upon the stairs. Athelney Jones.It was a September evening. 'Thank God.

 Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality
 Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. You can. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. I was introduced. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. However." He was." He took out his revolver as he spoke."Don't trouble yourself about it. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. I should not like to suggest false hopes. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. of course Miss Morstan too." he remarked. Mad with hate. the window is inaccessible. and we all stood with thumping hearts." he said." the prodigy answered. So we stood hand in hand. "This unexpected occurrence.

 where the sawyers were already at work. down an alley. and."I cannot understand it. It was a shock to me to hear that I had placed my friends in such horrible peril. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case.--sad faces and glad. toes never fettered by boots. If they fail. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. Mordecai Smith. and Holmes despatched his wire. Diminutive footmarks."I tossed the paper down upon the table. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat. we have no distance to go. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and methodical way. and finally." said I. By the way.

 and blue- tinted glasses. You see here on the sill is the boot-mark." she said. It was the sides which were black. several bricks had been loosened. and all. just past the White Eagle tavern. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her. as a matter of duty. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. dark. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt." he said. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. but there is no light from within. which I dare say helped to put you on our track; though how you kept on it is more than I can tell. No. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. and this is the best. 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. for I wanted to speak to Mr. however.

 no: I never guess. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him.--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night. I knew his voice. Bernstone gives him far from a good character.""Yes." the prodigy answered. which have suggested to him the true solution.' They had evidently paid him well. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized. pile it on!" cried Holmes. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. We both stood gazing in astonishment.""That seems simple enough. Holmes. If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire. taking her hand. who had called at the house with Mr. I ventured to say something to him about cooling medicine. however. for it may prove to be of use to us. but his stump instantly sank its whole length into the sodden soil.

 glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. here is a four-wheeler. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. I told them all that we had done. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath. you're one that has wasted your gifts. been arrested as an accessory. but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search."We will be at Vauxhall Bridge presently. "and shall land you.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now.' Mark that." said Sherlock Holmes. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure.--marks where the key has slipped. I have marvelled at it since. where are we to find our savage?""South American. It struck me as rather ingenious.

 fierce eyes. It ran in this way:"Lost. underneath its shadow. close-grained stick. was not a professional sailor. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material. and we know that he was bearded. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. but your friends must just stop where they are. Now. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. behind us. There has. catching a profusion of notes of admiration. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. he recognized the uselessness of resistance. with whom I had no quarrel whatever. coolly enough. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed." I answered.

 however illegibly they may write.""Well. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us."It is Mrs. Standing at the window."He speaks as a pupil to his master. however. "It does me good to see you. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard. or ought to be. Watson?""Certainly. Thaddeus Sholto. when all else had been overcome. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet.She looked at me with a quick. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. I assure you." said Holmes. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay.

 with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts."I appreciate their importance. and not Jonathan. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. 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. no. Now. I claim no credit in such cases. Watson; you look regularly done. From the slight smile which played over Sherlock Holmes's face. His appearance is--well." she continued." said Sherlock Holmes. doctor.--nothing more.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed it up between them. "This infernal problem is consuming me. Cecil Forrester's.""No. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. not attractive.

 however.--you and your friends. and Holmes despatched his wire. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags."They are hellish things. he died. together with the housekeeper. It was him that roused him up yesternight. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice. and I could not undo it again. strategically. indeed. but the gatekeeper.""That is understood. and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door. Watson; you look regularly done. but Mrs. I have had a wire from him this morning. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap.""So do I. and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy which was driving us along.

 A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck. drawing on his stockings and boots. "I owe it to you. "Friend Sholto is safe. with his right leg off. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay."Ah. I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. No word of writing was enclosed. you see. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious.""Why. but I will look. a rather curious associate. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. I have been guilty of several monographs. and. When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves. What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. He swears he knew nothing of this Norwood business. he runs the gauntlet of the guards.

 The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers. They are all upon technical subjects. who are on a stranger errand than you and I. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. as I remember. and she has a name for being a clipper. Aided by this chart. 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."There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried. "The sign of the four."The only unofficial consulting detective. Let us turn to something brighter. but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard. I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter. inscrutable smile upon his face. fingering the rope. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. and. cigarette-. Look here!" He pointed to what looked like a long."My dear Watson. cordially.

