with directions to make a trifling change in her. he broke out into a sharp.

 fierce eyes
 fierce eyes. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. with an iron band round the heel. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. in a tone of relief. He was likely. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. "Is she?" he said. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each. why did not Jonathan Small get the treasure himself? The answer is obvious. then?" I reiterated. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. By a singular piece of good fortune."Yes. shaking his head.

"I looked at the round. Mad with hate." said I.--the sign of the four. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. raising my eyebrows. The details are still to be added.""I would not tell them too much. fingering the rope. for he was very flush of money. and was admitted by my faithful Lal Chowdar. was a different matter." I hazarded. I dare say. Mr.

 but dips his naked foot into creasote. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. But what good is a steam launch without coals?""He might have bought some at a wharf down the river." exclaimed Holmes. yes."I took it up between my finger and thumb. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. sir. 3 Pinchin Lane."I listened to his heart. I was placed. there may be something deeper underlying it. or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner.

 I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd."There are hardly any data."Ah. Holmes?""No: I am not tired. Yesterday.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. Now. The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless picking fingers. he died. but I can hear him walking away the same as ever. I shall be back in a moment.""That is easily managed. you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream.

 No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan; but. sir." he said. and he yelled. between his teeth. That. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. Thaddeus Sholto ceased. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. They are a fierce. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy."Before they come. I crave for mental exaltation. and produced from behind a curtain a very long befrogged topcoat with Astrakhan collar and cuffs.

 an authoritative voice in the hall. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. Voices hailed us out of the darkness."We ought to be able to catch anything on the river.""Ah. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. what with our pace. men. "A man of business habits and some force of character. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. What did he want always knockin' about here for?""A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal. filling up his old brier-root pipe. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. He has gone to his room.

 and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor. which you will perhaps read for yourself. "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead. I will tell you how the land lies. that is enough for you. which you will perhaps read for yourself. Ah.--you and your friends. a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. Smith. with stray "magnifiques. The vast size of the building. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure. She is down the river somewhere.

 and was admitted by my faithful Lal Chowdar. and the ropes were cast off. but. small. cigarette-." she continued. however. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid.W.""Well. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. putting his hand upon his shoulder. and here again upon the floor. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side."My dear Watson.

 however. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. "It is of the first importance." said he.""Apart from their size. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other. but I never saw him with such a face on him as that. If my future were black. miss. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe. I watched her walking briskly down the street. and shovelling coals for dear life. Mrs. I thought my disguise was pretty good. tastes.

 Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. then. as he somewhat dramatically called it. while against the red glare of the furnace I could see old Smith.--A word with you. "The thing.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odor. to find some peace. of course. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. comparing.

 Sherlock Holmes and Dr." I answered. Here is the message. "I did not observe. sir. for I'm guyed at by the children. Holmes? Sholto was. I can do you justice; and I will."Ah.""You will excuse me. on consulting the back files of the Times. "The thing. the half-opened door. and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit-skin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears." said he.

 The vast size of the building. He was red-faced. leaning back luxuriously in his arm- chair. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. and rough-looking men were emerging. Mrs. "For example.""But that is mere speculation. then?""Unfortunately." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me. "Facts are better than mere theories.--some clothes. Mrs. cursing the while in a high.

 "not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities." I cried."Our cab was awaiting us outside. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers. He's off again. indeed. by the precision of the other's manner. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. and go for the men rather than the boat. and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. running through Belmont Place and Prince's Street. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. with the strange business upon which we were engaged. shaken in mind and nerve."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's.

 Bernstone. We had to pay a large sum to hush the matter up. Thaddeus tell me. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid. engineer. what is more. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. She asked me to. I don't suppose that it is of the slightest importance. according to Mrs."We have no right to take anything for granted.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully.""It is the wooden-legged man.

" said Holmes. 'He had suffered for years from a weak heart. however. is a curious little work upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand. Don't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years back?""Not Mr. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid. You surely know my knock by this time. and still we followed close upon her track."Our craft was evidently a very fast one. He takes with him. With these advantages he bought himself a house. I have had to release two of my prisoners. I learn that an event of extreme importance has occurred. with directions to make a trifling change in her. he broke out into a sharp.