The Press., 1895-05-09
down to it and instantly rose again with

A4 a sharp intaking of the breath.
 "There is something devilish in this, Watson," said he, more moved than had ever before seen him. "What do you make of itP''
 stopped to the hole and recoiled in horror. Moonlight was streaming into the room, and it was bright with a vague and shiftly radiance. Looking straight at mo and suspended, as it were, in the air, for all beneath was in shadow, there hung a face-the very face of our com panion Thaddeus. There was the same high, shining head, the samo circular bristlG of rcd hair, the same bloodless countenance. The features were set, how ever, in a horrible smile, a fixed and un- natural grin, which in that still and moonlit room was more jacring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion. So like was the face to that of our little friend that looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins.
 "This is terrible 1 said to Holmes. INV hat is to be done?'
 "Thc door must come down." he an swered, and springing against it he put all his weight upon the lock It creaked and groaned, but did not yield. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more, and this time it gave way with sudden snap, and we found ourselves within Bartholo- mew SholtO's chamber.
 It appeared to have been fitted up as chemical laboratory. A double line of glass stoppered bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the door, and the table was filtered over with Bunsen burners, test tubes and retorts In the corners Ef ooiI in iclY hoe c1-otc One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken, for stream of dark Colored liquid had trickled ont from it, and the air was heavy with peculiarly pungcnt tarlike odOr. A set of steps stood at one side of the room in the midst of litter of lath and plaster, and above them there was an opening in the ceiling largo enough for man to pass through. A the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together.
 By the table in wooden armchair the master of tho ho;!se NJ;tS seated all in a heap, with his load sunk upon his left shoulder and that ghastly, inscrutable smile upon his face. He was stiff and sold and had clearly been dead many Iours. It seemed to me that not only his features but all his limbs were twisted and turned in tho most fantastic fashion.
 
 peculiar instrument-a brown, close grained stick, with a stone head like a hammer, rudely dashed on with coarse twine. Beside it was a torn sheet of note paper, with sOmO words scra Wled upon it. Holmes glanced at it and then handed it to me.
 You see," he said, with a significant raising of the eyebrows.
 In the light of the lantern I read with thrill of horror, ''Thc sign of the four" :"
 '1n Gods name, what does it all mean?" I asked.
 Ut means murder, " said he, stopping over the dead man. An, l expected it. Look here!" He pointed to what looked like long, dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the car.
 It looks like thorn," said l.
 It is thorn. You may pick it out. But be careful, for it is poisoned
 I took it up between my finger and thumb. It came away from the skin so readily that hardly any mark was left be- hind. One tiny speck of blood showed where the punCture had been.
 ''This is all an insoluble mystery to me" said l. It grows darker instead of clearer"
 On the contrary" he answered, it clears every instant I only require few missing links to have an entirely connect ed casc.''
 We had almost forgotten our compan- ions presence since we entered tho cham Der. He was still standing in the door way, the very picture of terror, wringing his hands and moaning to himself. Sud denly, however, he broke out into sharp, querulous cry.
 'The treasure is gone," he said. "They have robbed him of the treasure. There is the hole through which we lowered it. I helped him to do it. 1 was the last per son who saw him. I left him hero last night, and heard him lock the door as | came down stairs"
 What time was that?' "It was 10 o'clock And now he is dead, and the police will be called in, and shall be suspected of having had hand in it. Oh, yes, l am sure I shall. But you don't think so, gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was 1? Is it like ly that would have brought you hero if 1t were l? Oh dear; oh, dear! I know ] shall go mad" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet ill a kind of convulsive frenzy.
 You have no reason for fear, MT. Sholto," said Holmes kindly, putting his hand upon his shoulder. Take my advice and drive down to tho station to report the matter to tho police. Offer to assist them in every way. We shall wait here until your rcturn.' The little man obey ed in a half stupefied fashion, and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in | the dark