The Hope pioneer., 1895-05-31
NOW STAND CLEAR"

which thrust its wicked head and red
eyes between the bars of its cage.
Don't mind that, sir; it's only slow
worm. 1t hain't got no fangs, SO
gives it the run O. the room, for it
keeps the beetles down. You must not
mind my bein' just little short wi
you at first, for I'm guyed at by the
children, and there's many one just
comes down this lane to knock me up.
What was it that Mr.. Sherlock Holmes
wanted, sir?''
"He wanted a dog of yours"
''Ah! that would be Toby.'
eyes, Toby was the name"
"Toby lives at No. Z on the left
here" He moved slowly forward with
his candle among the queer animal
family which he had gathered round
him. In the uncertain, shadowy light
could see dimly that there were
glancing, glimmering eyes peeping
down at us from every Granny and
corner. Even the rafters above our
heads were lined by solemn fowls, who
lazily shifted their weight from one
leg to the other as our voices dis
turbed their slumbers.
Toby proved to be an ugly. long
haired, lop-eared creature, half span
icl and half lurcher, brown nd-white in
color, with a very clumsy waddling
gait. 1t accepted, after some hesita-
tion, lump of sugar which the old
naturalist handed to me, and, having
thus sealed an alliance, it followed me
to the cab, and made no difficulties
about accompanying me. 1t had just
struck three on the palace clock when
found myself back once morc at Pom
dicherry lodge. The ex-prize-ighter
McMurdo had, found, been Mrrested
as an accessory, and both he and Mr.
Sholto had been marched off to the
station. Two constables guarded the
narrow gate, but they allowed me to
pass with the dog on my mentioning
the detectives name.
Holmes was standing on the door
step, with his hands in his pockets,
smoking his pipe.
"Ah, you have him the-e!" said he.
Good dog, then! Athelney Jones has
gone. We have had an immense dis
play of energy since you left. He has
arrested not only friend Thaddeus, but
the gatekeeper, the housekeeper, and
the Indian servant. We have the place
to ourselves, but for sergeant upstairs
Leave the dog here, and come up"
We tied Toby to the hall table, and
reascended the stairs. The room was
as we had left it, save that a sheet had
been draped over the central figure. A
weary-looking police sergeant reclined
in the corner.
LEND me your bull's-eye. sergeant"
said my companion. "Now tic this bit
of card round my neck, so as to hang it
in front of me. Thank you. Now
must kick off my boots and stockings!
Just you carry them down with you,
Watson. l am going to do a little
climbing. And dip my handkerchief
into the creosote. That will do. Now
come up into the garret with me for
We clambered up through the hole.
Holmes turned his light once more
upon the footsteps in the dust.
II wish you particularly to notice
these footmarks," he said. ''Do you OBJ
serve anything noteworthy about
them?'
''They belong" said, "to child or
a small woman"
"Apart from their size, Though. Is
there anything else?''
''They appear to be much as other
footmarl1s. +"
mot at all. Look here! This is the
print of right foot in the dust. Now
l make one with my naked foot beside
it. What is the chief difference?'
''Your toes are all cramped together.
The other print has each toe distinctly
divided"
"ouite SO. That is the point. Bear
that in mind. Now, would you kindly !
step over to the hap-window and smell
the edge of the woodwork? l shall
stay over here, as have this haEdlscr-
chief in my hand"
l did as be directed, and was in
stantly conscious Of strong tarry
smell.
ITO BI ooNT1SuEnl