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The Wingham Times, 1896-04-17, Page 2ts, . vriTz Si -Yr) 0 0 0 * f tber By A. Conan Doyle. [u 1a rI' eettal +• i Huta 1 • MTrliu.dc, The ex -prize-fight 1 tc, s; 1 ,. • cd4. oty found, been, arrest cl as jilll ,L ., Sholtohad been a 1 1 I . , I d, h._1t1, 1 and both t ul 1 mareInel01E to th station, Two con- stabl s guarded. tt i marrow gate, but they allowed c to rtes with the doe on lily mcntionigg the detective's mum,. r door- step, ' deo r•• cn do the •, teal 7 Holmes vas ti � g t e k t s : in di• a 4 , • uls1 a v , with his 1L,11 ,te, i .m(iilpipe,c • "?, h. y itt have hien there !" said he. (co"l r. ,,;, then ! Athelue y Jotios lou gone. We have hacl an immense dis- play o; ( twisty sines. you left. Ha has arreatc• ; u•nt only friend Thaddeus, but the ga'• •l.•.cp. r, the housekeeper, and the liesse-:n ;errant, We have the ,,,,iel tb"t t" t • mute to ]Ves ,but for a sergeant upstairs. L :aye the dog here and coxae nip." We t' +dl Toby to ;the hall table, incl red:: ee, .d+il the stairs. The room rviLS act • 1 +ft it ti'Lve that a Sheet had THE WINGR,Alit TIMES, APRIL 17, 1896, faulty?, "No;it is clear and concise." "`Wel, now, let us put ourselves in . the place of Jonathan Small. Let us look atit from his point of view.He p comes to England with the doublidea of regaining what he would consider to Ile his right and of having his revenge • upon the man who hacl wronged. him.. . li.e found out where Sholto lived, and very poseibly he established commui- cations with some 0'cinsidethe11o l s . Lii There is this but1Cr, LallaO whom we Mrs. 1 �0 •.notCl 1 't 011e gives h t,e a �,J alas a far from a good ellaractee, Small could not find out, however, where the treas- ure was hid, for no one ever knew, Faye the major aiicl ono faithful servant who had died. Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death -bed. In a frenzy lest the dseeret of the treasure die with him, 11 •• runs the gauntlet of the guards, mak s his way to the dy- ing man's lost,en1 is only deterred from entering by the presence of his a most comical c ld, to its'head,like M ling the bouquet 011e connoisseur all 1 a C to g o• s then t Holmes 1famous vin @. a E a ,, f pl•chief to a dis- stout cord to the id led lam to the foot The creature in - ii a succession loll o high, f 11(1, with his nose 011 s tail in the air, pat - trail at a pace which and. kept t usatthe threw the hand twice, fastened mongrel's collar, of the water-barr s•• t,aatt1broke. int y tremulous yelps, the ground, and 1- tered off upon the, strained his slea •1 , s topof our speed. it The east had ben gradually whiten- ing, and we caul now see some dis- tance in the co 1, gray light. The square, massive onse, with its black, empty windows . 1r.1 high, Dare walls, towered up. sad alai forlorn, behind us. Our course led rigit across the grounds, in and out among Vie trenches and pits -with which they were scarred and in- terseoted. The chole place, with its s=•attercd dirt ]Yaps and ill -grown shrubs, had a bli'' ]ted, ill-omened look p l 1 ,t { over themetal beau C. A which ha moniz d with lth tho blackck over lt. i • winch he rsergeantg 3 g .,•reclined d weary to ,icing po.lto 1 e On reaching the boundary wall Toby lu"t!tH testier. , n " ran along, whisking eagerly, under - said toy companion. "`]row tie this bit • neath its shadow and stopped finally sohang it nett corner scree' ed by a young beech. of care ltltlllC� r tg+ c r. •al 't1 „rr Cl. • IS joined, " rAl-+>' two tel. here the - Now I h in fa - t of me. Thank you mist kick off me- hoots and stockings. ],ricks llacl beet loosened, and the .Tust you carry them clown with you, ' crevices left were worn down and Wet:on. I alp going to do a little i rounded upon theQ" lower side, as though • climb ti;. Anel elfin any handkerchief • they had frequently been usecd as a into the creosote: That will do. Now ! ladder. Holme clambered up, and, come tip into the. garret with me for a taking the dog rola me, he dropped it mom. nt." over upon the of ter side. We elambercd up through the holo. "There's the print of wooden -leg a Holm, s turned