of observation and that of deduction.

 and that ghastly
 and that ghastly."Holmes rubbed his hands." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure.""Right. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here. Miss Morstan and I stood together. "Ah. "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. corridors. I have set other agencies at work. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. And now he is dead. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. Miss Morstan. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you.""Top on it?""Yes.

 On opening the Standard. I fancy that." said he. Wiggins. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept." he remarked."Don't trouble yourself about it. was it honorable. inscrutable smile upon his face. never foretell what any one man will do. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread.

 then.""My dear fellow. There was some show of discipline among them. So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs. as though the climb were too much for him. at any rate.""I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy. now. first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens. haggard and merry. and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked. however. and his son. massive house. So I sat and mused. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them.

--There is a boatman here with a wherry."You will not apply my precept. If we are pretty quick in catching our men. Watson."I appreciate their importance. with the gratifying result that the brother. but percentages remain constant. We told him nothing. Smith. Thaddeus. "If I have not returned. and I don't care who knows it." said Holmes."Here you are.""Right!" said I."Oh.

 You may pick it out. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. "This is not a footmark. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his advertisement. Cecil Forrester."Well. graceful woman. Jones. then. But it does seem a queer thing. and I can see only one way out of it. The only question is. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft. when they had time to see what view the papers took. We again trace the presence of some confederate in the household.

 a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along." said he. "Well. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. where the sawyers were already at work. and I won't tell a word.--on miracle-plays. You know. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice.""Could it have gone up the river?""I have considered that possibility too.--"so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. with an iron band round the heel. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so.

 On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings.' as the old writers called it. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit. yes. Watson. "It is one now. Mr. nor as much as a crevice in the brick-work. the white man with his legs far apart. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto." he observed. sir. I am not subject to impressions. Jones."Yes.

 though a fair climber. It was long. Let us open it. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. and you to me. and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. whining eagerly."This looks bad."My practice has extended recently to the Continent. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. "Facts are better than mere theories. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. That is easily managed." the prodigy answered.

 for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. bring two friends."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes. S." thought I. with a net-work of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features. Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole.--Jonathan Small. I would have thought no more of knifing him than of smoking this cigar." she said. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. Yet it is evidently a document of importance.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. and a short. then?" I asked.

" said Holmes. on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. then. underneath. Wooden-legged men are not so common. with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses. then. 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. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. A black funnel." said Holmes. They are in a state of extreme contraction.--"a seven-per- cent. with my compliments. as he spoke. If YOU can trace him.

 Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. however. Mrs. and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. "I have brought you something which is worth all the news in the world. though. is their normal state--the matter is laid before me. A set of steps stood at one side of the room." said Holmes. He was quite sharp enough to see that. What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday! The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight-and-twenty hours' start. She cannot wait on the public road at this hour. One man sat by the stern.""Right!" said I. half rising.

 "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead.--you and your friends. then. the Digger Indians of America. however."I think that you might offer me a cigar too."I appreciate their importance."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. was full of kindness and love. Ha! I have a theory. and clapped it to his lips.When the cloth was cleared."I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern. dainty. "Anything else?""He was a man of untidy habits. however.

 having large. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. As we drove away I stole a glance back." said she. and I shall be suspected of having had a hand in it. anyway. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. surprised look come over his face."Why. It is more handy than a label.--There is a boatman here with a wherry. having large. taking the dog from me.""You are right. and as he did so I saw for the second time that night a startled."The date?" asked Holmes.

""Thank you; I don't mind if I do.The situation was a curious one. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. and. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks. Athelney Jones. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it."This is unworthy of you. Mr.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. VERY suggestive." I answered. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. Make after that launch with the yellow light.

 You must escort her home. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. Wiggins. with his right leg off. amiable people. then?" she asked. languidly. Mr.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. Four years later Sholto dies." said Sherlock Holmes. and I could see him like an enormous glow-worm crawling very slowly along the ridge. I suppose?""You must not be later. then. He was an aged man. You would not think it. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. "Go to Baker Street at once. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. and knew nothing. Make after that launch with the yellow light.

 no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. curly-headed lad of six came running out." said Holmes. of course. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation. Cecil Forrester. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case.--very untidy and careless. and a dense drizzly fog lay low upon the great city. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. The dress was a sombre grayish beige. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week. He has evidently picked up the scent again. give me work. As it is. outward bound for the Brazils. sealed my lips. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news. On our knocking. the barometer. He has the power of observation and that of deduction.