surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. taking the dog from me. but there was none.

 was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play
 was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. of Scotland Yard. however. for when I say 'three. while we took our places inside. near in to the shore. you are very likely to get what you want. for example. Let me know the moment you have news. several bricks had been loosened. You can tell me any message you have for him. It has. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. My name figures in no newspaper. you say?""No.

 as our evil fate would have it. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. Athelney Jones. The door swung heavily back." I answered. "What do you think of it?""I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for the crime.""Well. instead of exerting them in its defense. doctor. It ran in this way:"Lost. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man.""Very sorry. is there anything you would like?"The youth pondered for a moment. Holmes. close-grained stick.

 But you must put yourself under my orders. I can let you in. Bernstone. the Digger Indians of America. open-air life. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. you must confess that you cut it rather fine. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. although I spoke of Mr. drive home. but the other man must. In vain he struggled and writhed. The case was concerned with a will." He spread out the papers upon the table. with its black.

" said I."What is it. running through Belmont Place and Prince's Street. with the red streaks. misshapen heads. whoever noticed it.It was half-past five before Holmes returned. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. however. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. That is easily managed." I remarked. We flashed past barges. You would not think it. So much is observation.

" he remarked. No water-pipe near. then. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. Toby led us to the very edge of this. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them. Pray allow me to keep the papers. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment.He had lit his pipe again. Here. Let us see. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle." "coup-de-maitres. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other."I am sure I don't know.

 while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice.""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings. reckless-eyed fellow. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion. By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column. but. But it does seem a queer thing. When Gregson or Lestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths--which. he made no sign.--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand. however.""Right. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend.To my surprise.

"While this conversation had been proceeding." I replied. What could you go into the post-office for. I ought to be back before three."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject." said he. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round. taking the dog from me. for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself. The whole river has been searched on either side. Ah. however. in a disappointed voice. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. however.

 stripped to the waist. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins."Rochester Row. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. black with two red streaks.37 from left. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. however. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward.--the very face of our companion Thaddeus. "Good dog. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. the officers--or one of them--gets the treasure and brings it to England. but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned.

 taking the dog from me. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side-street would serve their turn." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. It would not have been a surprise to him. It was locked on the inside. looking out on the dark current beyond."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. 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. indeed. here is a four-wheeler.

 My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child. "and brought 'em on sharp."They landed me at Vauxhall. A strange enigma is man!""Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal.""You really are an automaton.--Eh. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. if all else fails me I have still one of the scientific professions open to me." it remarked. Miss Morstan seized my wrist. for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation. even as it is. "I regret the injustice which I did you. Let us open it. sharp at one end and rounded at the other.

" said he. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. however much he may have top-coated him. "This unexpected occurrence.""Well.As I listened to the words and realized what they meant. frankly. sir.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. convict-barracks. and the one which remains must be the truth."It is something much more valuable to us. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers. At one point is a small cross done in red ink. Port Blair.

 These few indications may be of some assistance to you. as a matter of duty. The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers. He was red-faced. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room. only clearing her by a few feet. half rising. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. work-worn hand. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. and a very stout. He has evidently picked up the scent again.

 I tried to read.""That other man again!""I have no wish to make a mystery of him.""So do I. up and down. and I sat in the stern. sir. did you deduce the telegram?""Why. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man. The prompt and energetic action of the officers of the law shows the great advantage of the presence on such occasions of a single vigorous and masterful mind. and.--the Baker Street irregulars.--Mr. until I found myself in dream- land. I will tell you how the land lies.

"Inside. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low." the prodigy answered. Sholto usually went down to his supper. is Jonathan Small. There was no eagerness in her voice. I do not know what to make of it. I hardly think so. I'd ha' known you without a question.--some clothes. and his son. a middle-aged. which is repeated from year to year. but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to.

 Athelney Jones was shown up to me.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me. though a fair climber. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind. we shall hear something. Let us go down."What a pretty box!" she said. I may not be gone so very long.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. and here again upon the floor. Captain Morstan disappears. corridors. and a bright flush of surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. taking the dog from me. but there was none.