his light once more hand," he remar ted, as I hnouuted up upon footsteps the footsteps in the dust. beside him. ".You sec the slight "1 wish yon particularly to notice smudge of blood upon the plaster. tl f t l: " l L'cl Da you V...1 ett a lucky thing it. is that we have two eons. Mao..with ]late, however, g• i st the dea man he enters the .t n a , - 1 his private thatnight, searches os roam papers in the hope of discovering wino memorandum Noting to the treasure, to nto of his a memento finally leave.. to and ix t Y upon visit in the short- inscription ] r planned. doubtlessla tt 1 batt 1 1 card. He 1 . slay the d 10 . La that shell] l beforehand t a bof Y major he would.]cove some such record upon the body as a sign that.it was not a common murder, but, from the pont of view of the four associates, some- thing in the nattue. of an act of jus - lice. Whimsical of this kind are cot annals of crime, valuable indicatio id bizarre conceits mon enough in the and usually afford as to the criminal. Do you follow all tUis ?" "Very " dearly." a t "Nov,Jonathan Small •otuld , of a -na NoryWhat c T do? He could. only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure. Possibly he leaves England and. only comes back at inter- Then i ••o h G ft c 7e discovery o one.. tl vel.. J.hen c � garret, 1ul(1lieis inset a'i l; informed of it. We again tra e the presence of some confederate Jonathan, with ii utterly unable to re, of Bartholomew Sh the foot of`Kenninggton Trane they hail edged away to the left through ]pond street and Miles street, Where the latter street turns into Knight's place, Tobybeg ma It ] h o advance,b l le a' t, ceased to e with 1. e run backward and fortvaa•d o 1 ear cocked and the other drooping, the very pieture of canine indecision, 'l'1!: n he waddled. round in circles, looks le e up to us from time to time,. its if to ask tor sympathy in his embarrass- ment. mbarrass- . l l ] t. t(1 "What the deuce is the platter with the dog ?" growler] Holmes. "They surel • would not tate a cab, or go off in a balloon." "Perhaps they stood Here for some time," 1 suggested. "Alt ! it's ell right. Bo's off again," said my companion in a tone cf relief. ito was, indeed, oil : for, after sniff- ing round. again, ii0 sadaellly made up with his ]pilo], dal . darted away an energy and d termination such as ho The o n cent ap- peared t rt s Ihitd not e 1 peared to yet m ch hotter than before, for lie had. not Oven to put his nose on the ground, b t tugged at his leash, and tried to br L1: into a run. I could. 1 e that in Holmes' eyes see Uv theglee.H 3 he thought we ere nearing the end of our journey. ran Nine Elms •coarse] mew down Our t 9 Broderick and Nei. •an '•o al until we c ] e /, son's large timber yard, just past the White Eagle tivern. ere the dog, frantic with exoltement, turned dowel through the side gate into the judos - tire, where the sa vyers were already at work. On the d a. raced through saw- dust and shavin s, down an alley, round a 11passage,.. between two wood- piles, aliit ilnatlly;"with a triumphant yelp, sprang upon large barrel, whale still stood upon lie handl-trolley en 1"i} 1 brought. "With 1 which loci be h Walled linkingg e lolling tongtiee and eyes, Toby stood] upon th(3 ,cask, looking from one to the other of 'tuafor some sign of an- i predation. The 'tataves of the barrel and the wheels df the trolley were smeared] with a dark liquid, and the whole air was heavy with the smell of 1 the ]household. , creosote. wooden leg, is' SIMI:lock Holmes anal I looked ch the lofty room ' blank]\ gat each other, and then burst Ito. He takes with s!multalteously into an uncontrollable him, however, a rtther curious asso- fi't of tauvlit'4 • f c•iate, who gets over this difficulty, but ° •CIIAP:C ;R VIII: dips his naked foot into creosote, . `` whence. come 'Toby, and a six -mile THE LAKER STREET IRREGU- limp for a ]telt-pay officer with a dam- • n LA S. agt.cl Achilles tendo. i 'Tut it was titan associate, and not w ,••;ii• now I skec1. "Toby has (lisappoT lied voles, "I and sorry for weary, llelogged in lain', :.iii 2aligued that, for I wanted to speak to M. in body. I had not the professional Smith." "He's been away since yesterday anoanin', sir, and truth to tell, 1 am be- ginning to feel frightened about him• sir,maybe. 