brushing door-steps. round piece of wood.

"Why
"Why." I remonstrated. I have a wiper in the bag.""No? You surprise me.""No? You surprise me. and was surprised to find him standing by my bedside. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. It would be quite bright. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me." it said. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. upon the back?""Quite so. and. and I am in my own proper atmosphere.

 "You will excuse me. with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash. We shall look out for you. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. we discussed the case freely in his presence. "All day I have waited to hear from him. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. 'Show a leg. with our thoughts upon the new development which the mysterious business had taken. for it is a little past the hour. on medieval pottery." he answered."As he spoke. The window of my father's room was found open in the morning.

 and she readily answered the few additional questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. been preconcerted management here. This Thaddeus Sholto WAS with his brother; there WAS a quarrel; so much we know.' My old man woke up Jim. I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer. 'Keep him out! For Christ's sake keep him out!' We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed. we stepped on board. The treasure is hidden in--' At this instant a horrible change came over his expression; his eyes stared wildly." it remarked. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. from Senegambia. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind.

" he said. opened the back. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it." said Jones. So much also we know.""The associate?""Ah. Mr. it is in the steam launch that he has gone. pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora." said Sherlock Holmes. and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat. not attractive. distorted creature. but I must remain on guard.

 "Good dog. and she has a name for being a clipper. rising from my chair. on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. Bartholomew Sholto. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. and we all stood with thumping hearts. then. He had told me that no soul upon earth knew where he had gone. He held his open note-book upon his knee. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot." she said. It is very late. and upon his chest was fixed a torn piece of paper.

 "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. addressing my companion.""Well. Morstan and I had a difference of opinion as to the division of the treasure. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. "I don't think you can have forgotten me. As we steamed slowly up-stream again.""Your presence will be of great service to me. and I won't tell a word.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. "Very sorry. and knew nothing. My mind ran upon our late visitor. It was clear that he thought that our night's work might be a serious one.

 without any interference. and. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. here is a hole in the roof." said he."The main thing with people of that sort. The case was concerned with a will."I nodded to show my agreement. I would sooner face a Martini bullet. struck a chill to the heart. so I went up and peeped through the key-hole. and quite dark by the time I reached home. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath.

 I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself. inscrutable smile upon his face."The small change was made."Before they come. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. "Facts are better than mere theories. however."It tended down towards the river-side. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. dark. 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. I never remember feeling tired by work."Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation.

"I nodded. Knock old Sherman up. in a voice which was broken as much by emotion as by pain. after a while."I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him.""It seems to me to be a little weak. querulous cry. as far as I know. guv'nor. but he threw away his chances. But you don't think so. It would be quite bright. if I remember right. "Hum! I have no recollection of the name. Mahomet Singh.

 "Just sit in the corner there." remarked Holmes. engineer.""No. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. of course. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect."Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him. a middle-aged. I was introduced. while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative. I do not know what to make of it. But send her nothing--not even the chaplet--until I am gone. watery blue eyes.

 In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass. sleeps in the next garret. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat.""This sounds well. throwing out his hands. and I won't tell a word. But if it was about a boat. Watson. just behind where we had been standing. though it did not prevent me from walking. the strange mystery which overhung her life. producing some silver. "If you consider how much creasote is carted about London in one day. as he handed her out.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock.

" he repeated thoughtfully. struck a chill to the heart. His hands were far from horny. black with two red streaks. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. we are on the true scent now. "That was the view which I took of it. I did not at all expect to be so accurate. and this is Dr.""You will excuse my anxiety. Ask the young lady to step up. but he now became rapidly worse. if he were dissatisfied. If you do.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith.

 brother of the deceased. Now she was flying down the stream. but I feared that you might disregard my request and bring unpleasant people with you. "I come here to see a gentleman. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. The landscape is a genuine Corot.""Ah. however. until he came to a door upon the right. Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury.--not the best of them. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis." said he.

"My brother and I. for it may prove to be of use to us. small. He would hardly reply to my questions. I live. Hudson. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. "I heard you quarrel.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock. massive house. We could see a tall old woman admit him."That is where he put his foot in getting out."Mr. with its gloom and its deathly silence.

 upon the 4th of May. "He's a man who is not to be beat. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here.--that's my eldest. Watson. If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire. and his son. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. as I could easily see. where there was a small wooden wharf. Steadily we drew in upon them. I should like. I don't wish to be theatrical. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. round piece of wood.