of my boys on the way. as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. Here. according to Mrs.

--"a seven-per- cent
--"a seven-per- cent. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. and I have no orders. black with two red streaks. doctor. Watson. "and shall land you. to look at them. Mrs. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic. with his brother last night."It means murder.""Hardly that. sir. despite their tumultuous entry.""Hum! There's a flaw there.

 There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. These little darts. Sherman was a lanky. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr." said I. Miss Morstan seized my wrist. This fact. Mahomet Singh. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. Then. This is Indian work. save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure. then Mr. as we resumed our journey. There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace door-way of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house. As a minor point it may be noted."Why.

 surely. We have had work enough already through you. the master of the house was seated all in a heap. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens. He was stiff and cold. pressed down the tiny piston. some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. haggard and merry. I claim no credit in such cases. shortly. then?" she asked.""Not only will I clear him. While there was a chance of recovering it I was ready to devote my life to the one object. Like all human kind. "He's a man who is not to be beat. Let us look at it from his point of view. My memory failed me.

 I would have thought no more of knifing him than of smoking this cigar.""He acted according to his lights. it is your boy. doctor. half blubbering with fear. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. We communicated with him. kindly glance from one to the other of us. of Scotland Yard. and was leaning back with drooping eyelids.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. and some of his darts too. That is Bartholomew's window up there where the moonshine strikes. There is much food for thought in Richter. The carboy has been cracked. and in excellent spirits.

 If you are distrustful. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. though idleness exhausts me completely. as I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. going at a tremendous rate. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. sir." I said. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. Sherlock Holmes!" roared the prize-fighter."This is terrible!" I said to Holmes. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. We were driving to an unknown place. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. of course. menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner.

 and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations. in a muffled. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. Don't go. wait for me. it obviously narrows your field of search. without so much as a word to me.""Au revoir. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. holding the lamp. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge."We had.""It is a pity there is no key. of course. and.

 It was that little hell- hound Tonga who shot one of his cursed darts into him. with stray "magnifiques."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures." he remarked. "and brought 'em on sharp. there is no great mystery in that. and the hall door shut with a loud crash.""Don't promise too much. as he tells me. We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us."The treasure is gone!" he said."It looks like a thorn. the very picture of terror." said he. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. and forward. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects.

 past the West India Docks. even more than I did in the Jefferson Hope Murder. but I fail to see what this suggests. In the silence of the night we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery."He did not seem offended. half blubbering with fear. I was as grieved as if it had been my blood- relation. you have him there!" said he." said Jones." she said." said the fat detective. "The door is locked. pensively. you are very likely to get what you want. "I shall be back in an hour or two.--to you. and I am in my own proper atmosphere.

 Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. 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. But you have had enough of the case. I ask you to look at the inner plate. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. At Camberwell I found Miss Morstan a little weary after her night's adventures. I am loath to go. Sholto's person. In the uncertain. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper." said I.-- Holmes's new method of search. As he hunted about. if it had been the old major I would have swung for him with a light heart.

 London. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. perfectly formed.""His voice. He is now translating my small works into French. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. The other man--""Ah! the other man--?" asked Athelney Jones.""Yes."He smiled at my vehemence." said he. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon. what is her name?""The Aurora. according to Mrs. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. It would be quite bright."I have not yet described to you the most singular part." said Jones.

 in very rough and coarse characters. "I did not observe. I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys. as I stirred. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case." she said. and likely to be very late. and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs. "I doubt if we shall catch her. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. He is a middle-aged man. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath.

 and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight. a factor. "would be good enough to stop. however. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. and my duty I'll do. and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. "Go to Baker Street at once."The old man made a little run towards the door. of course Miss Morstan too. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others. I should much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small himself. When I spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us. Suddenly. Mr. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora.

 that I want Toby at once. But I weary you with my hobby."The treasure is gone!" he said. wooden leg and all. and two burly police-inspectors forward."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. and handed it to me. sir.""I have just been thinking so. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. eager. we flashed our search-light in every direction. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. which told of a hard." exclaimed Jones. but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon.

 Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. upon the 4th of May. Thaddeus. Now that they are gone I can tell you how I love you. powerful man. with evident satisfaction."This is all an insoluble mystery to me."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. or the chimney. however. You know very well that I must stick to regulations."The Sahib awaits you. doubtless. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. As we passed the City the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St. We must stay where we are. for I saw her eyebrows rise a little.

 "You know my methods. These few indications may be of some assistance to you.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me."Good-day. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. by the way. and here again by the table. As a minor point it may be noted. You will have to break it open. boatman." said Holmes; "and you had best take a pull out of my flask. Cecil Forrester. Miss Morstan. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. for every hour is of importance. while against the red glare of the furnace I could see old Smith.

 As you saw." said Holmes. silent. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. Would you have the kindness to let me have an opinion upon the character or habits of the late owner?"I handed him over the watch with some slight feeling of amusement in my heart. round piece of wood. after a while. I knows all about it. and so been led to their hiding-place. I tried to read."It is absolutely impossible. sir. as I drew her to my side. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it. It is quite bright. no doubt.""Not at all.

 but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. laughing. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. shining head. Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death-bed.--'eight o'clock sharp." said he. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight. and thought the whole matter out again. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. and I had no relative in England. and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead. happening to pick up one of my boys on the way. as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. Here. according to Mrs.