1 Ll L Ott 'i lir was be- ginning f c'oLlltl serve as well," "1 wanted to ]lire his steam launch," "Why. bless you, sir, it is in the steam launch that the has gone, That's what puzzles me; for I know there k ain't more collie 111 her than would tit, e her to about Woolwich and back. If he'd been away in the barge I'd Ila' thought nothin ; for many e time a job has taken ]Lim as far es Gravesend, and then if there was much doin' there Ile might ha' stayed over, But what good is a steam launch without coals?" "He might have bought some at a wharf down the river." , r "Hohis might, sir, but it weren't t s beard him way. Many a time I've ] ea call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. Besides, I dont like that wooden -legged man, wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk. What did he ' ' here fol want always ]cnocl,lal about "A wooden -legged. man?" stud Holmes, with bland surprise. "Yes, •-facet Lope 1 c'•.brown,'n 11 . u a3 ' ' 7 ]nolo 11 once for • calledmy chap t lieu 1 schim 't that roused. • m t a o. old. man. It was ]p till yesternight,. fond,. what's more, `Lay man knew he was corrin', for he had steam up in the launch. I tell you straight, sir, I don't feel easy in my mince about it." "But, my dear Mrs. Smith," said Holmes, shrugging his shoulders, "you are frightening yourself abolitnotlhing. How could you possibly tell that it was - the wooden -legged man who came in the night ? I don't quite understand " you canoe so me. how 3 ous "His voice, til I knew his voice, which is kind o' tick and foggy. He tapped at the winder—about three it world. be. 'Show :L leg, matey,' says he ; 'time to turn ojtt guard.' My old 7 my t- - tt s eldes '1n— lti man woke np Ja i and away they went; without so much. as a' word to ine. s I could hear the wooden leg clackin' n the stones." "And was this w odon-legged man alone ?" "Couldn't say, I am sure, sir. I • didn't hear no one el e." trained. and experienced faculties were "I am, sorry, Mrs. mith, for Iwanted at once directed toward the detection a steam launch, n id I have heard of the - criminals, with the gratifying good reports of the—Let me see, what result that the brother, Thaddeus is her name?" Slloito, has alreiuly been arrested, to - "The Aurora, sir," gether with the housekeeper, Mrs. "'Alt ! She's not that old green Bernstone, an Indian butler named enthltsiasm w11ic1L'carried my cotnpan ion on, nor could I look at the :natter as it mere abstract iutellcetllill problem Bartholomew a h of 1. a joie let me • as the w far a heard lift] good leaf 0f 10 lad Rohm went, ez Hloll ot, i loan, and could feel no intense anti- pathy to his murderers, The treasure, however, was a different platter. That, or part of it, belonged rightfully to Miss Moreton, While there was a it,lrvasciul t '111 : 0 p e ' t eC tY chance 0 1 7z rlltLa devote my life to the one object• tJ.rue, if I found it, it would probably put her forever beyollcl lay reach, Yet , it would. be a petty alai selfish love which would be hilluenced. by such a thought as that. If Holmes could work to find the criminals, 1 ]lad a tenfold stronger reason to urge ale on to find the yeas-. ure, let a com- plete street and m a Baker batht A 11 freshened Incwonder-- change up Neto toour room. • m down , o Ica When fulls*, I found the breakfast laid and Holmes pouring out the coffee. "Here it is," said he, laughing, and ''The h newspaper. P e 1(.11 a710 ' ill to pointing a1 energetic Jones and. the ubiquitous re- porter have fixed it up between them. But you have had enough of the case. " lieggs i11St. t Ilam ill have your r 11 a Bct c 1 hint and read. from 1 d paper i took the a I 1 p the short notice, which was headed. "Mysterious Business et Upper Nor- wood." "About twelve o'clock last night," said the Standard, "Mr. Bartholomew Shope, of :Pondicherry Lodge, Upper Norwood, was found doad•in his room .hinder eirCumstaneen which poialt to foul play. As far as we can learn, no traces of violence were found upon