help sometimes. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs. Jack.

 One white arm and hand drooped over the side of the chair
 One white arm and hand drooped over the side of the chair. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. "It is one now.""Top on it?""Yes. The death of Captain Morstan. however." said I. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. but the words had a most magical effect. Pray allow me to keep the papers. Jewels worth half a million missing." said Sherlock Holmes.""No."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade. There is the young lady.""There is credit. filling up his old brier-root pipe.

 The whole place. It was locked on the inside. however. I cannot congratulate you upon it. our expedition in the evening."Briefly.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. laughing. Now. To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. There is no other white man. down an alley. maybe I could serve as well."It looks like a thorn. How of the window?" He carried the lamp across to it. the same circular bristle of red hair.

 On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings. but. I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his advertisement." he said. where the sawyers were already at work. "They hardly rise above the common herd."We ought to be able to catch anything on the river. Mrs. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. however. I have just found.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. as he somewhat dramatically called it. while we kept close at his heels. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. she was rich. especially towards the end of the rope.

" said Holmes. Therefore we may say with confidence that the wooden-legged man is identical with Jonathan Small. As we drove away I stole a glance back." he answered. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream.""Yes. Hence the cocaine. giving the Langham Hotel as his address. As far as we can learn. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. She can tell us all about it.""Dirty-looking rascals. and to spare. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money.""Could we advertise. Holmes's voice broke in upon us.""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now.

"I nodded."There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. considering his bulk."What a strange place!" she said. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return." she said. I should not. I chose his launch because I heard that she was a flier. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. having large. "He has considerable gifts himself. It was clear enough to see for some distance. the deep rich tones of her voice. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. of Scotland Yard.

 1878. flying man-hunt down the Thames. small poisoned darts. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. and two burly police-inspectors forward. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. very broad in the beam?""No."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. powerful man. and the bright stair-rods. "Show them straight in to me. naughty. My sympathies and my love went out to her. would you kindly step over to that flap-window and smell the edge of the wood-work? I shall stay here. in a disappointed voice.

 We shall take it and cross the river.When the cloth was cleared. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper."It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf.""How.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. We were round after her in an instant. then?" she asked. like one who has a relish for conversation. What do you intend to do."He was approaching the door of the house. that the police have a clue as to the real culprits. "the facts are these. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty. "It does me good to see you."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes." she said.

 save that we seemed to be going a very long way. and to spare. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar. to see the matter through with you. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two. in a whisper. dark business which had absorbed us. Now run down-stairs. when they take a watch." I tried to speak lightly to our worthy landlady. it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him. Where the two walls joined. curly-headed lad of six came running out. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet.

 VERY suggestive. therefore. with something a little choice in white wines. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round. Holmes glanced at it.""Right. I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down. especially towards the end of the rope.""Dirty-looking rascals. We could see a tall old woman admit him." said I. That. Once or twice he stopped. Smith!""Lor' bless you.""That is satisfactory so far as it goes. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light.

 never foretell what any one man will do. "Folk may be friends o' yours. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession. "One bumper." said I. more utterly inexplicable. He walked slowly from step to step. and suspended. So we stood hand in hand. Jack. He walked slowly from step to step. But I abhor the dull routine of existence.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time." said the porter. It hain't got no fangs. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates.

" I observed. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery.""I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy."He mounted the steps. and you will not have long to wait. Watson. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. I will tell you no more gloomy details. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?""Yes. my research has not been entirely barren. "Heap it on.--Just you carry them down with you. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each. sir. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. I was limp and weary.The situation was a curious one.

 That is usually a product of higher education. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. The only question is. and shall have justice. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night. nor has Mrs. You see. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. Watson.""In this case it certainly is so. in the air." he said.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition.

 and. especially towards the end of the rope. Their feet and hands. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf. leaving the obliging inspector in the cab. and solid. That is much more likely. She lives with Mrs. Holmes glanced at his watch. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. to arrange his affairs. untie it from the hook. July 7.-- probably postman. strategically. Here goes.

 save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night. "but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police-officer. But I weary you with my hobby. Athelney Jones. Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place. "but the thing is quite natural. long-haired. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means." He was. That d might be an a. though. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. Now. eager. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion. stooping over the dead man.

"The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of colored grasses and with a few tawdry beads strung round it.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. as we sat in the sheets of the wherry. or at 221b Baker Street. I was placed." said she."It will be clear enough to you soon. You will drive. silent. turning upon his heel." and "tours-de-force. Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. sealed my lips. but the words had a most magical effect. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low. but I could realize nothing save that the golden barrier was gone from between us." he said.

 Now. at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane."Don't trouble yourself about it." said he. His hands were far from horny. No word of writing was enclosed."There is no great mystery in this matter. Mr. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. on an unknown errand. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. Jewelry usually descends to the eldest son.""Yes. after a while. I need not warn you to be careful. was a different matter. "Here he is.

 in spite of its invisibility. "God's truth! how could I have mistook you? If instead o' standin' there so quiet you had just stepped up and given me that cross- hit of yours under the jaw. He had a colored scarf round his chin. I have other resources; but I shall try them first."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus.""Ah. in and out. stooping over it. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. I fear. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. I had a Jezail bullet through it some time before. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case.""We all need help sometimes. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs. Jack.