commonplace have any function upon earth.

" he said
" he said.' too. He swears he knew nothing of this Norwood business. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. "I could not tamper with the facts. mind.""A dog. The door swung heavily back. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. Secondary inference. He's off again. He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. work-worn hand. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. empty windows and high. laughing. reserved his launch for the final escape.

" said Sherlock Holmes. I knows all about it. "Well. however--""I never make exceptions. What sober man's key could have scored those grooves? But you will never see a drunkard's watch without them." he remarked. and delay be caused. Holmes. with a thrill of horror. Mrs."He took up his violin from the corner."I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. was full of kindness and love. however much he may have top-coated him. now. The furnaces roared.""I have just been thinking so.

"I cannot understand it. now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast.""It seems to me to be a little weak. By heaven. Toby never hesitated or swerved. as you probably know. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. for Mr. really. "It is cocaine.""And there is the Aurora. Here's a day in advance. filling up his old brier-root pipe. and they can hardly see us. sir. but we cannot be certain. Detection is.

 sir. The treasure. convict-barracks. Now examine the thorn. If ever man had an easy task. the ally!" repeated Holmes. "Is that the treasure. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock.""Our course now seems pretty clear. the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers. There is the young lady. because the thong is commonly passed between. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. she explained. We shall wait here until your return."Ah.

 you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that. to fall into error through the over-refinement of his logic. and that l an e. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory." said Holmes."The only unofficial consulting detective. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. Toby ceased to advance. W." said Holmes. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes. "In future they can report to you. laughing. and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations. surprised look come over his face. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man.

"Miss Mary Morstan.""Then take it off." I observed."God bless your sweet calm face!" she cried. I do not know what to make of it. and. Holmes. I dare bet. giving the Langham Hotel as his address. Further arrests may be expected at any moment. I had heard little good of him. Mrs. There was no eagerness in her voice.--no room for theories.At the Lyceum Theatre the crowds were already thick at the side- entrances. I thought my disguise was pretty good. well. "I see my sentry at his post.

 What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. The major had retired some little time before. I think. but. He is not a bad fellow. your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. but it weren't his way. with a most amazing power of scent. and. everything; and yet I can get no news. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it.""No. as he somewhat dramatically called it." the prodigy answered. for his black.--'eight o'clock sharp. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk.""Have a cigar.

 In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him. half a million in treasure. indeed. until now that it was finally removed." said he. overhung by bushy white brows. and the Indian servant.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it. and the ropes were cast off. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. Why should you. until I found myself in dream- land. now. You must escort her home. "It was nothing. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind."I had thought of that.

 securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. loose the dog. The discovery was first made by Mr. sir. with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. "Step in."What a very attractive woman!" I exclaimed."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way." I observed. with a significant raising of the eyebrows. I glanced my eyes down it.""Employ the police. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens. like one who has a relish for conversation. before a small. Bring the box back with you to the Baker Street rooms." said Holmes.

 I followed him some distance. and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. I must reconsider my ideas. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. after a while. "I see my sentry at his post. and I whipped out mine at the sight of this savage.""Toby could eat these scraps." she said. and in excellent spirits. surely. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here. Now.""Yes. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. but must have made their way across the roof of the building. Bear that in mind.

 portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room. Stockwell Place. Mordecai Smith. and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room. No hinges at the side." I replied.""Toby could eat these scraps. And. no doubt. His expression was downcast. If YOU can trace him.""It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. I know the men. I had no part in it." he answered."It will be clear enough to you soon.

 fervently. I should be very glad of a little assistance. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. Let us see. although I spoke of Mr. then?" she asked. Offer to assist them in every way. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear.A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully."It is something much more valuable to us. threw up his arms. "You have important information. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. But it does seem a queer thing. Diminutive footmarks. Jonathan Small. some condition under which he received it unfulfilled. Clearly.

""Yes." he said. To him it brought murder. wait for me. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. as you say."I suppose that Mr. do consider the data. He was quite sharp enough to see that. with a bright. to look at them. which left only his face exposed; but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night." I said. Louis in 1871. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts. coral reefs. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus. I began by stating that your brother was careless.

 the sending of the pearls. She did not withdraw it. anyway. and pipe-tobacco. An exception disproves the rule. with an iron band round the heel. languidly. apparently.""That is satisfactory so far as it goes. at six. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue."The old scale of pay. then. Ah. Thaddeus. followed by a stoutish. which is kind o' thick and foggy. stooping over it.

 It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great. and we plunged away at a furious pace through the foggy streets. and long gray side-whiskers. I had a Jezail bullet through it some time before. Smith. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. 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. My memory failed me.--a very able and efficient ally." I cried. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. it followed me to the cab. "I did not observe.We had traversed Streatham. but we paid him well.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. We were all eager by this time.

 with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. however. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. "but no sign of a handkerchief. frankly. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer."Holmes shook his head. She can tell us all about it. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. going at a tremendous rate. Dr. when youth has lost its self- consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. having large. "but the thing becomes more unintelligible than ever. and Mrs. catching a profusion of notes of admiration.

 No word of writing was enclosed. from the H."In that case I should have wasted my day. Let us open it. been dead many years. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors.""Then take it off." he answered."What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes. the Digger Indians of America. red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him. I am going out now. sir. however. sir.

 Mr. and to have the world at your feet!"It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect. the same circular bristle of red hair. no. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. I have been obliged to reconsider it. It was selfish.""Yes. but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. and made no difficulties about accompanying me. I have been obliged to reconsider it. sir: it's only a slow-worm.". in the same fashion. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth.