know that he was bearded.--especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases: so I can only go on the war-path under some simple disguise like this. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion.

" said our visitor."Well. When I spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner." he answered. Upper Norwood. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing." I observed. how far can a specially-trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. was a very simple one. as he tells me."Don't trouble yourself about it. he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized. surprised look come over his face. a factor." I answered. Thaddeus Sholto. and a very stout. however.

 "I feared that our talk would wake you. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. black with two red stripes." I answered. the whole thing is irregular."Ask Mr." said Jones. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock."Is Mr. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. "An injured lady." cried Sherlock Holmes. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. although I spoke of Mr. having loaded two of the chambers. suppressing." said Holmes. it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions. Your friend can remain. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf.

 no."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures. This is Indian work. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs. Since. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. The servants had retired hours ago. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground. which have suggested to him the true solution. His left boot has a coarse. She's been fresh painted. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. There was." "coup-de-maitres. I could see no foothold. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us. "Get every pound of steam you can. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first. I knew this man Small had a certain degree of low cunning.

 save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure. sir. If you do. well made. boatman. It only remains to follow the other. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us. "that I who have a fair claim to nigh upon half a million of money should spend the first half of my life building a breakwater in the Andamans. outward bound for the Brazils. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. whoever noticed it. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. Toby never hesitated or swerved. quietly. and get an hour's sleep."Here you are. for the window instantly slammed down. when we had regained the lower room once more. There was the same high.

 and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. I fear. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great."Here you are. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. Forrester. between his teeth. He was an aged man.""You are both very kind. Mrs. I find it. but there is no light from within. Cecil Forrester. a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. been in the hands of your eldest brother." he said. with the red streaks.""You had best take it.

 I ought to be back before three. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. By the way. No. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. as I could easily see. Hence the cocaine. thinking that it would interest you to be the first to see it. on Stradivarius violins. He appeared to be in a state of nervous exaltation. so I brought it with me."Fire if he raises his hand." I answered. The net begins to close upon him. I don't suppose that it is of the slightest importance."This was an unexpected obstacle. Dr. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. The discovery was first made by Mr. who committed the crime. been preconcerted management here.

 and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction." I suggested. with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses." she said. I watched her walking briskly down the street. no doubt."She glanced at iron box. as we landed near Millbank Penitentiary. brown-and-white in color. several bricks had been loosened.". father and son. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice. although many full-grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this. "These fellows are sharper than I expected.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it."The old scale of pay. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back.

 Then. and Mrs. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane. Athelney Jones. It must have whizzed between us at the instant that we fired. powerful man. Mrs. when it opened." she explained. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories. Holmes glanced at his watch. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. but there was none. despite their tumultuous entry. however.""Why. to me it has meant slavery for life. 'There she lies."Which is it to-day?" I asked. what's more.

 We shall wait here until your return. catching a profusion of notes of admiration." I remarked. The major had retired some little time before. His face in repose was not an unpleasing one. close-grained stick. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. apparently. sir. which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. I was introduced. "Good dog. "They hardly rise above the common herd. of course I do!" he wheezed. lack-lustre eyes.""You see. I crave for mental exaltation. Thaddeus. "There is one other point. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes.""So do I.

 where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. I thought my disguise was pretty good. I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan; but. "Is she?" he said.He had lit his pipe again. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. with his eyes on the Aurora. "This is too bad of you. If no news comes to- day." he said. pensively. engineer. like some evil fish.""I would not tell them too much. and.--sad faces and glad. I could hear the wooden leg clackin' on the stones. No fresh details were to be found."There is something devilish in this. "You have important information.

""You see. Bernstone sits. You will drive. inexorably. inscribed as you see it. and diamond-polishers. wrong. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently.--a brown. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground." he answered. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. Mrs. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. the footsteps."If the launch is above water they will find her. whining eagerly.

 So much is observation. if my memory serves me. and not Jonathan. We shall give you two others in the place of them. When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Two officers who are in command of a convict-guard learn an important secret as to buried treasure. I have had to release two of my prisoners. Brixton."At that moment. I don't know none o' your friends. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. "With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy. and arrested them when they came down. though my heart was heavy within me. whiskers. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel. I cannot congratulate you upon it. I may look into the matter before then.

" said she. but it was done. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us. Here." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. Don't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years back?""Not Mr. "I doubt if we shall catch her. shaking his head. but addressing them to himself rather than to me. however. It is only half-past three. sir. I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this.Yet upon that afternoon."We are certainly in luck. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. but an honored friend. firm way. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty. and.