Mr. Sllolto's person, but a valuable collec- •1 h( decease tvl tlult Indian ion ofgems, t inherited from , t i b a 1 s had n e eel gentleman fater has been carried off. The dis- covery was first made by Mr. Sherlock Holmes and I)r, Watson, who had called at the house with Mr. Thaddeus the deceased. B a. brother Y Sholto, bio c alp a 1 singular piece of good fortune, Mfr; Athelney Jones, the well-known mem- ber of the detective police force, hap- pened to be at the Norwood police station, anal was on the ground. within half an ]tour of the first alarm. Hie lege oo mar in Le st 1 • -r anything g rote vert]] ' about had no very 11e�avy rale since yester- Jonathan, who committed the cru11<'•" I�,,.: ,pr:racCer f,. � ittfallfbility," launch with It ye]IiSty line, very broad Lal Rao, and a porter, or gatekeeper, observe any t mg 1 t 3 clay ! Tlie scent will lie upon the road "Quite so. And r. they to Ja;tathan's 'e ��, eel araorr 'ng to his lights." in the beam ?" named McMurdo. It is quite certain that them :. "They U lolls " I said "to a child or ill spite of their eight -incl -twenty disgust to fudge by the way he a r(` ]'olmec 1 iftin lira <lorvniroxn the "1�(o indeed. Sl e's as •trim a little the thief or thieve4ryeretvell acquainted e , ,, stamped about rv,1. he got into e , >+r,rl end tr alln him out of the thing .La any on th levet e with e t , a ll - 77 hours' start." saga woman." 'th x." g . . She's been i h the house for Mr: Jones' well - ;mit size, though. Is I confess t11at I lied try doubts myself the room. He bele to grudge against timber yard. "If you consider how • known teclluical knowledge and his I ,)apt from t s a I I g 7 ion the great trafficfresh painted, bla k with two red. powers of minute observation have en= Bartholomew •Shop , and] would have much n:•oclsote, is carried about London ther • le thillt else :1" "T11ey appear to be much as other footmarks,,, ".Not at all. Look heee ! This is the N. len re et. e.... which had passed along the London pheferred if he. could,lutve been simply in on@ .-c a d,it is no great wonder that st>;eal.a him abled lato prove conclusively that road in the inter% al. :fly fears were bound a.nd eters eel• Be did not wish our trail should leave been crossed. It' I'lmanks• I ]lope that you will ]hear the miscreants could not have entered soon appeased, •ed ho ,ever. • Toby never to put his head in it halter. Tltei•0 wassoon from Mr. Smith: I am gots clown . 0 1 a p e s t is ]alai] used now,. especially for the _ B by the door or by the tvinclorrr, Dntmust M the dust. Now hesitated or Sryet'. ed, but waddled. On 110 hell) for it, however ; the savage in sut'.onin,, of wood. _Poor Tony is not the river : and if I',1+l1011hl Fee 1Lllything, have made their way across the roof of dint of. a lir 1lt foot in h „ of the Aurora I sll 11 let him ].nory that I Make 0110 with my naked foot beside m ibis peculiar Tolima fashion. Clear- sheets of his companion had broken to=]plane. file Uuilcling, and so through a trap it, What is the chief difference?" ly, the pungent smell of the creosote , out, and the poison had done its work , "We mast ge on the main scent yon are uneasy. black funnel, you floor into a, room which. communicated ""Your toes are all cramped together. rose thigh above all other contending e so Jonathan Small left his record, again; I suppose.r say* ? ,, with that in which the body was fo,ind. The other print has each toe distinctly scents. 4 lowered. the treasure -bot to the ground, ='Yes. Aiid, fortunately, we 1.1.ve no , • `N0, sir. Blaekirvith a white inane]: This fact, which. has been very clearly 77 "Do not imagine " said Holmes, • and followed it himself. That wits the distance to go. Pviclently what puzz- All, of course. It was the sides made out, proves conclusively that it divided "Quite so. That is the point. Bear "that I depend for r that in mind. Now, would you kindly case upon the mere step over to that flap -window and these fellows havin- to r I ] r smell the edge of lube wood -work? I chemical. shall stay over 1t/ere as I have this which would enitli 77 many different in - " hand." . handkerchief dl:.rc]iief in