The Press., 1895-05-16


 my lips She was weak and helpless, shaken in mind and nerve. It was to take her aC a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such time. Worse still, she was rich. If Holmes researches were success. full, she would be an heiress. Was it fair, was it honorable, that half pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune seekerS l conld not bear to risk that such 8 thought should cross her mind. This Agra treasure intervened like an inn passable barrier between us.
 It was nearly 2o'clock when we reached Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The servants had retired hours ago, but Mrs. Forester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she sat up in the hope of her return. She opened the door herself, middle aged, graceful woman, and it gave me joy to see how tenderly her arm stole round the others waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her. She was l clearly no mere paid dependent, but an honored friend. 1 was introduced, and 1 Mrs. Fc 9rester earnestly begged me to step in and to tell her our adventures. ex- l plained, however, the importance of my errand and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make | with the case. As we drove away stole q | glance back, and I still seem to see that little group on the step, the two graceful, l clinging figures, the half open door, the hall light shining through stained glass, the barometer and the bright stair rods | It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of tranquil English home in the | midst of the wild, dark business which had absorbed us.
 And the more thought of what had | happened the wilder and darker it grew. | I reviewed the whole extraordinary se quence of events as l rattled on through the silent gaslit streets. There was the original problem. That at least was pret. l ty clear now. The death of Captain Nor stan, the sending of the pearls, the adver l tisement, the letter-we had had light upon all those events. They had only led us, however, to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. The Indian treasure, the curious plan found among Morstan's bag gage, the strange scene at Major ShOlto's | death, the rediscovery of the treasure, i'm mediately followed by the murder of the | diScoverer, the very singular accOmpani- | ments to the crime, tho footsteps, the re l markable weapons, the words upon the | card, corresponding with those upon Cap | tain Morstan's chart-here was indeed 8 labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow lodger might well despair of ever finding the clew. Pinchin lane was row of shabby two storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. I had to knock for some time at No. 8 before could make any i'm | pressiOn. At last, however, there was g glint of candle behind the blind. and 8 face looked out at the upper window. "GO on, you drunken vagahOnd," " said the face. If you kick up any more row, I'll open the kennels and let out 43 dogs | upon you.
 If you'll let one out, it's just what have come for," said l.
 "Go on!'' yelled the voice. 'So help me gracious, have wiper in this bag, anG I'll drop it on your cad if you don't hook | it."
 But want dog," cried.
 II won't be argued with!" shouted MT. Sherman. Nov, stand clear, for when say three down goes the wiper" l MT. Sherlock Holmes, I began, but l the words had a most magical effect, fol the window instantly slammed down, ana | within a minute the door was unbarred and open. MT. Sherman was a lanky, lean old man, with stepping shoulders, s stringy neck and blue tinted glasses.
 A friend of MT. Sherlock is always welcome" said he. Step in, sir. KeeE clear of the badger, for he bites. An, naughty, naughty, would you take niI at the gentlemanT' This to stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes be- tween the bars of its cage. Don't mind that, sir. It's only slow worm. It hain't got no fangs, SO I gives it the run O the e. %1o xl must not mind my bein just little short vii you at first, for I'm guyed at by the children, and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up | What was it that MT. Sherlock Holmes wanted, sir?"
 He wanted a dog of yours."
 "Ah! that would be Toby" Yes. Toby was the name." | "Toby lives at No. 2, on the left here. '' He moved slowly forward with his can de among the queer animal family which he had gathered round him. In the un- certain, shadowy light 1 could see dimly that there were glancing glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. Even tho rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls, who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slum | bers
 Toby proved to be an ugly, long haired | 1op cared creature, half spaniel and hall lurcher, brown and white in color, with 2 very clumsy, Waddling gait. 1t accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the naturalist handed to me, an( l having thus sealed an alliance it followed me to the cab and made no dlficultic: about accompanying me. It had just l m ho XEh I nC myself back once more at POndicherrJ Lodge The -prizetighter McMurdo had I found, been arrested as an accessory, ant | both ho and MT. ShOlto had been marched | of to the station. Two constnbles guarded | the narrow gate, but they allowed me tt | pass with the dog on my mentioning th( detcctive's name.
 Holmes was standing on the doorstep with his, hands in his pockets, smoking his pipe.
 An, you have him therc!' said he Good dog, then. Athelney Jones hu | gono. We have had an immense displa, of energy since you left. He has arrested not only friend Thaddcus, but the gate keeper, the housekGepcr and the Indian servant. We have the place to oursclve but for sergeant up stairs, Leave th dog here and come up."
 We tied Toby to the hall table and rras cended the stairs. The room was as WI had left it, save that sheet had beer drapcd over the central figure. A wcur. looking police sergeant reclinet in tile cor ner.
 Lend me your bullseye, sergeant said my companion. Now tie this bit o card round my neck, so as to hang i0 il front of me. Thank you. Now 1 mus kick off my boots and stockings. Jus you carry them down with you, Watson.
 am going to do little climbing. Ant dip my handkerchief into the creos.ite That will do. Now come up into tho gar ret with me for mOment.'
 We clumbered up through the hole Holmes turned his light once more up l the footsteps in the dust.
 II wish you particularly Co notice thes footlnarks" he said. : Do you ubserv anything noteworthy about tbem!"
 They belong" said, ''Io child or I