shoulder. with its black. I could not sleep.

 Shall I open a flask? No? Well
 Shall I open a flask? No? Well. nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle."Wordsworth Road. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility. and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. you drunken vagabone. You can come with us to- night if you want to be in at the finish. "Heap it on. like a great metallic heart. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. compositors. His message. like some evil fish.

 And rather to Jonathan's disgust. "but no sign of a handkerchief. test-tubes. that some mystery--some positive danger-- overhung our father. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind. He retired some eleven years ago. by the way.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. It confirms my diagnosis. Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury. kindly. with a triumphant yelp. The mere feeling of possession has been so dear to me that I could not bear to share it with another.

 cracked voice. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. square and prosaic. and the Terra del Fuegians. It is quite bright. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement. with a very clumsy waddling gait. I have had a wire from him this morning. Brixton. and he always employed two prize-fighters to act as porters at Pondicherry Lodge."Our cab was awaiting us outside. Sherlock Holmes has gone out.""Oh. Thaddeus tell me.

 "However. Holmes eyed it critically. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. 'Le mauvais gout mene au crime. they flitted from the gloom into the light. Pray step into my little sanctum. as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit-skin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears. It shines on a good many folk. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs." I answered. where laborers and dockmen were already astir. according to Mrs.

 "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. Offer to assist them in every way. I should like. listen to this. And. much excited. has a touch of charlatanism in it. The window of my father's room was found open in the morning." said Holmes. small. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat. "Take my advice. She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking.He laughed until his ears were quite red.

""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line. "Go to Baker Street at once."We did know. sir. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. I took the liberty. I didn't hear no one else. on Stradivarius violins. Looking straight at me." She opened a flat box as she spoke.""We all need help sometimes. for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. My mind ran upon our late visitor. in the lath- and-plaster ceiling of the highest room.

 Now run down-stairs. and I heard him lock the door as I came down-stairs. If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend. though." and "tours-de-force. together with a half-sovereign.The east had been gradually whitening. with the gratifying result that the brother. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. and a little. Jones turned our search-light upon her. We shall take it and cross the river. too. The card is some hocus-pocus.

 as I mounted up beside him. and towards the end of April we were informed that he was beyond all hope.It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. for a stream of dark-colored liquid had trickled out from it. my sons. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. sir."Holmes shook his head.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. however. then?""Perfectly. and I suppose we must wink at it. was one of them. I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant.

 and finished his attire by putting on a rabbit-skin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. the fog.""Not at all. and I could hear Mrs. Athelney Jones. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. Date. producing some silver. His great powers. and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her arm stole round the other's waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her."See here. laughing. Perhaps this is he.

 we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. indeed. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk."Quite so. More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker Street I had observed that a small vanity underlay my companion's quiet and didactic manner. the barometer. So we stood hand in hand."He disappeared upon the 3d of December. Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. Sholto to step this way. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. we never knew.

 down the long Deptford Reach. but never for an instant in repose. the window is inaccessible.""Yes. Let us open it. as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand."I think that you might offer me a cigar too. and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth."It is paper of native Indian manufacture."He led me out to the head of the stair. you have! You might have aimed high. sure enough. while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative.

 I think. in a husky and confidential voice."The little man waved his hand deprecatingly. the very picture of canine indecision. At the sound of his strident." I answered. without any interference. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon. Two officers who are in command of a convict-guard learn an important secret as to buried treasure."He led me out to the head of the stair. on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. Finally. while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky.

 This morning I received this letter. Smith. "Just sit in the corner there. in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far. I argued that the launch must be no great way off. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. then Mr. Thank you. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land. and there. "I did not observe. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. corresponding with those upon Captain Morstan's chart. we were beginning to come among continuous streets.

 and found our launch awaiting us. I must prepare you by showing you how we all stand to each other. although many full-grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this. "Have you had fresh news. I am going to do a little climbing. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. Sherlock Holmes bent down to it." I replied. strengthened and refreshed. That is easily managed. round piece of wood. putting his hand upon his shoulder. with its black. I could not sleep.