my •L a1 c ' I did as he directed. and was in- ever, is the readies stantly consciousi of a strong tarry has put it into me smell. culpable if T negl( "Thin is where, he put his foot ill ever. prevented t S, success in this train of events as far as I can decipher led the doggy at th chance of one of ' thein: Of course mete his personal ap- Place was that tl put his foot in the ' peartnce lie must b middle-agOcl,yalnd trails running i knowledge now ; must be sunburnrt after serving. We took the wr pie to trace them i time in such an over as the Andaman. main; to follow ti rays. rns hov- Hta 1c'• r Ldicticltd fiemT cv, 10 nal, since fortune j the lenth of his set• de, and weknots• On leading Toby s hair}nesss hould be ' ar( d H1.nds .[ ,1 h wap be that e , committed It ted it. It has, how- i wee tho one point had co e case from becom- ! itself neon Thaddeu corner of Knight's which were black. • Good morning, was leo facie haphazard. burglary. 'Phe ire were two different lsrs. Smith. 'Ther: is a boatman ]lore prompt and energetic action of the with a •wllelr • atson. «' e shall lot • the ,teat ad= opposite directions. v 3 , � officers of the lata "shows t s €, ng ane. It c+•re- take it and cross tl river." vantage of the presence on such •oc- M i7S r- . and lna. to f thatsingle 1 oloti5 4 other. The main thin with people o h rasions of a s ng vigorous iiif77culty about tales. sort," said Hohn • as we sat in the ful mind: We cannot but think that it ;o the *,lace where the sheets of the where , "is never to let supplies, an urgu,nent to those. Who fault, he cast about them think that th it information can would wish to see our detectives more which impressed ill a wide circle, duel finally clashed off be of the slightest •'mportanee to you. decentralized, and so Drought into in a fresh direction. If 3-ou do, they wit "We must tape caro that lie does not like an oyster. If now bring us to the place where the under protest, as it, creosote barrel cab e from," I observed. likely to get what 3! "I had thought of that. But you "Our course now notice that he keeps on the pavement, said I. whereas the barn pitssed down the "What would yo' roadway. No, we tre on the true scent "`I would engag now." Sholto tt•Ileli Ito ettini out. If you can trace him, 1 iiia- the saw It le intellectual prob- � sahili] et the wine w. I don't know should think that; Toby will have no len which it at' one time promised to ; that there is anythin� else." difficulty. Now run down stairs and, ape- There mi it have been some i "The atsoeiitte?" , loose the dog, and look out for Bien- credit to be gain 1 out of it, but for this ! "Alt, well, there isdno great mystery din." •too palpable clue ' t in that. But ydti $rel know all about By the time that I got out into the ` "There is credi and to spare," said. : it soon enough. Hoy sweet the morn - grounds, Sherlock Holmes was on the ; 1. "I assure a u, Holmes, that I' ing air is !• Seo bo,;G that one little roof, raid I could See him like an enor- ! marvel at the 1- eans by which you ! cloud floats like a pink feather from mous glow-worm.crawling very slowly obtain your resul in this case even : some gigantic flamingo. Now the red along the ridge. I lost sight of him more than I did is the Jefferson Hope ° rim of the" sun pushes itself over the seems to me to Ise • London,:'eloud-bank,' It shines on te behind a stack of ncllimneys, but he murder. The thing *presently reappeared, and thele vanish- ' deeper and more Ii]1explicable. How, I good. navy folk. but- on none, I dare ed once more upon the opposite side. i for example, couldl1you describe with , bee, who are on a o-tr.,ng er errand than When I made my way round there 1 ; such confidence tiyie wooden -legged s`• you and I. Hew -entail . we feel with?"