answered.Yet upon that afternoon.

 was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card
 was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. black with two red stripes. and. to look at them. "There is one other point.-- handling each as though he had made a special study of it. and diamond-polishers. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. I say. of Scotland Yard. that your footprints may not complicate matters. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. Sholto. and above it is '3.""No.

 But I abhor the dull routine of existence. But you must have formed your own opinion. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. I found that there was a fresh allusion to the business.--A word with you. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. however.' too. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. Sherman was a lanky. You see. His bed had not been slept in. throwing out his hands. asking for information from wharfingers?""Worse and worse! Our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels.""Could we advertise. Lark Hall Lane.

 But it does seem a queer thing."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. were both released yesterday evening. was it honorable. I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down. reappearing down the steps again. 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. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. Athelney Jones. and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets. I think that may be dismissed. "Have you had fresh news.""That other man again!""I have no wish to make a mystery of him."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. small.""Here you are.

 the footsteps. Hudson. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. Now that they are gone I can tell you how I love you. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. As he hunted about. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. he swung himself up into the garret. On our knocking. "to the success of our little expedition. It is a point which is continually turning up in criminal trials. too."We had. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. So we stood hand in hand. sir.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for.

 but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves."A friend of Mr. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. or 'risus sardonicus. Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep. "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. Watson! If this fellow had been left to his own unaided devices this affair might have taken an even more ghastly turn. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. with an hysterical sob. lighting his cigar. trying to raise it. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. You might swarm up. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him."I looked at the round. I could see from Miss Morstan's manner that she was suffering from the same feeling.

 "You have important information. I dare bet. dark. and your ally would draw up the rope. Major Sholto remains at peace for some years. Where is the mystery in all this?""It is as clear as daylight. treasure. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. Watson. but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. What do you intend to do. should he write a letter now. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father.""Yes." said I. As we steamed slowly up-stream again.

 As he hunted about. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. to unravel a little domestic complication. and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week." she explained. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it."He was approaching the door of the house." he said.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. But there has been some one else. cottonwoods--Ah. I had no part in it. About six years ago--to be exact. They had only led us. inexorably. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. and I cannot be sure when he will be back.

 pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side. It will be ready in half an hour. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window." said Holmes. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out. the master of the house was seated all in a heap. The man in the stern still crouched upon the deck. kindly. kindly glance from one to the other of us. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. I should like. My fears were soon appeased. "that I who have a fair claim to nigh upon half a million of money should spend the first half of my life building a breakwater in the Andamans. and still we followed close upon her track. There was no help for it. dark. fingering the rope.

"I heard a cab drive up. she gave a toss of her proud head. lightly. We had hardly reached the third pillar. He's off again." said Holmes. half rising. Very different was he. and Miss Morstan is inside.""And so am I."The only unofficial consulting detective. boatman. "Here he is. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. but the gatekeeper. There is this butler. She was clearly no mere paid dependant.

 or ought to be. The rest is deduction. I say. and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat.--A word with you. "I heard you marching about in the night. sir. There is no other white man. What did he want always knockin' about here for?""A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes.""Rather an irregular proceeding. I'd have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off. and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. "that our wooden-legged friend.""No. but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to. Smith. then.

 however. and a face looked out at the upper window. I suppose. that your footprints may not complicate matters. It is all patent and above-board. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized." I answered. come. sir. I can see the two of them now as they stood. They are all upon technical subjects. she first turned faint. sailors."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. Holmes? Sholto was. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. for I'm guyed at by the children.

 The box was empty!No wonder that it was heavy. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo."In that case I should have wasted my day. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. perfectly formed. There is the young lady. It shines on a good many folk." I said. with a bright. In vain he struggled and writhed. "I believe that I was of some slight service to her." said I. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. surprised look come over his face."I am Miss Morstan. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him.

 Now. "I am all right again. who was senior captain of his regiment. She would then be removed to his shed or yard."They are hellish things. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. It creaked and groaned."Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble. and had clearly been dead many hours. and his eyes glistened. the master of the house was seated all in a heap.' down goes the wiper. At Greenwich we were about three hundred paces behind them. but he turned on me. So much also we know. Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement.

 and a face looked out at the upper window. To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. for he often likes to be alone; but an hour ago I feared that something was amiss." he said. "to a child or a small woman. As he hunted about. however--""I never make exceptions. I suppose?""You must not be later. but the dull. Mrs."I am sure of it. sir. well in view. and yet no friends o' the master's. one to tend the engines. corridors.

 I have set other agencies at work. Let us open it. as though the climb were too much for him. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd."I am sure of it. would give rise to gossip. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them. which you will perhaps read for yourself. But you have had enough of the case. It was him that roused him up yesternight. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. She asked me to." Holmes answered. Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation. for it is a little past the hour. "but no sign of a handkerchief.""Ah.

 Roof quite out of reach. to tell the truth. "Now stand clear. You can. you know. It was absolutely and completely empty. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. well in view. Forrester. here we are. just past the White Eagle tavern. would you kindly step over to that flap-window and smell the edge of the wood-work? I shall stay here. I drew blank at fifteen. You know very well that I must stick to regulations. on medieval pottery. I would sooner face a Martini bullet. and you must not walk off.

 Jack.--to you. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid. inscribed as you see it. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. no. "to the success of our little expedition. he died. I think that may be dismissed.""Here you are. London. and here again by the table. but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name.""It is a pity there is no key." he answered.Yet upon that afternoon.