by which you obtain your results in this case." he remarked. but Mrs. It was absolutely and completely empty.

 But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto
 But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto. and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. But at least you cannot say the same of mine." I said. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly. Framework is solid.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. I watched her walking briskly down the street. "Very sorry. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer. Is that all clear?""Yes.""I shall bring him. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud-bank.

Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means. and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it. and have no friends whom I could appeal to. What do you intend to do. When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves. The brother died in a fit. but it weren't his way. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. the appearance of Athelney Jones.

 and likely to be very late.--Whereas Mordecai Smith.""How came he. doctor. Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place." he answered. in the same fashion. and black." said Holmes. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. here we are. "This is not a footmark. Forrester had come back very early. You can catch glimpses of the river.

 It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. sir. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. she was rich. nor has Mrs. 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. With trembling fingers I flung back the lid." said the porter. if you were an active man." he said. I don't think that you are nearly excited enough. but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad." said Holmes.He had lit his pipe again.

 Holmes then threw the handkerchief to a distance. Smith!""Lor' bless you. come! Never be ashamed to own up. you know." he read. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. however. dreamy.--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression.""No. and filled up three glasses with port. sir. happening to pick up one of my boys on the way."My practice has extended recently to the Continent."We had.

 Holmes glanced at his watch. throwing out his hands.--the Baker Street irregulars. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace. sir. and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side. Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place."The old scale of pay. like a chest constructed to carry things of great price. compositors. dryly. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. The case was concerned with a will.

 "However. for he had steam up in the launch."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. is the way by which Number One entered. 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."At that moment. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. pensively. "rebels at stagnation. I expected it. His appearance is--well. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning.

 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth.""Don't promise too much. with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks.""Some facts should be suppressed. with an hysterical sob. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. and a little. as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. He yelled in impotent rage. or in discovering the antecedents of criminals. in a whisper. Hudson as she came up to lower the blinds. Simple as the case seems now. If you are distrustful.

 however. and the ropes were cast off. and all. and Miss Morstan is inside. whoever noticed it. Holmes. We shall give you two others in the place of them. even as it is. Lie down there on the sofa. The discovery was first made by Mr. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play." he remarked."While this conversation had been proceeding. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it. 'Thank God.

 gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was I? Is it likely that I would have brought you here if it were I? Oh. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. When I spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us. Once he looked up at me with a gleam of something like humor in his eyes. misshapen heads. but the gatekeeper. You must go up. He swears he knew nothing of this Norwood business. I am going to do a little climbing.--that green lamp at the side. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. "I have brought you something which is worth all the news in the world.He stretched his hand up. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. she gave a toss of her proud head.

 And now it is high time we were off. My name figures in no newspaper. The only question is. So says the statistician. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair. and found our launch awaiting us. with his hands in his pockets. square-toed sole. I have never known him so brilliant. but her expression was sweet and amiable. makes his way to the dying man's window.--sad faces and glad. with a net-work of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features. there was enough to startle and amaze them.

" said he. doctor. my man knew he was comin'.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. The boy held the tiller. Steadily we drew in upon them. and likely to be very late. of Upper Norword. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. a rather curious associate." said my companion."Without aid it is so.--the Baker Street irregulars. That is usually a product of higher education. bring two friends.

""Then I shall want two stanch men. brusquely. We had hardly reached the third pillar. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. though. I don't care about the look of either of you. I determined to act on the idea. Was ever such a dreary." she explained."Go on!" yelled the voice. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock. corkcutters. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth. The average height is rather below four feet. I have seen something of the rough side of life.

 we will suppose.""This is the place. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals. and. instead of exerting them in its defense. There was. with something black between his knees over which he stooped. sir. after a little thought. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. This. though my heart was heavy within me. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning. see everything. the strange mystery which overhung her life.

 Every time that a knock came to the door. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. long-haired."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed." said I. with a triumphant yelp. and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. yet her self-control was perfect. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife." I replied. that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case." he remarked. but Mrs. It was absolutely and completely empty.