• our petty" funbitions;jand strivings in boy ! it was siin- the presence of tit q. great elemental >u t wish to be : forces of nature! Ate you well up in. TWO patent and above I your Jean Paul?" r? board. Two oineersle who ai., in con ,,• I airly s o. I worked back to him mond of a convict 4uard )kern an im', through Carlyle," ', portent secret as to wied`treasure. A ; "That was like following the brook ma/, is drawn for th m by an English- ! to the parent lake. He makes one etui- man named Sonat an Small. You ' ous but profound remark. It is that, r. f upongreatness anen ''then,'(G, of man's real 1� that we �tt thehl f proof remember p e 1 7 Tie chart in Ca tain;:`lorstan s posses- lies in his perception `elf his awl] small - slim. He had signed. - :self and his associat( four, as he somew called it. Aided by fghis chart, the of- is much food for tho*ght in Richter. fivers—Or one of theme -gets the treasure ' you have riot a pb tnllf have you ?" and brings it to England, Ieaving, we i •'I have my stick,"•. tc ition under "' ct •a' will SunpOsn, some condi It is jtl.. possible at we may need if we get to their '11 leave to you, jetty. tihel acl.•� `s nasty I !;hall routed, and his f ce assumed an omni- cave is sure to pushitself into the daily rrtook out his re- ons euppresslon• )ress, and the runaways will think that - M"This" 1 , d harm loadedc ' "These, ]oaks 13 a ,. tel h . , a e wrong + isoff on tho �tio scent: er rpna, le put itback into fellows are shatj�per than I expected. eV'\'1iutt aro we to do then?" I asked, of his jacket. They seem to hadp covered their tracks, • d :near . illban c Penitenti- r,77 been pteconcerted air Ivo landed . 4 l J . P a- this tleer , .drive home, ha e Icling the door of the some breakfast, and et an hour's sleep. opened, and a little, It is quite medic cart • that we maybe •1 f ° ` - Stop atn the tele - \N o will ]:eel) yt)E rise to US yet." ` W all d u 1 itt 1Ile Creat Peter olives die nLtelh- ," r 1 • 1 n ao oto think that inning, allclroilglh- voting imp; for;lf your father comes d h1�s7yvlre., 1� leio yon , • emerging, rubbing home and fields nv'ou like that, he'll let •s to . he aslcecl, as we resumed out their beards after us hear of it." !" journey. 7. 17 it. Strange dogs "I.am sure I don't ].now. s g 1 � Dear little ••'aha.psaid Holmes, "You ,tared wondering 3 strategically. "tWllat a dos checked �•ou remember the Baker street di - but our inimitable young rascal 1 `+ ow ,Tack • there vision of the detective polka force whom y gN 1 •e(1 fn tljp Jefferson Hope found him seated, at one of the corner i man eaves. "Pshaw, my dea "That you, Watson 2" he cried. plieity itself. I "Yes.' theatrical. It is al. "This is the place. What is that black thing down there ?" „ " A water -barrel." r e "Top on it ?" "yes." "No sign of a ladder?" "Confound the, fellow ! It's a most break -neck place. I ought to be able to colpo down where ho could climb u The water -pipe feels pretty firm, Here goes. anyhow." There was a scuffling of the feet, and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. Then wit a light spring he came on to the barrel, and from there to the earth. "It was easy to follow him," he said, drawing on his stockings acid boots. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along, and in his hurry lie had dropped ( •1" as you diagnosis, b myc this. It confirms „ doctors express it." The object which he held up to me ove • all pocket o r pouch, woven was sm k , p with a few p •a s and. out of colored grasses tawdry beadsstrunground it. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette -case. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood, sharp at one end and rounded at the other, like that whieh had struck Bartholomew Sholto. "nay are hellish things," said he "Look out that you 'don't prick your- self. I'm delighted to have thein, for the chances are that they are all he has. There is the less fear of you or Vie finding one in our ;Skin before long. I would sooner face "a Martini bullet myself. Are you, game for a six -mile trudge, Watson , 1` Certainly," I answ red. ?" "Your leg will stan4 it .,lel], yes, 7i Here you are, do gy? Good old Woby Smell it, 'Toby smell it!" Ile pushed the ere n ::n to plan lkerehief under the dog's nosh-.,, filet th creature stood with atslege sep &tecl,.and with t in behalf of him- nese. It argues, you. see, a power of --the sign of the cornpari:sOn and of ineweciation, which at dramatically is in itself a. proof of" nobility. There which he