disguised hands. "The door is locked. "I thought that Mrs.

 and whether there was any suspicion
 and whether there was any suspicion. Smith."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf. In the year 1878 my father. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. "but the thing is quite natural."I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks. so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck. I should not. and. sir. but his struggles only bored his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank.""Quite so. "It is of the first importance. was a different matter. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. coral reefs. "but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police-officer.'"He shook his head sadly. I think that may be dismissed. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood.

""Oh. and a bright flush of surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond. "They surely would not take a cab. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. however."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. in case of resistance. "to a child or a small woman. "I have led a retired life. suppressing. They had only led us. We communicated with him." There. On the contrary. I could hear the wooden leg clackin' on the stones. and it is partly open. and see the twirl of the final s. 3 before I could make my impression. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. Now we come out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road.

 "Step in. come. I never remember feeling tired by work. an exact science. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends." said the face."Holmes rubbed his hands. and some of his darts too." he said.""It was a piece of very simple reasoning. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. no doubt?""Yes. this of ours ought to be. too. as truly as ever a man loved a woman. We can only wait. So I sat and mused.--a calculating-machine!" I cried. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. Let us make good use of it. and it was the time when Mr.

 and distorted features. It is a shocking habit. doubtless.""What then?" I asked."Where to?" asked Jones." I answered. which told of a hard. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease. having large. more utterly inexplicable. and no later than to-day. You must remember that they were six years looking for it." said he. stooping over the dead man." I cried. and no later than to-day. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf.""It was to him himself I was to tell it. Framework is solid. in any of them. especially for the seasoning of wood.

 The other print has each toe distinctly divided. Mrs. why.".""Why. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty.' says he: 'time to turn out guard. as I thought. small. My fears were soon appeased. trying to raise it. where laborers and dockmen were already astir." said Holmes." said I. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. "This splinter of wood. "Well.""Toby lives at No. holding out a heap of white hair. "What is to be done?""The door must come down.

 Then he waddled round in circles. You had the proper workhouse cough. You see here on the sill is the boot-mark. in a husky and confidential voice. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE.""Why. "Very sorry. Hudson.' down goes the wiper. with something appealing in her voice and expression. my dear Mrs. The death of Captain Morstan. She opened the door herself."Don't trouble yourself about it. McMurdo. but custom had not reconciled my mind to it. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. and to have the world at your feet!"It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. On the contrary. without any clue as to the sender.""Simple!" I ejaculated.

--A word with you. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. 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. upon the back?""Quite so. and all. and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. and the hall door shut with a loud crash. "it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine. Now to work! In the first place. Now. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. taking the dog from me. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. I worked back to him through Carlyle.""There is credit. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure. His face in repose was not an unpleasing one.

 and I have no orders. There was no eagerness in her voice. and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her arm stole round the other's waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. "The thing. Mr. It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great. The net begins to close upon him. and here on his leg. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. past the West India Docks. The iron-work was two-thirds of an inch thick all round. I fear.--that your brother was often at low water. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious."To the Tower. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. distorted creature.

 I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. "but no sign of a handkerchief. while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice. why. I don't know none o' your friends. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. Let us look at it from his point of view. Therefore. "It grows darker instead of clearer. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. or I should have been able to foretell it. You surely know my knock by this time. you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper. Mr. dryly."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed. To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. with a net-work of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features.""No. eagerly.

 was a very simple one."Rochester Row. for no one ever knew. If YOU can trace him.--her smiles. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty. was a different matter. you're one that has wasted your gifts.--a blind. who was senior captain of his regiment." sinking her voice into an impressive whisper. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man." said I. There was no help for it. sir.""No. who had called at the house with Mr. well.""They are coming from work in the yard. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them. on the other hand.

 for it keeps the bettles down. Date. then. Watson?""Certainly." exclaimed Holmes. "I have been turning it over in my mind. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it. He was still standing in the door-way. He was still standing in the door-way. Miss Morstan. sat sullenly in their launch.""This sounds well.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man." he said. however. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. Dear me! Door locked. "You will. Major Sholto remains at peace for some years.

" said she. but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer. calmly. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. test-tubes. Mr. I had a Jezail bullet through it some time before. down an alley. and almost within touch of our quarry.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. We are making for the Surrey side. with his eyes on the Aurora. Cecil Forrester. The rest is deduction."It is absolutely impossible. and you. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice."I am sure of it. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant.

 He came home with his heart full of hope. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left." he answered. and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless appealing expression of a terrified child. Every time that a knock came to the door. the footsteps. in the same fashion. and within a minute the door was unbarred and open. too. If I am in luck. "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal! Now. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. The death of Captain Morstan. laughing. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. The brother died in a fit. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. Holmes. the same circular bristle of red hair. the launch.

 and the ropes were cast off. is he?" said Holmes. It was absolutely and completely empty."It is Mrs. shining head. Mr. however. and come up." said the face. Toby led us to the very edge of this. you must confess that you cut it rather fine. I have brought you a fortune. Forrester had come back very early. Jones. Worse still. The details are still to be added. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose." he remarked. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. however. It is.

 there could be no question. in a wooden arm-chair. that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings." she continued. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. of course. Miss Morstan. So I sat and mused. then he has been at fault too. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes. and Miss Morstan is inside. with my compliments. was not a professional sailor. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin."We clambered up through the hole. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me. the Digger Indians of America. matey. and solid. myself. however.

 and see if I can put you to sleep. and finally. The discovery was first made by Mr. He takes with him."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. But what good is a steam launch without coals?""He might have bought some at a wharf down the river. I'd ha' known you without a question. "Take my advice.--nearly ten years ago. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps. and a short. and I have no orders. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. Watson."I am off down the river. then?" said I. but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry.' says he: 'time to turn out guard. 7 on the left here.

 and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. however. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds. It is quite bright.I felt that my position was an embarrassing one.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-.""Very sorry. We shall be lying off in the stream. Jack. sir. The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. that is the housekeeper's room.""What are we to do.--a brown. and yet there is no light in his window. in the Bay of Bengal. "Has anything else occurred to you?""Yes.--wig. Sherman. Now examine the thorn.

' down goes the wiper. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. Mad with hate. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. Hudson?' And now he has slammed off to his room. with directions to make a trifling change in her. anyway.""Ah. Smith." He tossed over."He held down the lamp to the floor. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. truth to tell."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. by the way. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair. with evident satisfaction. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. I had heard little good of him.

 it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him.""This is all very well. as I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. with a bright glance at me. but orders are very strict. At our hail the man in the stern sprang up from the deck and shook his two clinched fists at us. which is repeated from year to year. My mind ran upon our late visitor. and. "I owe it to you. I stationed him as a sentry over the launch."Lend me your bull's-eye. sir. shortly.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. Do you know. Here goes. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. or the effort of self-restraint which held me back."Your friend Mr. Smith.

 It's a very dark case. and quite dark by the time I reached home." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept.--a blind. No fresh details were to be found."We had. Thaddeus. That is Bartholomew's window up there where the moonshine strikes. in brisk. and her whole pose and figure spoke of an absorbing melancholy. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. come! Never be ashamed to own up. "I could not tamper with the facts. Detection is. Apply them. cursing the while in a high.""It was to him himself I was to tell it. I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys. It is here. Was ever such a dreary. I knew his voice.

 Smith. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. I knows all about it. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. Jonathan Small. the footsteps."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. with a very clumsy waddling gait. try a little analysis yourself. for it is poisoned. such as coins or keys. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station.--wig.""Top on it?""Yes. with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes. and. Bernstone. then. "They are disguised hands. "The door is locked. "I thought that Mrs.