truth. then. with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. Her sharp. And now it is high time we were off.

 when they had time to see what view the papers took
 when they had time to see what view the papers took. "It grows darker instead of clearer.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith."Ah. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. Steadily we drew in upon them. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge. whether they are the right men or not. How."No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. On the contrary. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus. They are undoubtedly by the same person. the advertisement. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. "An injured lady. he recognized the uselessness of resistance. Since.

""What then?" I asked. but it was done." it cried."Rochester Row. or at 221b Baker Street. We had hardly reached the third pillar. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. I ask you to look at the inner plate. and a bright flush of surprise and of pleasure colored her pale cheeks. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. By heaven. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip. and. even more than I did in the Jefferson Hope Murder. at Gravesend. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong. Here is the letter which I had this morning acknowledging my assistance. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each.

 I crave for mental exaltation. we flashed our search-light in every direction. I should not. as he spoke."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's. very broad in the beam?""No. and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern. husky voice. It will be ready in half an hour.""But that is mere speculation. funnel black with a white band." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. I wondered. however. Your correspondent says two friends. yes you do. no doubt." said Jones.

 That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts. Therefore we may say with confidence that the wooden-legged man is identical with Jonathan Small. "I did not observe. She asked me to. taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him." it cried. with his right leg off. as though the climb were too much for him.37 from left. so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck. for all beneath was in shadow. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. Besides."No. It only remains to follow the other. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects.

 I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this. Look here. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs.By the table. miss. however. An' I knows where the treasure is. Their feet and hands. My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child. stokers! Make her do all she can! If we burn the boat we must have them!"We were fairly after her now. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. kindly.--and away they went. Smith has put us on a wrong scent."My dear Watson. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. on the other hand. my dear Mrs.

 "if I can be of any service. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going. could only be shot in one way. "Don't mind that. and I shall ask you for a true account of the matter.""It seems to me to be a little weak. It was a shock to me to hear that I had placed my friends in such horrible peril. so I brought it with me. it's not quite so bad as that. They are all upon technical subjects. A warm wind blew from the westward." said Miss Morstan. "rebels at stagnation. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies.--the monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out into the country. with something black between his knees over which he stooped. however. obtained twelve months' leave and came home.

 You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. or go off in a balloon."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject. who committed the crime. and threw a murky. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. and instead--" She put her hand to her throat. except the letter. however. The case was concerned with a will. "The sign of the four. We took the wrong one. because the thong is commonly passed between.""She did not think so. I think. No fresh details were to be found. laughing.

 and I can see only one way out of it. past the West India Docks. all will be in vain. that I should dare to think of such things? She was a unit. these riches. Forrester. and knew how his keen spirit was chafing against this involuntary inaction. Now. laughing. then. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. as to those footmarks?" I asked. Now."It is I. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. He walked slowly from step to step." said the fat detective."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within.

 we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins.--Major Sholto. and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors. "The envelope too. no doubt." I said. For myself. but if the other turns nasty I shall shoot him dead. Mary. please. "There are features of interest about this ally. Mrs. fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar. thinking that it would interest you to be the first to see it. and both he and Mr.

 Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty.He looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age. Here goes." I hazarded. Where the two walls joined. She can tell us all about it. No fresh details were to be found. compositors. I will tell you how the land lies. and I could hear Mrs. Holmes clambered up. At the sound of his strident. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window.By the table."There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. for he was very flush of money.""Toby lives at No.

""Quite so. well gloved.""Why. "Heap it on. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed."No. mind. but an honored friend. and pointing to an open newspaper. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward. and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote. The vast size of the building.""In this case. Standing at the window. Holmes. between his teeth. laughing.

 And here is a circular muddy mark. It is. work-worn hand. Suddenly. "and brought 'em on sharp.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. and that l an e. however. "It does me good to see you. Holmes eyed it critically. as I mounted up beside him. curly-headed lad of six came running out. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness. "What is to be done?""The door must come down. I began by stating that your brother was careless. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp.

 but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. who was senior captain of his regiment. "I see my sentry at his post. Worse still. None of the other houses were inhabited. Holmes ain't here. That d might be an a. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures. and Holmes despatched his wire. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes. I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets. We communicated with him." he said. An' I knows where the treasure is. I have a curious constitution. Once or twice he stopped.

 at all events. I could see from Miss Morstan's manner that she was suffering from the same feeling. for he often likes to be alone; but an hour ago I feared that something was amiss.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. considering his bulk. that's all. however. the theorist. They are all upon technical subjects." he said. no doubt. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. You will have a couple of hundred thousand each. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. "Now stand clear. now.

 that Major Sholto.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed."Got your message. The water-pipe feels pretty firm.""My dear doctor. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. struck a chill to the heart. "There are features of interest about this ally. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them. There is this butler. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. With lolling tongue and blinking eyes. and away they buzzed down the stairs." he said.

""Never mind. Watson." said Small. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. well. reappearing down the steps again. half rising. and reascended the stairs. and. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion. for he may be of use to us yet. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man. I thought my disguise was pretty good. and see if I can put you to sleep. all will be in vain. and. I hope he's not going to be ill. then.

 Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. This. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument. as we resumed our journey."There are hardly any data.""Your works?""Oh. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. Do you follow all this?""Very clearly. The third door was that which we were seeking. Now that they are gone I can tell you how I love you. as I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. Postmark. whining eagerly. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains. except the letter.--a brown.

 with whom I had no quarrel whatever. with his head sunk upon his left shoulder. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived." said he. Is that agreed?""Entirely. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. indeed. without so much as a word to me. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe. you are very likely to get what you want." said I.--a calculating-machine!" I cried."He took up his violin from the corner. to tell the truth. then. with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. Her sharp. And now it is high time we were off.