received it unfulfilled. Now, something of the sort then, whyldid. not Joiiiat hap Small get lair. Jonat'lia.n I shy the treasure himself ?g The answer 7s but if the other turn obvious. The chart f elated at a time shoot flim dead," H. when Morstau eras' h roan - into close volved as he spoke, a association with c i Jonathan two of the chambers, Small did not get the treasure because the right-hand pocket ammo themselves t i and his assoetlttcs o he sl,. convicts and cottld no get away." "But this is mere speculation." said I. "It is more than the . It is the only si•s the facts, Let which cove 1c t Il • lothe,ls c v hypothesis us sen how it fits in -with the sequel. Major S11olto remains tt peace for some years, happy in the 'possession of his r • r i •e.• a letter treasure. Then he 7 e u• s from India which git es him a great fright. What Was th t?" "A letter to sae- the the hell whom he had wronged. trail bjen set free. "Or had escaped, more likely, for lie w what their term of it It would not have ]lien.. What does guards himself again mart ---a White man,' mark you, for he mistakes a white tr desman for him, and actually fires a istol at him. Now, onlyone white mai s name is on the chat, The others are Hindoos or' ;liohatninedans. T ere is no other white man. There re we may say with confidence that lie wooden- egged man is identical wit ,Jonathan Small,. Does the reasoning That is much nld have known prisalhment was, ecu it surprise to c do then? He a wooden -legged instantly slut up ;down and more effective touch with on listen to thein the cases which it is their slut to ihi- `vere, you are very , y u want." vestigi�te. ' �� "Isn't it gorgeous ! said Holmes, eems pretty clear,"grinning over }tis coffee cup. " What I do you think of it ?" do then ?" ""I think that we have had a close a launch and: and 00 shave ourselves of being arrested for down the track oft Aurora• It tended down t ward. the riverside, "My dear fellow,it would be a co - "So crime. running through elmont Place and lossal task. She ]ny have touched. at `So do I. I wouldn't answer for our Prince's street. . the encs of Broad any wharf on either side of the stream safety now, if he should happen to street it ran clown o the water's edge, between here and C preenwich, Below have another of his attacks of energy." where there was it 1 Toby Ied us to tl and there stood r= etc in 1 you a idt 1 7 voice :cur beyond. . them if or set 1 t on fire dull mere J Y dismay. ,1"Employ " , , •a](1 eines. o • t )otic tl 11. Z • . o t of ucL- s, H elm Il etc e e i e ale u 1 3 1 =,By heaven, Holhnes," I said, half - "'['hey have talo ' to a boat here." "No. I shall probably call Atllelney !rising, "I. believe they are really after Several small pie is and skiffs were Jones in at the last moment. He is isisus'i lying about in the water and on the not a bad fellow, an I should. not like , edge of the wharf. We took Toby to do anything whit: would injure liim •, o, it's not quite so bad as that. t unofficial for e—the Baker round to each in turn, but, though he professionally. But have a fancy for' It is the " c sniffed earnestly, he made no sign. working it out my s f• now that we street irregulars. Close to the me o landing stage was have gone so ftir." As heM spoke, there • came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs, a clatter of high voices, and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street Arabs. There was some show of c1ie- 011111ne among them, despite their tumultuous entry, for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. One of their number, taller and older than they others, stood forward. with an air of lounging superiority whieh. was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. "Got your message, sir," said he, "and brought'om on sharp. Time ce bob and a tanner tickets," n 1 et far ti , to s. t "Here you aro," said Holmes, 7pro- ducing Some silver. "In future they call report to you, Wiggins, and. you to 1 e, I cannot have the 11 n V house invaded in this tray. However, it is just it's well that yeti should. all hear the in- • structions. I want to final the where- abouts of