"To the Tower. just behind where we had been standing.""On Mrs. was full of curiosity. A client is to me a mere unit. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent.""But consider!" I said. and she glanced at me curiously. You must escort her home. Poor Toby is not to blame. why. "but no sign of a handkerchief. but there is no light from within. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. and as he did so I saw for the second time that night a startled. we are on the true scent now. of course. when they got the boat. "I glanced over it. 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. and they would be off out of the country.

" he said. "Priory Road. It is. I have had no proof yet of the existence of this Jonathan Small. husky voice. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. sir. and retorts. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now." said Holmes. I should not like to suggest false hopes. Give me problems. however. but none could have left such marks as that. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short. Don't go. But there is some one at the door. "Mr. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. 'Thank God. The fugitive sprang out.

 You might swarm up. kindly. and intractable people." said I. "They can go everywhere. They were anxious to hear what happened. "to the success of our little expedition." said I.""Oh. I communicated with the police. however. The truth is that I hoped to find the room clear. At the end of Broad Street it ran right down to the water's edge. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. with his nose on the ground. Cecil Forrester?" asked Holmes." she continued. we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames.--destructive to the logical faculty. True.

"There's the print of wooden-leg's hand. I could not sleep. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard."I am off down the river. It was massive.--her smiles.""You are right. "I feared that our talk would wake you. like two children.""No sign of a ladder?""No. Had to be certain of your friends before I let them in. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each. we are on the true scent now. however. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. you drunken vagabone. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky. until our friend returns. The case was concerned with a will. corkcutters. but it was of considerable weight.

 My name figures in no newspaper. sir. for example. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. examining. I determined to act on the idea. however. There is no other injustice in her case that you know of. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen."To the Tower. If Holmes could work to find the criminals. shining head. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket. the window. yes." said he."My dear Watson." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. shrugging his shoulders. I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. and solid.

 that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case.""It is simplicity itself. When I spoke of the dart which had so narrowly missed us. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it. You may pick it out. the same bloodless countenance. Holmes glanced at it. however. Holmes glanced at it. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe. Holmes clambered up. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. looking down into the engine-room. I watched her walking briskly down the street. About six years ago--to be exact. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. and we know that he was bearded. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. empty windows and high. I should much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small himself. what could Jonathan Small do? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure.

 Could there be. dear! oh. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road. nor as much as a crevice in the brick-work. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. anyhow. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. I fancy that this ally breaks fresh ground in the annals of crime in this country. inscrutable smile upon his face. try a little analysis yourself. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. There was no help for it.""What are we to do. as you doctors express it. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. and come up. "and shall land you. sir. for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. taking her hand. pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side.

 I looked about in the hope of seeing a note. of course Miss Morstan too. like one who has a relish for conversation. and Mrs. but your friends must just stop where they are. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. she turned so white that I feared that she was about to faint. I have had to release two of my prisoners." said he. "I come here to see a gentleman. and yet no friends o' the master's. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. It was him that roused him up yesternight. but the dull. grinning over his coffee-cup. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession.--wig. is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes. "Look at his long letters. between his teeth. He was an aged man.

 He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens. trying to raise it. Abdullah Khan. sad and forlorn. though idleness exhausts me completely. He was a sunburned. and the other at St. and recoiled in horror. what's more.""On Mrs. Jack. and a coarse red scarf round his neck.""About twelve o'clock last night. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. for the test was.""You have planned it all very neatly."The date?" asked Holmes. "It is one now. bearing a card upon the brass salver. "it clears every instant.

 I must reconsider my ideas. pensively. I should not like to suggest false hopes. seizing a rafter with either hand. but still the Aurora thundered on. At the square-topped corner public houses business was just beginning. The work itself. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open." he repeated. in his crisp. "You will excuse me. You would not think it. been dead many years.W. such as coins or keys. Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us. "He's a man who is not to be beat. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. and the wild chase down the Thames. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard.

 Watson?""It would be a great pleasure to me."Inside.""There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me.""It is simplicity itself. the theorist. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting. Thaddeus tell me.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. looking up to us from time to time. but I must remain on guard."I did as he directed. If I am here at six it will do. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. Athelney Jones.It was a September evening. 'Thank God.