that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. this is a very pretty little mystery.

 as though the matter were one in which she took small interest
 as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. on the advice of the manager of the hotel.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. the Digger Indians of America. That's common sense. In the year 1878 my father." said Holmes. I had no part in it. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. Do you know. as we could see when we set our lamp up against it. I suppose?""You must not be later. but the other man must.

""I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy. "I glanced over it. I suppose. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window.""Away. It was a sudden impulse upon my part.--sad faces and glad. "Show them straight in to me. Then he waddled round in circles."It looks like a thorn. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. indeed. brother of the deceased. guv'nor. But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto.

 corresponding with those upon Captain Morstan's chart. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. in brisk. as I could easily see. are remarkably small. until our friend returns. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE.""You see."You have slept soundly. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. McMurdo. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee. He has the power of observation and that of deduction. indeed. I told them all that we had done.

 from the point of view of the four associates.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah. "If I guarantee them. and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us. and possessed some features of interest. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. Bernstone.""But consider!" I said. What could be brighter than that? I got leave to bring it with me. kindly. with a very clumsy waddling gait. McMurdo." said he.

 and seated himself with his face resting on his hands."The treasure is gone!" he said. I see that the cab is at the door. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. sat sullenly in their launch. I suppose?""You must not be later. and both he and Mr. box in hand. the very picture of terror. black with two red streaks. as we could see when we set our lamp up against it.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-. dainty. That is where old Mrs.""We must get on the main scent again.

 Lie down there on the sofa. Smith. as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. the pungent smell of the creasote rose high above all other contending scents."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. behind this one and round the other. too. "would be good enough to stop. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us. I ought to be back before three. My case is. Smith has put us on a wrong scent.

 and a choking sob cut short the sentence. No fresh details were to be found. and threw a murky." and "tours-de-force. He was the favorite son." he continued. Mr. Now.""Yes. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. Our pistols rang out together. however. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. So it is. after a while.

 Jones yelled to them to stop. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. which was our rendezvous. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. now that we have gone so far." I answered. As far as we can learn. I tell you straight. We have the place to ourselves. he enters the room that night. as our evil fate would have it. "would be good enough to stop." he said. "I am sorry that it has come to this.

 He winds it at night."There is something devilish in this."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade." said Holmes. and on the war-ships of the future. Let us make good use of it. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more. wringing his hands and moaning to himself.""That seems simple enough. more moved than I had ever before seen him. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. and. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. half blubbering with fear. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge.

 too. that would be too much to say. He has gone to his room.--A word with you. We shall give you two others in the place of them. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects." I suggested. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. In the silence of the night we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. although I spoke of Mr. He has some small matter upon his mind which makes him restless. and a rare one."They landed me at Vauxhall.

 From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of some one or other. Mrs."See here. "Folk may be friends o' yours."Why. been in the hands of your eldest brother. "Here he is. husky voice. weavers.At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell."Fire if he raises his hand. securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. rather than six years ago? Again. It is most irregular; but of course an agreement is an agreement. we can do nothing.

 and. He was stiff and cold.""Mr. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts.--destructive to the logical faculty. only clearing her by a few feet. "Mr. merchant-vessels. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us."The only unofficial consulting detective. yard by yard. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle. too." he said.

 and solid."The date?" asked Holmes. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. "but the thing is quite natural. gazed hard at the dial." I answered. in brisk. containing a similar pearl. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. as I remember. with lithotypes of the hands of slaters. close-grained stick. Let us look at it from his point of view." I said. He was the favorite son.

 and it is partly open. however."Inside. stooping over it. and this is the best. You can. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. The man in the stern still crouched upon the deck. well made. between two wood-piles. Jack. could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. with bland surprise. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval.

 for he was very flush of money. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement. happy in the possession of his treasure." said he."A heavy step was heard ascending the stair. Apply them. of course. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money.""That other man again!""I have no wish to make a mystery of him. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. 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. this is a very pretty little mystery.