The Delta independent., 1895-08-14
10 be Continued in our me.rt ixsme.}

It was between eight and nine o'clock
now. and was conscious OF a strong
reaction after the successive excite
nents of the night. l was limp and
weary, befogged in mind and fatigued
IN body. l had not the professional en-
th,Isiasm which e;tsried my companion
ON. nor could look at the matter as q
mere abstract intellectual problem. AS
far as the dcnth of bartholomew Sholto
went. had heard little good Of him,
and could feel no intense antipathy to
his murdcrers. The treasure. however,
was different matter. That, or part
of it. belonged rightfully to Miss
Morstan. While there was n chance
of recovering it, l was ready to
devote my life to the one object.
True, if found it, it would prob
ably put her forever beyond my
reach Yet it would be petty and
selfish love which would be influenced
by such thought as that. If Holmes
could work to find the criminals, l had
tcnfold stronger reason to urge me
on to fnd tie treasure.
A bath at Baker street and COM
plete change freshened me up wonder
fully. When came down to our room
I found the breakfast laid and Holmes
1ouring out the eoffes.
Here it is" said he, laughing and
pointing to an open newspaper. THE
energetic Jones and the ubiquitous re-
porter have fixed it up between them
But you have had enough of the case.
Better have your ham and eggs first"
took the pape- from him and read
the short notice, which was headed:
mysterious business at Upper Nor
wood"
About twelve o'clock last night"
said the Standard, mfr. bartholomew
Sholto, of Pondicherry lodge, Upper
Norwood, was found dead in his room
under circumstances which point to
foul play. AS far as we can learn, no
actual traces of violence were found
upon Mr.. Sholto's person, but
valuable collection of Indian gems
which the deceased gentleman had
inherited from his father has
been carried off. The discovery
was first made by Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
and DIR. Watson, who had called at the
house with Mr.. Thaddeus Shalto
4sother OF the deceased. by a singular
piece Of good fortune Mr.. Athelney
Jones, the well-known member of the
detective police force, happened to be
at the Norwood police station, and
was on the ground within half an hour
of the first alarm. Ills trained and ex-
pcrienced faculties were at once direct
cd towards the detection of the Grim
inals, with the gratifying result that
the brother, Thaddcus Sholto, has al
ready been arrested, together with the
Housekeeper, Mrs. IIernstone, an In
dian, butler named Lal Rao, and a pOr
ter, Or gatekeeper, named McMurdo. 1t
is cutie certain that the thief or
tn; yes were we'll acquainted with the
house, for Mr.. Jones wclllSnown
technical knowledge and his powers
of minute observation have en-
sbled him to prove conclusively that
the mscreants could not have entered
b.; til. door or by the window, but must
have made their way across the roof of
the building, and SO through trap
door into room which communicated
with that in which the body was found.
This fact, which has been very clearly
made out, proves conclusivcly that it
was no mere haphazard burglary. The
prompt and energetic action of the Off
GERS of the law shows the great advan-
of single vigorous and masterful
mind. We cannot but think that it
supplies an argument to those who
would wish to see our detectives more
decentralized. and brought into closer
and more effective touch with the
cases which it is their duty to investi-
gate"
"1sn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes,
tlNvlox
do you think of it?'
~ think that we have had close
shave ourselves Of being arrested for
the crime"
so dol. wouldn't answer for our
safety now, ifile should happen to have
another of his attacks of energy"
At this moment there was loud
sing at the bell, and could hear Mrs.
uadson, our landlady, raising her
voice in a wall of Representation and dis
may.
"By heaven, Holiness" I said, half
rising, 81 believe that they are really
after us"
mo, it's not quite so bad as that. 1t
is the unofficial force-the Baker street
irregulars."
AS he spoke, there came swift pat
tcring of naked feet upon the stairs, a
clatter Of high voices, and in rushed
dozen dirty and ragged little street
Arabs. There was some show of disci-
plinc among them. despite their tu-
multuous entry, for they instantly
drew.up in line and stood facing us
with expectant faces. One of their
number, taller and older than the 9TH
ers, stood forward witlAan air Of loung-
ing superiority which was very funny
in such a disrcputablc little scarecrow-
Got your message, sir said he,
'.and brought 'cm on sharp. Three bob
and tanner for tickets"
Here you are," said Holmes, pro-
ducing some silver. 'In future they
can report to you, Virgins, and you to