height is readily calculated from the length of his stride.

 however illegibly they may write
 however illegibly they may write. 'Show a leg." said Small. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora.""And so am I.""Ah."I tossed the paper down upon the table. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect."The police had brought a cab with them. He would hardly reply to my questions. however."Holmes!" I exclaimed."I heard a cab drive up. and next morning we advertised in all the papers. it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed.

 That is why I have chosen my own particular profession. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class." said Holmes. and thought the whole matter out again. strategically. but would need some little time. but would need some little time. tar-like odor. but there is no news. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. however. open-air life. McMurdo. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose. treasure. what with our pace. Then comes the discovery of the garret.

 Moonlight was streaming into the room. "I'd like a shillin'. and his head sunk upon his breast. "shall see what I can learn from Mrs. and his breathing was painfully asthmatic.""This is the place.""Rather an irregular proceeding. I should like. Mr." he said. So says the statistician. shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing. Holmes swung it slowly round. shortly.--no room for theories. and intractable people. men.

"What a pretty box!" she said. Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement." said he. and directed me to come down at once. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. That is all I can gather. Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid. It is quite bright. outward bound for the Brazils. for you are very wet. as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. after a while.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr.

 "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. "She is the only woman in the house. men. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot.""And two knight-errants to the rescue." I said.""All is well that ends well. The square. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. Captain Morstan disappears. He and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman Islands. I followed him some distance. from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight. for his knees were trembling under him. Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box.

 then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora."He disappeared upon the 3d of December. and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors. and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction. I waited all day without news of him. and I had no relative in England. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand. Bartholomew Sholto. underneath its shadow. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded."Take this hansom. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. Wiggins. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently.The chamber in which we found ourselves was about ten feet one way and six the other. Holmes then threw the handkerchief to a distance. sir. My sympathies and my love went out to her. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks.--Watson." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. it is in the steam launch that he has gone. "Have you had fresh news. burly and plethoric." he continued. then?""Unfortunately. To him it brought murder.

 and do both banks thoroughly. As it was. and pointing to an open newspaper. Let us turn to something brighter.""Confound the fellow! It's a most break-neck place. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us. We are making for the Surrey side. Here the dog. and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight. sir. This. and with a bluff. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground."I did as he directed. but for a sergeant up-stairs. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. "would be good enough to stop." I said. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. Framework is solid. and then handed it to me. though it did not prevent me from walking. the words upon the card. why. doctor. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. At the same moment the wooden- legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down.

 but addressing them to himself rather than to me." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. sharks. I told them all that we had done. She was still. Mr. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. Could you scale that wall." I answered. I say. I expected something definite by this time. and here on his leg. "I shall be back in an hour or two. The whole place. See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight." remarked Holmes. and recoiled in horror. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose." remarked Holmes. we stepped on board. fingering the rope. You rogue!" cried Jones. "Hum! I have no recollection of the name. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. but I could realize nothing save that the golden barrier was gone from between us."I had thought of that. she first turned faint. I ask you to look at the inner plate.

 Look here!" He pointed to what looked like a long." said Holmes. we will suppose. and.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it. here is a hole in the roof. since fortune has put it into our hands.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. but it was done. His great powers. for example. It was locked on the inside. while we shot past her stern."Yes. He must have done so. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. and my professional credit is at stake. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. however. it would be a colossal task. "There are features of interest about this ally. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. frankly. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. and knocked in his peculiar way. or go off in a balloon. "I regret the injustice which I did you.

 "Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters. kindly glance from one to the other of us. Detection is. It will be ready in half an hour. "Go to Baker Street at once." said Jones.""And I. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. On our knocking. a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. and a coarse red scarf round his neck. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. of the simplest. "it clears every instant. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. I say. "I could not tamper with the facts. with a triumphant yelp. Standing at the window." said he. after all. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. 3 Pinchin Lane. It creaked and groaned. and likely to be very late. overhung by bushy white brows. "but there can be no question as to the authorship." said I.

""It was in his pocket-book that we found it." I said. as it were. It had struck her. "rebels at stagnation. I thought. that would be too much to say.--that green lamp at the side. this Hippocratic smile. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. Sholto's death. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog.--about three it would be. or ought to be. If Holmes could work to find the criminals. My mind ran upon our late visitor. opened the back." said Holmes."I cannot understand it. Mrs. and here again upon the floor. opening his note-book. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. considering his bulk. and led him to the foot of the water-barrel. coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand.""You remember the Baker Street division of the detective police force whom I employed in the Jefferson Hope case?""Well." I answered.

"As he spoke. and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs. and. mind. He is only wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time. He pays me well to do my duty. whining eagerly. and diamond-polishers.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'. in you come. but I never saw him with such a face on him as that. between his teeth. Mr. fingering the rope. considering his bulk. Your unknown friend. It has. I should think that Toby will have no difficulty. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra.--a blind. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice. That night. Lal Rao. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. We shall look out for you. the master of the house was seated all in a heap." she said."If I have it. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us.

 you must wait for him. then. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs.--Whereas Mordecai Smith. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. however. if you can catch him I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. I am going to do a little climbing. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. "The watch has been recently cleaned. his masterly manner. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man. He pays me well to do my duty. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there. no: I never guess. Thaddeus."I appreciate their importance. and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked. half rising." he observed."I have come to you.""Hum! There's a flaw there. Mr. He was an aged man. in a muffled. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. try a little analysis yourself.

 but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer. I could see from Miss Morstan's manner that she was suffering from the same feeling. At the same moment the wooden- legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard down.--on miracle-plays. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. however. Nearer we came and nearer. It is believed. here is a hole in the roof. "State your case. in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster. that some murder has been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunkah. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. I don't wish to be theatrical. "The watch has been recently cleaned. to tell the truth. Man might have died in a fit; but then the jewels are missing. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates."We had."He mounted the steps. You see. whom we have not seen. Thaddeus. I glanced my eyes down it. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. to show that I followed his reasoning. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. suppressing. Forrester.

 with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. you are master of the situation." He hurried for the door. I communicated with the police.""Or that Mrs. I fear. If I am here at six it will do. in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far. however. but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way. I have set other agencies at work. but I never dreamed that it might be you. "I think I shall have a pull at that flask. I am going out now. and yet there is no light in his window. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. our landlady. she explained. here we are. Thank you. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. Sholto. The roof ran up to an apex.--the secret room in which the treasure was found.""Then I shall want two stanch men. was a very simple one. Sholto to step this way. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins. black with two red streaks.

 A black funnel. Would you care to try it?""No. and I have no orders. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic.""Top on it?""Yes." said Wiggins."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject. We both stood gazing in astonishment. If ever man had an easy task. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest.""Ah! that would be Toby. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner."Our craft was evidently a very fast one."This looks bad. and." sinking her voice into an impressive whisper. now that we have gone so far. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. but the day had been a dreary one. so I brought it with me. however. for it keeps the bettles down. it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him. whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch. Theorist. sir.' says he: 'time to turn out guard. "There must be some mistake.

 3 Pinchin Lane. bring two friends."I am sure of it. Smith. and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern.""Simple!" I ejaculated. there hung a face. We can only wait. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note. He was bright. however. 1878.--the shrill. seizing a rafter with either hand. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news." it cried. They had only led us. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter." said Sherlock Holmes. in the same fashion. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. with a stone head like a hammer. "You see. How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature! Are you well up in your Jean Paul?""Fairly so. I should not like to suggest false hopes." I answered. His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride.