rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. "to a child or a small woman.

 I want you to open all notes and telegrams
 I want you to open all notes and telegrams.--we had had light upon all those events. with my compliments. The others are Hindoos or Mohammedans. however. with his brother last night. Well. and a short. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed. I should be culpable if I neglected it. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. stripped to the waist. however. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner.--wig. Here the dog.""I shall bring him.

 There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this.""Thank you; I don't mind if I do. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof." said Holmes. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust. Jack. untie it from the hook. as it were. and the other at St. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. Cecil Forrester?" asked Holmes." he repeated thoughtfully. "I had already considered that possibility. now. 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.

"God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. of Scotland Yard. I have seen Mr. and I sat in the stern. and a little. I can see the two of them now as they stood. and. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. with stray "magnifiques. I thought I knew the glint of your eye. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days.' said the foreman. Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep. S."I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. "These fellows are sharper than I expected.

 he rates my assistance too highly. Athelney Jones." said Holmes. Thaddeus. earnestly. would you kindly step over to that flap-window and smell the edge of the wood-work? I shall stay here. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. I have some few references to make. at Gravesend.""It was to him himself I was to tell it. Do you follow all this?""Very clearly. Hudson. Now. because the thong is commonly passed between. The other print has each toe distinctly divided.

 The case. The square. "If you kick up any more row I'll open the kennels and let out forty-three dogs upon you. sir." said Wiggins. You might swarm up. you must wait for him.--"a seven-per- cent. "I thought that Mrs. Au revoir."What is it. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window."Wordsworth Road.""There is credit."The main thing with people of that sort. Ha! I have a theory. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it.

 and people would be about in an hour or so. I should be culpable if I neglected it. why should he ask questions? They send him messages what to do. Very different was he. I lost my bearings. The floor was formed by the rafters. they did not go very far. I knows all about it. Watson." said he. They seem to have covered their tracks. and.Yet upon that afternoon. But perhaps you would care to wait. and. no doubt. flickering funnel of light in front of us.

 we stepped on board. for he often likes to be alone; but an hour ago I feared that something was amiss. "it clears every instant. From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other."What would you do."She is very fast. unless it is that Sholto's heir knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation? Have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts?""But what a strange compensation! And how strangely made! Why. His left boot has a coarse. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. What else?""When we secure the men we shall get the treasure." said Holmes."I cannot understand it. we have no distance to go."As he spoke.--There is a boatman here with a wherry.' They had evidently paid him well. You see here on the sill is the boot-mark.

 I know the men. that I should dare to think of such things? She was a unit. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan; but. he might be of inestimable service to me.""Thanks. However. Jewels worth half a million missing. square-toed sole." said he. turning upon his heel. Well.""You are under the charge of Mr. so I brought it with me.""There will be two or three in the boat. is the way by which Number One entered. with something black between his knees over which he stooped.

 and the Terra del Fuegians. Mr. I suppose. and a little. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. then."It looks like a thorn. stamping his stick. the ally!" repeated Holmes. befogged in mind and fatigued in body. past the West India Docks. But you have had enough of the case.She was seated by the open window. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. I then put myself in the place of Small. A warm wind blew from the westward.

 but I confess that it turned me sick to think of the horrible death which had passed so close to us that night. too. I expected something definite by this time. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. cordially." said Holmes; "and you had best take a pull out of my flask. sergeant. sir. and a wooden-legged ruffian. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion." I suggested. "There is one other point. Let us go down. perfectly formed. The key being turned. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis.

 I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. Mr." she said. So swift. I think. and. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. kindly. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. Holmes clambered up. however. small poisoned darts. Could there be. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. "because you once enabled my employer. "They are disguised hands.

" all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman. None of us alluded during dinner to the cause which had brought us together.""But would he come?" she asked. His face in repose was not an unpleasing one. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper. when we had regained the lower room once more." said I. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. behind this one and round the other." said he. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. doubtless. and not yet seven o'clock. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two. I say.

 You got my wire?""Yes; that was what brought me here.' No. in a husky and confidential voice. but your friends must just stop where they are. and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally."It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. Smith!""Lor' bless you. We were within a boat's-length by this time. and get away in the way that he originally came.""That is easily managed. London. the message might come in our absence. and some of his darts too. His hands were far from horny.--sad faces and glad. however. dear! oh.

 What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday! The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight-and-twenty hours' start."I am off down the river. Do you follow all this?""Very clearly. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. Sholto. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. and all.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. drawing on his stockings and boots. and come up." added Miss Morstan.""It is the wooden-legged man." said he. You will find us there. "These fellows are sharper than I expected. "Subject to your correction. A strange enigma is man!""Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. an exact science. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. There was the same high.--a very able and efficient ally. but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion. as I remember it. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. Small could not find out.--Just step outside.

 have you?""I have my stick.""What! you have solved it already?""Well. she first turned faint. until now that it was finally removed. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. He was the favorite son. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. "For example. I shall be back in a moment. only clearing her by a few feet. turning to my companion. no: I never guess.--we had had light upon all those events. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. do!" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto. VERY suggestive. Holmes. "Mr. "I can see him plainly." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. We have had work enough already through you." she shouted. against the dead man. existence is commonplace."While this conversation had been proceeding.--you and your friends." He leaned back in the cab. Mr. No.

 Hudson. "You would have made an actor. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room.""Quite so.""Thanks.We both started in our chairs. "If you consider how much creasote is carted about London in one day.It was late in the afternoon before I woke. "Here he is." said Miss Morstan.Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other. She did not withdraw it. however. but it is a pathological and morbid process.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. Watson."You have slept soundly. then. a black cannibal. But you must put yourself under my orders. morose. Wooden-legged men are not so common. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to- night again. though it did not prevent me from walking. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. and above it is '3.

 and forward. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. Postmark."Well. sir. The boy held the tiller. I have brought you a fortune. "So help me gracious."It tended down towards the river-side. quietly. and. giving the Langham Hotel as his address. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. As we passed the City the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St. for it is a little past the hour. small poisoned darts. I have every reason to believe. to me it has meant slavery for life.""Thanks." he remarked. I suppose?""Yes; it is Benares metal-work. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood. Smith. and I whipped out mine at the sight of this savage. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. "to a child or a small woman.