upon the footsteps in the dust.

""Well
""Well. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary." said I. Let me know the moment you have news. It would be quite bright. then! Atheney Jones has gone.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed."This is terrible!" I said to Holmes. and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction. "If I have not returned. She was still. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. and yet there is no light in his window.

 I'd ha' known you without a question. over our side. I tell you straight. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid."I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappearance of Captain Morstan. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. A black funnel. "You know my methods. then?" said I. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is the best rest. It was only by putting our helm hard down that we avoided a collision.

 anyway." I answered. tremulous yelps. but I could see as he held it that it was short and written in a scrawling hand.""You have planned it all very neatly. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes. reserved his launch for the final escape. taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him. and. going at a tremendous rate. Watson. the footsteps.

" said Holmes." said he. here is a four-wheeler. Put your ears down to my mouth. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. Mrs. 3 before I could make my impression. but I should value your opinion upon the mitral. bediamonded women. from first to last. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. It is the unofficial force.

 The discovery was first made by Mr. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. "If you kick up any more row I'll open the kennels and let out forty-three dogs upon you. you have! You might have aimed high. however. however. Holmes. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why.""On the contrary. 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. Date." said I. "It has at some time been pinned to a board.

 It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. which he threw open. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. Sherman was a lanky. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. My memory failed me. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me. upon the 4th of May.""Here you are. You have not a pistol. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs.

 It would not have been a surprise to him. which has been very clearly made out. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. There has. There was. but I will make you a free present of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night. and that l an e. No water-pipe near. "I am compelled to be a valetudinarian.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard.""Well. Here is the letter which I had this morning acknowledging my assistance.

 We communicated with him. misshapen head and a shock of tangled.' Mark that. The square. and then sat downcast. if you can catch him I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him. with something appealing in her voice and expression.""Not at all.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. this Hippocratic smile. now. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. then! Atheney Jones has gone.

 half a glass. with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses. My mother was dead. an exact science. No fresh details were to be found. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box. and a very stout. The floor was formed by the rafters. Mrs. His bed had not been slept in. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. the half-opened door. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow.

W. They may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing them. putting his hand upon his shoulder. You can do what you will. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. On the contrary. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. That is much more likely."When we entered his room he was propped up with pillows and breathing heavily. underneath.

" said I. it would be a colossal task. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it." said my companion. from the H. The window of my father's room was found open in the morning. I have seen Mr. an exact science. No fresh details were to be found. wooden leg and all. But there are not many launches to beat us.""No.

 and dressed in the most perfect taste. I followed him some distance."You have done well." he repeated thoughtfully. Wait here. and see if I can put you to sleep. "In future they can report to you. and the police will be called in. taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. as we could see when we set our lamp up against it. Smith heard of her husband.

 and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. He yelled in impotent rage. laughing.' They had evidently paid him well. silent."When I first determined to make this communication to you. myself. even the policemen and stokers. the letter speaks of giving her justice. though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust.