The Wingham Times, 1896-04-10, Page 2f ro r.
By A. Conan Doyre,
[Warne
• surre )nded us.
"What to strange place?" she said,
looking round.
"It looks as though all the moles in
England .tad been let loose in it. 1
,,,inter seen something of the sort on the
side of a hill near Ballarat, where the
prospectors had been at work."
;`Ami from the same cause," said
Holmes. "These are the traces of the
treasure -seekers. 'You must remember
that they were six years looking for it.
No wonder that the grounds look like
a gravel pit."
At that moment the door of the house
burst open, and Thaddeus Sholto eamo
Tannin,; out, with his hands thrown
forward and terror in his eyes.
"There is something amiss with
Bartholomew !" he cried. " I am
fr° -braved! My nerves cannot stand
.01i was, indeed, half blubbering
with i ar, and,. his twitching, feeble
face, l,•,eping out from
hthe great astrak-
han cellar, .tad the helpless, appealing
expression of a ter ified child.
"Como into the ouse," said Holmes,
in his crisp, firm way.
"Yes, do !" pleaded Thaddeus Sholto.
"I really dq; not feel equal to giving
direct ions."
We all followed him into the house
.Icceeper's rooms, which stood. upon the
left -]Land side of tha"'passage. The old
woman was pacing up and down with
avy"scared look and restless, licking
fingers, but the sight of Miss picking
appeared to have a soothing effect upon
her.
"God bless your sweet, calm face 1"
she cried, with an hysterical sob.. "It
does inc good to see you. Oh, but 1
have been sorely tried this day !"
"Master has locked himself in and But be careful, for it is poisoned." have I said to you that when you have . forces may_beat a,. retreat.
will not answer me," she explained. I took it up between my finger and eliminated the impossible, whatever As he spoke, the stops which had
"All day I have waited to hear from thumb. It came away from the skin remains, however improbable, must be ; been corning nearer sounded loudly on
him, for he often likes to be alone ; but so readily that hardly any mark was the truth? We know that he did not ; the passage, and a very stout, portly
1 ago I feared that something 1 •ft behind One tiny speck of blood come through. the door, the window, or 1 man in •, greysuit strode heavily into
caskets. line Ot these appeared to leak
or to have been broken, for a stream of
dark -colored liquid had trickled out
from it, seed the air was heavy with a
peculiarly pungent tar -like odor. A
sot of steps stood at one side of the
moon, in the midst of a litter of lath
;and plaster, and above then there was
an opening in the ceiling large enough
for a man to pass through. At the foot
of the steps a long coil of rope was
thrown carelessly together.
By the table, ha a wooden arm -chair,
the master of the house was seated all
in a heap, with his head sunk upon his
left shoulder, and that ghastly, in-
scrutable smile upon his face. He was
still and cold, and had clearly been
dead many hours. It seemed to me
!stat not only his features but all his
limbs were twisted and turned in the
Most fautastic fashion. By his hand
upon the table there lay a peculiar in-
st unnent—a brown, close -;rained stick.
with a stone head like a hammer,
teddy lashed on with coarse, twine.
THE WI G rA?N ,APP'RIL 10 ;.14,
•
wooden stump. Y'ou see here on the "We ought to have very Tittle trouble
sill is the bootmark, a heavy boot with now, Number One haahad the mic-
a broad metal heel, and beside it is the forts= -to tread in the creosote. You
mark of the timber -toe." can sec the outline of the edge of his
"It is the wooden -logged man." small foot Moro at the sight of this evil -
"Quito so. But there has been some smelling mess.. The carboy has been
one else• --a very able and efficient ally. cracked, you see, and the stuff has
Could you scale that wall, doctor ?" . leaked out,"
I looked out of the open window.; "What then?"' I asked.
The moon still shone brightly on that ! "Why, 'we have get Lipids:, that's all,"
angle of the house. We wero a good. ' said he. "I kuow a dreg thatwould
sixty feet from the ground. and, look follow that scent to the world's end.
trailed. herring
'k can rack tt eel
where I would, 1 could. see Ito foothold, It a pad a # a
lair as muck as. a crevice in the brick, ad toss a shire, how far can a eradiate-
work.
peeislly
work. trained hound follow se: pungent a
"It is absolutely impossible," I an- smell ahs this, ? It sounds like a sum in
eyed, ,e rale ofthree.
gtolaonarissr T]La ileus may ass well haste uu tTie' Burden, I fal:t tl'iat years oil the
ntacle murderous use of it ash aay other
Basan„ The eaxd is some h•'tcusepocus••--•
a• blind., as like as not. Thy only qques-
ti'alra. is, Hew did he (lepton'?' .Ah, of
coarse, hero is a hole in the roof."
With great activity, considleling hip,
bulk, he sprang up the steps amad squeez.
ed through into the garret„ sial im-
nnediately afterward we beard his
exulting voice proclaiming that lie had
found, the trapdoor.
tt
r, T .lt
• nku kP
' shah
seep
' t O A un
a.tLltlht ,
kI
nos >;
Holmes, shrugging his shoulders•, "He
Itats occasional glimmerings of. reason.
I'l n'y a pas des sots si incommodes• que
con vehtionaliti.es oftliiife could ]not teeeit
me• to know hher sweet,• brave nature acs
]Lad this ono day of strange experiences,
Yet then wero tsar' thoughts whia],e
sealed the words of affection upon my
lips.. She was weak aand.helpless, shab-
en irunni nd and in nervte.. It was to taker
her at a. disadvantage top obtrude lovra
upon. r.•at such a t]me,. Worse still, slier
was rich. If Holmes' researches were
successf>'a:l, site would be an h.eiross,
t h n>Llrable hat au
'lb I o t_
' fall F� a ,
WFLs ]t
�' r
]Calf-payr surgeon shoulal ttake advan-
tage of ant intimacy which chance had.
brought about ? Might- she not look.
<>gdr fortune-
_ th ul The answer should. ceux ger oat de 1' esprit!" upon to as a more vu
"IV itltout aid it is so. But suppose give us the— But hallao-! here are "Tense() VT said Athelney Johee, re- seeker 1' I could not bear to risk that '
you had e friend up here who lowered .the accredited representatives of the , appearing down the steps again. such. a thought should mesas her mind.
%oat this good stoutropew!tielt 1 s',r in law," "1'acts.ate better than mere theories,, This Ague treasure intervened like an.
the corner, s.'curin:; on' , u i r to Heavy steps and the darner of loud after all.." My view of the case is eon- impassable barrier between us. •
this great hook in the w::ll. T 1 voices wero audible $rom below, end firmed, There is a trap door comuauni- It was nearly two o'tslock when we,
think, if you were to It :a t' In a. se 1u the hall door shut with a load crash. • eating with the roof, and it is• partly reached Mrs. Uecil Forrester's. The
might cline u:,, w.. • 'p • . ..... "Before they cq�me." said Holmes, ' open. servants•, had retired hones ago, but
'You wouh1 d. •t ' r. "just put your hand here. en this poor ! �'it was I who opened it," it,Mrs. Forrester had
dobeene so i!c lrestes
Y ,fellow'sOle indeed! You dict notice by the s a g g
same ufashion, io arm., el? .sero en his leg.
What do you Ecol ?', then?" Be seemed a little crestfallen 111orr;Cant1'apa.dl received, that: she had sat
draw shut
t th r"
hook, shut lir •"`I'llomuscles are ns�lrarelatbahoard,tt •alt the discovery. "Well, whoever up in thin hope of her• r•A�ttn'n. She
I answered. noticed it;.it .1.oFvs 1. - our gentleman opened the• door herself, a:mi:ddle-aged,
:Insi and get awayin thewaythat "`Quite so. They are is testate of ex- got away. Inspector !" graceful woman. sand it gave me joy to
originally
ri n l i troupe contraction, far exceeding the : "Yes, she"- from the passage. see how tenderly her arm. stole round.
11' oay bo y noted,"eh co a minor,point usual rigor mortis. Conpled. with this a "Ask Mr.. Sholto to step this -way. the other's. waist and -how motherly
i0 .nay be the continued, finger- distortion of the face, this Hippocratic Mr, Sholto, it is my duty to inform you was the voice in which she greeted'her.
in a the rope, that our wooden-leggednor 'risus seedonicus,'' as the old that anything you may say will be She was cliearly no mere paid depend,
friend, though a fair His
ha, was were
wrsmite* used against you. I arrest you is the ent, but an honored friend,. I was in -
writers called it, what conclusion
a rlofessfonal horny.
His hands discloseswoe`would it suggest to your mitiet't Queen' name as being concerned in, the troduced,. and Mrs. Forrester earnestly
moreo from 1 ne b dfy lens,especiallyveva.. death of vow brother."begged me to step in and to tell her our
twthan one blood mark, cle alkah loid " yInan wered: "some "There, now ! Didn't I tell you?" adventures. I explained, hewever. the
Io gash the eat. hef the rope,edfrom which stable a cried the r little man, throwingout importance of me- errand, an 1promisecl
I gather that slipped down with strychnine -like substance rises would. 12e"�
plhis hands, and. looking from one to the faithfully. to call and, report any pro-
hishands.velocitythat he took the skin" off Produce tetanus.
"That was the idea which occurred other of us. grecs wlliali we might matte with the
hi uds.""Don'tbrouble ourself about i:t,.l r. case. As. we drove away I stole a.
"This is all very well," said I, "but to me the instant I saw the drawn y
muscles of the face.. Out getting into Sholto,"'said. Holmes. "I think bleat 1 lance back, and I still seernato see that
the thing becomes meet unintelligible the room I at once looked for the means can engage to clear you of the charge" little group. on the step, the two grace-
than ever. How about tithe room91' b which thepoison had entered the "Don't promise too much,. Mr1 al, clinging ii,eur�es, the half -opened
al" , the came he into the room? tem. As u. saw„ I discovered a Theorist—don't promise too numb, !"door, the hall light shining through
"Yes ally e repeated. Holmes, thorn which had. :been driven or shot snapped the detective. "You may find stained f1:1tss, the barometer, and the
pellsnely. "There are features of in- •'t1 o rest forceinto•the scalp. You it a harder matter than you think. bright stair -rods. It wee, soothing to
Beside it was a torn sheet of note: serest about this •ally. Ise lifts the w 1 t n g•"Not only ,. 1 P
paper with some words scrawled uponregions of the common- observe that the part struck was that y will I clear him Mr. catch even that ) insmg gram se o a
p case from the which would be trrsedtcl�varclthe hole ,Tones, but I will make you a. free tranquil English home in the midst of
it. Hohnes glanced at it, and then place. I fancy* that this ally breaks present of the name and description of the wild„ dark business which had ab -
ha paled. it to Inc. fresh ground in the annals of crime in in the ceiling if the man were erect in one of the two people who were ha the !sorbed ns-
•• t. ou see," he said, with a significant this country—though parallel cases his chair. Now examine this thorn." • room last night. His name. I have • And the more I thought of what had
raa i -inti of the eyebrows. read, suggest themselves from India. and, if 1 took it up gingerly and held, it in every reused to believe, is Jonathan happened.„ the wilder alul darker it
In the light of the lantern I re , my memory serves me,. from Sene the light of the lantern. It was long, small. He is a poorly -educated man • grew. I reviewed the -hole extra -
with a thrill of horror, "The sign of the gambir." ?" sharp and black, with a glazed look shall, active, with his right leg off, and ordinary sequence of events. as I rattled
four." How came he, then I reiterated. near the point as though some gummy wearing a wooden stump which is on through the silent gas -lit streets.
"In ("Tool's name, what does it all. "The door is locked, the window is in- substance had dried upon it. The blunt worn away upon the inner side. His ']`here was the original problem ; that
mean?" I asked. accessible. 'Was it through the shim- end had been tr]rnrned. and rounded off left boot has a coarse, square -toed sole,- at least 'was pretty clear now. The -
"It means murder," said lie, stooping new ?" with a knife. with an: iron band round the heel. He death of Captain Morstan:, the sending
over the dead man. "Ah, I expected ""1'he grate is much too small," he "Is that an English thorn?" he ask- is a middle-agedme,n, much sunburned, of the pearls, the advertisement, the
it. Look here !" He pointed to what answered. "1 have already considered ed, and has been a convict. These few in- letter—we had had light upon all those
looked like a long, dark thorn stuck in Shat possibility." "No, it certainly is not." • dietitians may be of Some assistance to events. They had only !ed us, how -
the s1:iu just above the ear. "How then?" I persisted. "With all these data you should be you, coupled with the fact that there is . ever, to a deeper and far more tragic
"It looks like a thorn," said L "You will not apply my precept," able to draw some just inference. But a good deal of skin missing from tale ; mystery. The Indian treasure, the
"It is a thorn. You may pick it out. he said. shaking his head. How otten here are the regulars ; so the auxiliary palm of his hand. The other man— curious plan found among Morstan a
"Ah ! the other num ?" asked Athel- ' baggage, the strange scene at Major
ney Jones, in a sneering voice, but inn- Sholto a death, the rediscovery of the
pressed none the less, as I could easily treasure immediately followed by the
see, by the precision of the others murder of the discoverer, the very
an hour manner. singular accompaniments. to the crime,
was amiss, so I went r tp and peeped ;showed where the puncture had been. the chimney., We also know that he , the room. Ire was red-faced, burly , "Is a rather curious person," said the footsteps, the remarkable weapons,
S through the keyhole. You must go up, "This is all an insoluble mystery to could not have been concealed in the I and plethoric, with a air of very small a the words upon the card, correspond -
Dir. Thaddeus—you must go up and pie," said I. "It grows darker instead room, as there is no concealment pos- I twinkling eyes which looked keenly Sherlock Holmes, turning upon his
look for yourself. I have seen Mr. of clearer." �sible. Whence, then, did he come ?" I out from between swollen and puffy heel. ' "I hope before very long to be ing with those upon Captain Morstan's
chart—here was indeed a labyrinth in
-
Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sor- "On the contrary,� he answered, "it "He came through the hole in theouches. He was closely followed by• able to intreduce you to the pair of . which a man less singularly endowed
,•
row for ten long years, but I never saw .ears every instant. I only require a roof," I cried. i an inspector in uniform, and by the them. A word with you, Watson." ' than my fellow -lodger might well
'him with such a face on him as that." few missing linkst have an entirely 1 „0f course he did. He must have still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. He led me out to the head of the despair of ever finding the clue.
Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and c•opnnleCted case." ! done so. If you will have the kindness' "Here's a business !" he cried, in a stair. "This unexpected occurrence," ! Pinchin Lane was a row of shaU-
led the way, for Thaddeus Sholto's 11 e had. almost fprgotten our com- to hole. the lamp for me, we shall now . muffled, husky voice. Here s a pretty 11e said, "has caused us rather to lose. by two -storied brick houses in
teeth were chattering in his head. So leaden's presence since we entered the extend our researches to the room above business ! But who are all of these ? eight of the original purpose of our : the lower quarter of Lambeth. 1
shaken was he that I had to pass my . s,atntber. He was still standing In the —the secret room in which the treasure Why, the house seems to be as full as a • journey." had to knock for some time at No. 8 be -
hand under his arm es we went up the doorway, the very picture -of terror, seas found," rabbit -warren," "I have just been thinking so," I faro I could make any impression. t
stairs, for his knees were tremblingA••;u•:in ; his .rands and moaning to Ho mounted the steps, and, seizing a "I think you must recollect me, Mr. answered. "It is not right that Miss . last, however, there was a dint of a
under him. Twice as we ascende cirrl,eif. Suddenly, however, he broke rafter with either hand, he swung him- Athelney Jones," said Holmes. quietly. Morstan should remain in this stricken ;candle behind. •the blind, and a face
Holmes whipped his lens out of his ,.urinto a sharp, querulous cry. ' self up into the garret. Then, lying on "Why, of course I do !" he wheezed, house." ! looked out aft the upper window.
•
pocket and carefully examined marks 1'he treasure is gone -. he said. his face, he reached. << down for the lamp "It's 11r. Sherlock Holmes, the theorist. • "No. You must escort her home. j "Go on, you drunken vagabond,n
which appeared to me to be mere shape- 'Mee- have robbed him of the treasure ! and held it while I followed him. Remember you! I'll never forget how She lives with Mrs. Cecil Forrester, in . said the face. "If you kick up any
•
less smudge's of dtt- upon the cocoa- There is the hole through which we The chamber in whichwo found our- you lectured us all. on causes, and in- Lower Camberwell; so it is not very 1 more row Pll open the kennels and let
nut matting which (served as a stair • lowered it. I helped him a
to do it ! 1 selves was about ten feet one way and ferences and effects in the Bishopgate far. I will wait fer you here, if you i out forty-three dogs at you."
carpet. He walked slowly from step was the last person who saw him ! 1 six the other. The floor was formed by jewel case: It's true you set ,us on the will drive out again. Or perhaps you "If you'll let one out it's just what 1
to step, holding the lamp low, and loft him here last night, and I heard the rafters, with thin lath and plaster right track, but you'll own now that it are too tired?" ' have come for." said I.
shooting keen glances to right and left. .nim lock the door as I came down hetweern, so that in walking one lead. to was more b ood luck than good guide • "By no means. 1<;don't think I could a "Go on !" yelled the voice. "So help
Miss Morstan had remained behind stairs." I -step from beam to beam, The roof ran ante." y g >t g g ' rest until I know more of this'fantastic i me gracious, I have a wiper in this bag.
with the frightened housekeeper. •
« hn time •vc Ls that up to art 1pe� tint, svgs ev silently t Le It was a piece oftvely sump a yeas n
?" = 1 " l reason- business. •
have seen something of
"It was telt o'clock. And ,natnl•hae is Miner shell of the time roof of the house. ing." in ' the rough side of life, but I give you and I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't
c:cad,, and the police will be called in, There was no furniture of ally sort, and "Olt, come now; come ! Never be my word that this Iquick succession of hook it.
and I will be suspected of having a the accumulated crust of years lay ashamed to own up. But what is all strange surprises to -night has shaken ; "But I want a dog," I cried.
hand. in it. Oh, yes, I am sure I shall thick upon the floor. this? Bad. business ! Bad business ! my nerve completely. I should like, i "I won't be areuee \site !" shouted
But you dont think so, gentlemen? "Here you are, you_ see,"said Sher- Stern facts these—no room for theories. however, to see the matter through ' Mr. Sherman. "Now stand clear, for
Surely you don't think that it was I? lock Holmes. putting his hand against How lucky that I happened to be out with you, now that I have got so far." . when I say 'three,' down goes the
Is it likely that I would have brought • the slo ping wall. "This is a trap-door at Norwood over another case ! I was , "Your presence will be of great ser- • wiper." ��
you here if it were I? Oh, dear. ! oh, which leads out on to the roof. I can at the station when the message early- vice to me, he answered, "We shall lilt. Sherlock Holmes— I began,
!leer ! I know that .1 shall go mad ; press it back, and here is the roof itself, ed, 'What d'you think the man died. work the case out independently, and but the words had a most magical ef-
He jerked, his arms and stamped. ,his sloping at a gentle angle. This, then, of ?" ,, leave this fellow e Jones to exult feet, for the window instantly slammed
f:_ et in a. kind of convulsive frenzy. • is the way by which Number One en- "O11, this is hardly a case for me to , over any mare s-uest which he down, and within a minute the,cdoor
"You have no reason to fear, Mr. tered. Let us see if we can find some theorize over," said Holmes, dryly. t may choose to construct. 'When was unbarred and open. Mr. Sherman.
Sholto," said Holmes, kindly, putting other traces of his itedividuelity." "No, no. Still we can't deny that .yeti have dropped Miss Mortan I was a lanky, lean old man, with stoop_
his hand upon his shoulder. Take my He held. down the lamp to the floor, you hit the nail on the head sometimes.' wish you to go on to No. 8 Pinchin ing shoulders, a stringy neck, and blue-
advice.
lue
advice. and drive down to the station and as he did, so I saw for the second Dear me ! Door locked, I understand, i Lane, down near the water's edge. at tinted glasses.
and report the matter to the police. time that night a startled, surprised Jewels worth half a million missing. 1 Lambeth. The third house on the "A friend of Mr. Sherlock is always
Offer to assist them in every way. We look come over his face. For myself, How was the window ?"s eight handl side is aabi.rd-static. s, She welcome," said he. "Step in. sir. Keep
shall wait here until your return," as I followed hie gaze, my skin was "fastened • but there are steps on the ' mall is the nt rues• You will see a clear of the badger, for he bites. • Ah,
The little man obeyed in a half- cold sin er my clothes. The floor was sill."- ( i weasel holding a otteg rabbit i11 the naughty, .haughty ! woul, you take al,
stupified fashion, and we heard him covered. thickly .with the prints of a "Well, well ; if it was fasten(d the window. Rouse„ol• Sherman up, and nip at the gentleman ?"This to a stoat
stumbling down the stairs in the dark, naked foot—clear, well defined, per- steps could havonothing to do with the , tell him, with Iny t mpl.iments, that I which thrust its wicked head and red •
matter. That's common sense. Man ' want Toby at oiled, You will bring eyes between the bars of its cage.
might have died in a fit ; but then the , Toby bac.: in theca with you." "Don't mind that, sir ; it's only a slow -
jewels are missing, Ha ! I have a "A dog, 1 supposes? worm. It ]]ain't got no fangs, so I
theory. 'These flashes come upon mo "Yes, a queer moll;rel, with a most gives it the run o' the room, foritkeeps
at times. just step outside, sergeant, I aunnzing power �,f `b scent. I would the beetles down. You must not .Hind;
and yon, ill. Sholto. Your friend can ' rather have Toby, kelp than that Of my bein' just a little short wi' you at
remain. 'What do you think of this, I the whole detective fordo of London," first, for I'm guyed by the children, s
Holmes? Sholto was, on his owncon- "I shall bring him, then," said I. and there's many a ono just comes
fession, with his brother last night. 1
"It is one now. I ought to bo back down this lana to rouse me up. What
The brother died in a fit, on which 1 before three, if I can get a fresh horse." was it that Mr. Sherlock Hohnes want-
Sholto walked off with the treasure. "And I," said. Holmes, 1'811611 sec ea, sir?"
How's that ?" ! what I can learn from Mrs. Bernstone, "He wanted a dog of yours."
"On which the dead man very con- and from the Indiain servant, who, Mr. "Alt ! that would be 'Toby."
siderately got up and locked the door 'Thaddeus tells meas: sleeps in the next "Yes, Toby was the name."
t11e %ns•u.e," ! garret. Then I shall study the great . "Toby lives at No. 7, ea the We
here." He moved slowly forward with
his candle among the queer animal'
family which he had gathered round ;
him. In the uncertain, shadowy light ,
1 could see dimly that there were . •
come, and how diel they go? The door "I cannot conceive anything which gone. So much also we know. No a , gialicing, glimmerilil; eyes peeping
]pas not been opened since last night. will cover the facts," I answered, one saw the brother from the time I CHAPTER VII. down at us from every cranny anci e
. How of the window?" He carried the "It will be clear enough to you Thaddeus left him. His bed. had • not THl EI'ISO uE gni !• - BARREL, corner. Even the rafters above our .
lamp across to it, muttering: his ob- soon," he said, in an off-httnd way. I been slept in. Tlradcleus is evidently
servatiolrs aloud the while, but ad- think that there is nothing else of im- in a most disturbed state of mind. His I Tho police lute ti. ought a cab with
dressing them to himself rather than to portance here,, but I will look," He you
is—well, not attractive. a them, and in this I escorted Miss
me. "Window is snbibed on the inner whipped out he lens and a tape -meas- �C ou see that I ,am weaving Inv web 1 Morstan back to her henna After thn
side. Framework is solid. No hinges pre, and ].tarried about the room on his round Thaddeus. The net begins to angelic fashion of women, she had
at the side. Let us open it. No water knees, measuring, comparing, examin- close upon ]aim." I borne trouble with a calm face as long
pie near. Roof quite out of reach. ing, with his long thin nose only a few "You are not 'quite inpossession of ' as there was seine one weaker than
Yet a man has mounted by the win- inches from the planks, and his beauty the facts yet," said Hohnee "This ' herself to sup ort, and I had found her
It rained, a little last night. eyes Om -sting and deep-set like those • splinter linter of wood, which I have every I bright and placrct- by the sale of the
dnw. n � ii n
Here is the print of a foot in mole, upon ora bird. So swift, silent and furtive reason to believe top be poisoned, was in , frightened hence eeper. • In the cab, heatation, a lump of sugar which the .
And here is a circular tnit(ld y were his movements. like those of a the man's scalp, Where youstill see the i however, site first turned faint, end •
cher naiauralist handed to me, and, have;
the sill.3'
mark, and here again upon the floor, trained blued -bound Welting out a mark ; this card, inscribed as you see thele burst into a passim) of weeping, so ing thus sealed an alliance, it follott+eci
and here again b the table. Sec here, scent, that 1 coal not but think what it, was on the teble; and beside it lay ; sorely had she bt:cn tried by the ad- pie to the cab, and made .,no
Watson ! again
is really a very pretty a terrible erintinel he would have made
this rather curious steno -bended. in- ;ventures of the night. She has told mo
difficulties about accompanying rite. I
demonstration." he'd he turned his energy and sagacity strument. How does all this fit into sake that she thought me cold and dig-
.
It had just struck three on the '
I looked. at the rotted, well-defined, against the law instead of exerting your theory?, s; j taut upon that gurney. Slro, little palace clock when 1 found my elE
mudddiscs. "This is not a foot- them in its defence. As he hunted "Confirms it in every respect," said guessed the struggle withal my breast, bac.: once more at 1'oircl!cherry Locke.
meek*" said I about 11e kept ,enttttertng to himself, the fat detective, pompously. Hoose or the effort of so f eestraint winch ]rend
The third flight of stairs ended in a
straight passage of some length, with a
great picture rn Indian tapestry upon
the right of it anll three doors upon the
left. Holmes a anced along it in the
same slow and methodical way, while
we kept:. close at his heels, with our
long black shadows streaming back-
ward clown the corridor. The third
door was that whicll we were seeking.
Holmes knocked without receiving any
answer, and then tried to turn the
handle and. force it,`' It was locked on.
'the inside, however,' and by a broad
and powerful bolt, as we could see
when we set our lamp up against it.
