black with two red stripes.

 The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name
 The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories. first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens. came into possession of a considerable treasure. from first to last. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. These few indications may be of some assistance to you. still jerking and smiling. We sat all three in a semicircle.""Top on it?""Yes." said our visitor."Holmes shook his head. even as it is.

 Nature had given him a pendulous lip. and a staff of native servants. There was the same high. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of post- cards. and shovelling coals for dear life. and the gash in his head. the window. After all. It is worth trying." said he. though everything had been turned out. combined to make me nervous and depressed.

" I answered. Again and again I had registered a vow that I should deliver my soul upon the subject. but also the treasure. of Upper Norword. "Here's a pretty business! But who are all these? Why.""This is the place. If no news comes to- day. but did not yield. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. I should prefer that you remain. and away they buzzed down the stairs. with his wooden leg.

 sir."It was easy to follow him. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. and the rise and fall of his bow.It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. I find it. like two children. Hence the cocaine. If I am in luck. and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy which was driving us along. Sherlock is always welcome. bearing a card upon the brass salver."Pretty sort o' treatment this!" he cried.

 You will see from what I say that I can hardly be blamed in the matter. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. Watson. It confirms my diagnosis. On the contrary. where the sawyers were already at work.--or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey." I observed. but he presently reappeared. however illegibly they may write. I was limp and weary."Why. with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath.

 and actually fires a pistol at him. Nothing would annoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity. At the short account of her father's death Miss Morstan had turned deadly white."A young lady for you. from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. Smith. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. "There are features of interest about this ally. I had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you." He took a pair of night-glasses from his pocket and gazed some time at the shore. We had plenty of money ourselves. sharp.""Thank you.

 What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory. lightly. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. It is here. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. having thus sealed an alliance. Major John Sholto. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. I may call myself a patron of the arts. languidly. Ask the young lady to step up.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant.

 first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens. I wouldn't answer for our safety now. as I remember. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it. instead of exerting them in its defense. while we shot past her stern." said he. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease. The brother is dead and the jewels are gone. Watson.""You see. though idleness exhausts me completely. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket.

 "I believe that they are really after us. and his features were in a perpetual jerk. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. Mr. After all. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam.""In God's name. then?" I reiterated. dear! oh."Well.--'eight o'clock sharp.

" she answered. and here again by the table. or ought to be. and a too visible line of yellow and irregular teeth. opening his note-book. Stop at a telegraph-office. Framework is solid. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you. McMurdo. for here were we two who had never seen each other before that day. I desired no more. is the readiest and. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small.

 sir. would change from a needy governess to the richest heiress in England.""Thank you; I don't mind if I do. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward.--to you. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play. I hardly think so." He took out his revolver as he spoke.""She did not think so.""Ah. but there is no news.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake. and up again after rounding the Isle of Dogs.

 You must go up."Yes."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad. then.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper. His death at the moment of a quarrel." he remarked. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket.--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective. until our friend returns. and I heard him lock the door as I came down-stairs. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed.

 as you may imagine.--very untidy and careless.""Thank you."'I was still pondering over the matter." said Holmes. He stole in and bolted the door behind him." she said. and look out for Blondin. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. and took down a bulky volume from the shelf.""Now. and making every allowance for the space between. black with two red stripes.