a steam lahulu•11 called the i Aurora owner Mordecai al Smht t lack 14I ec 1 U with two red streaks, funnel' black with a white band. She is down the river somewhere. I want o710 boy to be at Moldova' Smith's landing stage, opposite Millbank, to see if the boat comes back, You must divide it out amog yourselves, diad do both banks thoroughly. Let tee know the moment you. have news. Is that all clear?" "Yes, guv'elor," said Wiggins. The old scale of pay, and it guinea to the boy who finds the boat. Here're a day in advance. Now off you go t' He handed them a shilling each, and away they buzzed down the stairs, and }}• saw then_ iL moment later streaming mall wooddenwharf. the bridge there is t ;t very edge of this, of landing -places fo lining, looking out take you days out perfect labyrinth At this momentthere was it loud • miles: ' It would ring at the bell, and I could hear Mrs. clays to exhaust Hudson, our landlady, raising her I•t at one. a wail of expostulation and a shall brick house, with a wooden "Could. we adverts , then, asking for placard slung outf through the second information from wharfingers ?" window. "Mordecai Smith" was print- "Worse and worse ! Our wren would ed across it in large letters, and, auulee- know that the chat was hot itt their Beath, "Boats to hire by the hour or heels, and theywoild he off out of the day." A second inscription above the cotnttry. As t 1 door informed us that c1 steam launch enough to leave, bl, wits kept --a statement which was eon- think they are Pellc finned by a great gtile of coke upon the be in no hurry. ,lo ollnes looked slowly of use to tum there , they are likely t so long' as they •tly safe they will �•ill es'energy t be r his view of the during g - ft O > .m 11 t lis time .peen f 1 t -e had, < 1 � � fi. !here has, I i I e lowing the guidane of Toby downthe management 11e1 half -rural, villa -line' roads whieh lead Ho was appro Or' however, -e t 1 t ver w to the. metropolis. •hen it house, tt were bel inning to •ono alnong con- curly -headed la o nl:,. came Lumling , , •- ne a nt. LdOOt to -mane agent. ono �'i leer rt fere laborersd � .. t]nuou�r streets, s,out, followed by a stoutish, reel -faced bra >h off!ce, cabby doekmen were dire Cly astir, and slat- woman, •with al ltarge sponge in her i ternly women were" taking down shut- handl: Toby, for he, may be ter"s and brushing" doorsteps. At the "'y fi k 1 b ashed e pulled 1 "You dome l) .c and 1 w , square -topped col er public houses deal; " ehe Shouted ""Colne back you strut pest ofhce, find �` as just business us ht" J looking leen were their sleevee items their horning as sauntered up, and; at us its we passed;, Toby looked licitly: the left, but trot loose to the ground eager whine, whi scent. We had traverse ton, Camberwell, f expect selves ill Kennington Lane, luxvmg fills chile], Mrs, Sivit11." that lie and h!s, ga � iiis, a I withusborne away through the side streets to "Ler' bless you, sir, he is that, and the east of the Oval. file men whom forward, He gets: 'most too mttelt for , before we have finis led our breakfast." we pursttecl :seemed to have taken a pie to mann a pec}ail when my It was between ei ht and nine o'clock �' Hort, kept to the main road if a parallel slate „ ""Away, is lie said Holmes, in a - to the right nor to anything; you ti4iuld life 2" I eini; 03 1 onward with his rj,l. youth rendered for moment case?; and. an occasional , 1e out �1��10 ; 77' 1 a r "Well," said I, 1 I cl like a slxilli said he. "This , ,i - Iles is just tl i 11 spoke of a ]Lot "Nothing; you would like better? "'I'd like two, shillin' better,,' the might 1)e invalur( [ Streatham, Brix- prodigy answered, after some thought have other lesourc( Ied now f tart] our- tlleln first. That tt' 4 "Hereyou al. then ! Catch !— �1 p1 til 1`etttcnaitt �• lghing . ease where they o. 11 they fail, I ; but I shall try re was to my dirty curiously zi,zitg road: They had never man is away n.ys t a time•" I rike 3rott as being streea Would serve they tura. At and I was a 1Sci0t1S of ft strong reaction after the sttecessiVe 'eiteite- ments of the -nigh ; 7 was limp and o- 1 t CTO BE CONTIN1;Eb,1