The key being turned, however, the
hole was not entirely closed. Sherlock
Holmes bent down to it, and instantly
rose again with a sharp intaking of the
breath.
"There is something devilish in this,
Watson," said he, more moved. than I
had ever before seen him. "What do
you make of it ?"
I stooped to the hole, and recoiled in
horror. Moonlight'was streaming into
the room, and it was bright with a
vague and shifty radiance. Looking
straight at me, and suspended, as it
were, in the air, for all beneath was in
shadow, there hung a face—the very
free of our companion Teaddeus. There
was the same high, shining head. the
same circular bristle of red hair, the
same bloodless countenance. The fea-
tures were set, however, in a horrible
smile, a fixed and unnatural grin,
which, in that still and moonlit room,
was' more jarring to the nerves than
any scowl or contortion,. So like was
the face to that of our little friend that
I looked round at him to make sure
that he was indeed with us, Then I
recalled to my mind. that he had men-
tioned to us that his brother and he
were twins. -
"'This is terrible !" I said to Holmes,
"What is to be done ?"
"The door must rotne down," he
answered, and, springing againstit, he
CHAPTER VL freely formed, but scarce half the size
of those of an ordinary man.
SHERLOCK HOLMES GIVES A "Holmeschild has hone tsaidis h in a -whisper, "a
DEMONSTRATION. He had recovered. his self-possession
"Now, Watson," said Holmes, rub- in an instant. "I was staggered for
bine, his hands, "we have half an hour the moment," he said', "but the thin
to ourselves. Let us make good use of • is quite natural. My memory failed
it. My case is, as I.have told you, al- me, or I should have been able to fore-
most complete ; but we must not err on tell it. There is nothing, more to bo
the side of over -confidence. Simple as learned ]fere. Let us go down."
the case may seem now, there may be "What is your theory, then, as to
something steeper underlying it." those, footmarks?" I asked, eagerly,
"Simple !" I ejaculated. when wohad regained. the lower room
"Study," said he, with something of once. more. an
the air of a clinical professor expound- "My dear •Watson, try a little "Hum ! There's, a flaw there. Let Jones' methods, and listen to his not
ingto his class. "Just sit in the corner analysis yourself," said he, with a us apply common sense to the matter. too delicate said dsins. `Wir shut
thre that your footpwwints may not towel of impatience. "You know my This Thaddeus Sholto was his brother; gewohnt class die :Stenschen verhehnen
complicate matters. Now to world methods. Apply them, and it will be there was a quarrel,-; somuchwoknow. ; was tie nichtverstchen. Goethe is
In the first place, how did. these folks instructive to compare results." •The brother is dead and the jewels are i always pithy.",
put all his weight upon the lock. It
creaked. anti groaned, but did not yield.
Together =see flung ourselves upon it
once more, and this time it gave way
with a sudden snap, and we found our-
eelve;t within Bartholomew Sholto's
chamber.
It appeared to have been fitted up WI
sac• chemical laboratory. .A. double line
of glass -stoppered ,bottles was drawn
11 upon the wall o site the door, and
the table was literalotter with Bunsen
burners, test tubes, and retorts. In the
,emcee stead carboys of acid in wicker
heads were lined by solemn fowls, who
lazily shifted their weight from one le
to the other as our voices disturbed '
their slumbers.
Toby proved to be aft ugly, long-
haired, lop-eared creature, half-spaniol !
and half -lurcher, brown and white 1n .
color, and with a very clumsy, wad-
dling gait, It accepted, after some
ts is something Mush more valet- aril finally ho broke out into a loud i$ full of Indian curiosities. '('haddens nye back. My syrnriathies and my love
able to us. It is the impeession of a crow of delight.
"'VVWake" e ase certainly in rk,;" said he,
[To EE CONZ'IVU i1.7
brott,eht this up, such if this splinter be event eat to her, eyen fes my land ltiiid'