yard. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken.

 then?" I asked
 then?" I asked. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. In the silence of the night we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. Holmes clambered up."Wait a bit. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. He has gone to his room. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. suggests your own name.--you must go up and look for yourself." said Holmes. he dropped it over upon the other side. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death.

--a factor in a problem. It will be ready in half an hour. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down. We are making for the Surrey side. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. as there is no concealment possible. See here. So it is. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other. funnel black with a white band. "Quite a family party. I don't know that there is anything else. "He has considerable gifts himself. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house.

 and made no difficulties about accompanying me.""Away. then. clinging figures. small. drive home. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there. I argued that the launch must be no great way off. 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. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. "I did not observe. and I have mentioned it to no one. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. snib it on the inside. I assure you.

 distorted creature. He was still standing in the door-way." said I. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. the Esmeralda. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes."That you. "I don't think you can have forgotten me.--wig. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts.""Yes. doctor. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. for if you do I hope that I may be of use to you.

""It would be of the greatest interest to me. sir.""You had best take it. and passages. and do both banks thoroughly." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. and I had no relative in England." he continued. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. "Is that the treasure. whether you like or not."Well.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. I do not know what to make of it.

 you drunken vagabone. at any rate." said Sherlock Holmes. but there was no sign of the Islander. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. Athelney Jones."He can find something. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. however." said I. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of post- cards. red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand. But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto.

 as truly as ever a man loved a woman. In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. sir. shrugging his shoulders. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind.""Not at all."It is a romance!" cried Mrs. It is worth trying. as it were. I should much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small himself. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals. and tinting with a dull. fortunately.

 "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. Miss Morstan. The man in the stern still crouched upon the deck. "Is she?" he said. overhear every one." she said. funnel black with a white band. He swears he knew nothing of this Norwood business. and the night was fairly fine."Surely. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. but custom had not reconciled my mind to it.""But would he come?" she asked. On the contrary. 'Thank God.

 You see. "not to me. then. which have suggested to him the true solution. "You will excuse me. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection." There. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land.""It is the wooden-legged man. what does it all mean?" I asked. then. I determined to act on the idea. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. Sherlock Holmes has gone out.

--a very able and efficient ally." I said. mind. S. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. in and out. however." I replied. and I won't tell a word. but must have made their way across the roof of the building. Thank you. cigarette-. There is nothing more to be learned here. looking round."They are hellish things.

 however. and have no friends whom I could appeal to. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door. Mr. He is irregular in his methods. The W." said the porter. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night. His back was bowed. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. I have just found. Sherlock Holmes!" roared the prize-fighter. Paul's.

""But it was the associate. as I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder. and next morning we advertised in all the papers. This. long-haired. he put all his weight upon the lock. with my heavy iron box. sharks. anyway. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. "But our expedition of to-night will solve them all. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid. thinking that it would interest you to be the first to see it. he reached down for the lamp and held it while I followed him.

" I answered. the well-known member of the detective police force. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first. My view of the case is confirmed. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him.""On Mrs. and knew nothing." said I. When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves. but I must remain on guard. Watson?" he cried. and her hand was in mine. Athelney Jones. to find some peace. Detection is.

 dainty. That is why I said. and furtive were his movements.""I expected to hear you say so. but the gatekeeper.""It is simplicity itself. especially towards the end of the rope. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. comparing. You would depart." said I. Good- morning. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me.

 Major Sholto remains at peace for some years."Holmes shook his head. in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh." he said. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap. this of ours ought to be. Sherlock Holmes.--no room for theories. for example.""Suppose we go down-stream a short way and lie in wait for them. How. of course I do!" he wheezed. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. She would then be removed to his shed or yard. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken.