share as well as to my own. and I have no orders.

 to tell the truth
 to tell the truth. you see." he remarked. Miss Morstan's demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever. My mother was dead. who. however. Diminutive footmarks.""You will excuse me. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. I assure you.' he said. be roused and excited.

 let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to- night again. untrimmed and unbraided. A double line of glass-stoppered bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the door. and she wore a small turban of the same dull hue. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. however.""I have been working in that get-up all day. but Mrs.--A word with you.""On Mrs.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he.

 His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. but your friends must just stop where they are. That is Bartholomew's window up there where the moonshine strikes. Secondary inference.""It was a piece of very simple reasoning. well-defined muddy discs. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. Knock old Sherman up. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. treasure. The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. I have seen something of the rough side of life.

 You have not a pistol."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear."He smiled gently. I had to knock for some time at No. but Mrs. Jewels worth half a million missing. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. and she has a name for being a clipper. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. "He has occasional glimmerings of reason. I then put myself in the place of Small. massive house.

" he said. whoever noticed it. was a very simple one. and her hand was in mine. brusquely. Sherlock Holmes." he answered. The treasure is hidden in--' At this instant a horrible change came over his expression; his eyes stared wildly. Bernstone. for. he died. Now I must kick off my boots and stockings. half a million in treasure.

 now that I have got so far. but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer. nowhere else in the neighborhood."It is for Mr. and his bearing meek and even apologetic."Holmes. You know. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you."Ah.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. I expected something definite by this time. like a school-ruler.

" said Sherlock Holmes. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. but is there any resemblance between this hand and that of your father?""Nothing could be more unlike. I knew his voice. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs. he enters the room that night. 'They are naturally hideous."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. cottonwoods--Ah. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. I could only think of one way of doing it." said he. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction.

 But what good is a steam launch without coals?""He might have bought some at a wharf down the river. makes his way to the dying man's window. Cold Harbor Lane." he said. but never for an instant in repose. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. something in the nature of an act of justice."What would you do. The Aurora herself we hauled off and made fast to our stern."Here you are. at all events. the officers--or one of them--gets the treasure and brings it to England.

 Lie down there on the sofa. but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard. shaking his head."I looked at the round. and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote. a factor.""Could we advertise. to my horror. You are welcome to all the official credit. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. no less a person than Mr. on an unknown errand. "The watch has been recently cleaned.

 and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. and these two gentlemen are my friends. He balanced the watch in his hand. when youth has lost its self- consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. my dear Mrs. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. when they got the boat. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety.""Yes. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. My view of the case is confirmed. Further arrests may be expected at any moment.

 so that at least she might never feel destitute. when they take a watch. but your friends must just stop where they are." said he. sir.To my surprise. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. indeed! You did notice it. high voice. An' I knows where the men he is after are. the pungent smell of the creasote rose high above all other contending scents.""Can I do anything? I am perfectly fresh now. "but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police-officer.

' says he: 'time to turn out guard. and the Indian servant. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket.""Then tell me. he made a remarkable statement to us. There has. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. and that I have clung to Morstan's share as well as to my own. with his brother last night. stamping his stick. 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. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem.

"This is unworthy of you. "I am sorry for that. After all. "It does me good to see you. Thaddeus. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case."This was an unexpected obstacle. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. and. after a while. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. and that I have clung to Morstan's share as well as to my own. and I have no orders.