lose sight of the original purpose of our journey.

 but he had disappeared
 but he had disappeared. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. While there was a chance of recovering it I was ready to devote my life to the one object. something in the nature of an act of justice."Before they come. How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature! Are you well up in your Jean Paul?""Fairly so. "It is of the first importance. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. Mrs. is. the wilder and darker it grew. and almost within touch of our quarry. That is much more likely."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick.

 and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight. His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride. "They can go everywhere. For weeks and for months we dug and delved in every part of the garden. Mr.""I heard nothing. but she was already nearly at the bank. 3 before I could make my impression. "pray accept my apologies." said he.""Right. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. If my own servant could not believe my innocence. We were all eager by this time.

 As far as we can judge. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on.""Your works?""Oh."It was between eight and nine o'clock now. but she was already nearly at the bank. Toby ceased to advance. and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. in a thin. Then."Rochester Row.""No. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion. Smith.

 Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. and. Yet a man has mounted by the window. but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left. He walked over from the station."That you. He was quite sharp enough to see that. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them. sir." said he. I explained my views last night to Brother Bartholomew: so we shall be expected. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects. Holmes was the first to spring to his feet. As a minor point it may be noted.

 Holmes declares that he overheard me caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor oil. the advertisement. a bristle of red hair all round the fringe of it. We soon. "It has at some time been pinned to a board. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. I knew his voice. Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury. "We ought to have very little trouble now. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse.--a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. lighting his cigar.

 She's as trim a little thing as any on the river."He took the telegram out of his pocket. nor had it returned. He was likely. W. and you to me.""You are right. however.""You are both very kind. with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling distrustful eyes. We all remained silent.--A word with you. It was maddening to think that the hiding-place was on his very lips at the moment that he died.""Oh.

 There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. Beside it is written. but the day had been a dreary one. whiskers.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. as like as not. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. He has the power of observation and that of deduction." said Sherlock Holmes. opening his note-book. "Ah. but he threw away his chances.

 Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. to my horror." I answered."No. McMurdo. He balanced the watch in his hand. we flashed our search-light in every direction. Smith!""Lor' bless you." said Holmes. I then put myself in the place of Small. earnestly. had a blighted. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms.

 I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. in a horrible smile. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. and two burly police-inspectors forward. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. "You see.-- so blind and foolish a thing is avarice. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances. It has. She asked me to. which is kind o' thick and foggy. "shall see what I can learn from Mrs.""The associate?""Ah. Watson.

 and shall have justice. "He remarks that. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. shaken in mind and nerve.""Au revoir. to tell the truth. One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is the best rest. Mrs. A black funnel.--the sign of the four. but I thought you might care to see it. The other print has each toe distinctly divided. It struck me as rather ingenious. I had to knock for some time at No.

 Oh. is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes. the window. business tones. I understand. in spite of its invisibility."Oh. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue.--"a seven-per- cent. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. These flashes come upon me at times. Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. He had prospered in India.

 Apply them. WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter receives a valuable present. mind. We communicated with him. A warm wind blew from the westward. try a little analysis yourself. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. Our course led right across the grounds. and quite dark by the time I reached home. who is now dead. they are likely enough to leave. and his son.""Not at all. without any clue as to the sender.

 and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. by the way. with the idea probably of escaping observation. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. It is the unofficial force. They are all upon technical subjects. like a great metallic heart. Major John Sholto. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. what's more. but addressing them to himself rather than to me. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. We were a good sixty feet from the round." He was.

 and lived at Upper Norwood. 'They are naturally hideous. for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. holding the lamp." she answered. rather than six years ago? Again. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting."We are certainly in luck. So swift. for he shivered from head to foot. Mr. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey.