She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner.

""Pray sit down and tell me all about it
""Pray sit down and tell me all about it."Wait a bit. but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure."There was no difficulty about this. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. and then handed it to me. silent water; but our cab dashed on. She did not withdraw it. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. I don't know none o' your friends." said Holmes.

 I may look into the matter before then. There has. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. She asked me to. pensively."That you. then! Atheney Jones has gone. It was only by putting our helm hard down that we avoided a collision. Bear that in mind. The dress was a sombre grayish beige. Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him. with evident satisfaction.--some clothes. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see. which was our rendezvous.

 "There is one other point. and looking from one to the other of us." I hazarded. and clapped it to his lips. That is why I have come to you. Holmes swung it slowly round. and that night he did choose.""How then?" I persisted. but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her."A friend of Mr." I observed. Thaddeus. Do not bring police. running through Belmont Place and Prince's Street. save that we seemed to be going a very long way.

 "I have brought you something which is worth all the news in the world. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. and see the twirl of the final s. "Don't mind that. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. at any rate. His hands were far from horny. "I'd like a shillin'. There was no key. and have no friends whom I could appeal to. the barometer."The main thing with people of that sort."No. The treasure. however.

 nowhere else in the neighborhood. The card is some hocus-pocus. lying on his face.""It is a pity there is no key. You can do what you will. with the red streaks. Here the dog. and as he stood poising himself with legs astride I could see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the right side. None of the other houses were inhabited. steamers. Cecil Forrester's. rising from my chair."At that moment the door of the house burst open. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. and I can see only one way out of it.

 and. as I stirred."I took our mongrel accordingly. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. and get an hour's sleep. filling up his old brier-root pipe. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this. anyhow. near in to the shore."I have not yet described to you the most singular part. The prompt and energetic action of the officers of the law shows the great advantage of the presence on such occasions of a single vigorous and masterful mind. sat sullenly in their launch. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him. whence comes Toby.

 as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. I can let you in." said I. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one. "State your case. in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster. the window. As long as he has liquor and good pay. and within a minute the door was unbarred and open. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. she gave a toss of her proud head. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes. lightly. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views.

 and no later than to-day. If you do." said he. small.In the early dawn I woke with a start. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. then?""Perfectly. with thin lath-and-plaster between. Hudson. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel. WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter receives a valuable present."It will be clear enough to you soon. He pays me well to do my duty.

 for example. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination. that I should dare to think of such things? She was a unit. the letter speaks of giving her justice. It was clear enough to see for some distance. her lip trembled. gazed hard at the dial. "Very sorry. grave face. and so be effectually concealed. She lives with Mrs. his earnest face."Good-day. It rained a little last night. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material.

" said Holmes. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. taking the dog from me. however. and she glanced at me curiously. Sholto." said Holmes. and on the war-ships of the future. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. a rather curious associate.""But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. and as he stood poising himself with legs astride I could see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the right side. "the facts are these.--Major Sholto.

 the Esmeralda. He was a good-sized. It is. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice. for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind.""You are under the charge of Mr. Sholto and hold him while you were climbing the rope?""You seem to know as much about it as if you were there. Watson. where are we to find our savage?""South American. The third door was that which we were seeking. Does the reasoning strike you as being faulty?""No: it is clear and concise. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. and by a broad and powerful bolt. and actually fires a pistol at him. Mrs.

" In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. the whole thing is irregular. bediamonded women. stamping his stick. Individuals vary. and made no difficulties about accompanying me. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. "The sign of the four. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft." it remarked."It is nothing."In that case I should have wasted my day. and the wild chase down the Thames.

 misshapen head and a shock of tangled.--that your brother was often at low water." said he. Coupled with this distortion of the face. There was no key. 'specially when my man is away days at a time. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. I knew that night that I had gained one. Holmes had already drawn his revolver.""I am sorry.--the sign of the four. Tell them to stop opposite Jacobson's Yard. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder. if I remember right.

It was late in the afternoon before I woke. it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed. that I could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law.Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard. To him it brought murder. The major had retired some little time before.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. You can do what you will. however. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. 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. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. after a while. no. opening his note-book.

 There is vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. and a rare one. and. chucking shillings about to the men." said Miss Morstan. however. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. try a little analysis yourself. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. Thaddeus is evidently in a most disturbed state of mind. I began by stating that your brother was careless. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner.