The Press., 1895-05-23

 many time job has taken him as far as Gravesend, and then if there was much doin there he might ha staid over. But what good is steam launch without coals?'
 "He might have bought some att wharf down the river"
 He might, sir, but it weren't his way. Many time I've heard him call out the prices they charge for few odd bags Be- sides don t like that wooden legged man, wi his ugly face and outlandish talk. What did he want always knockin about i here for?''
 "A wooden legged man?" said Holmes, | with bland surprise.
 "Yes, sir, brown, monkey faced chap that's called moren once for. my old man. | It was him that reused him up yester- night, and, what's more, my man knew he was comin, for he had steam up in the launch. l tell you straight, sir l don't feel easy in my mind about it. "
 'But my dear Mrs. Smith, said Holmes, struggling his shoulders, ''you are frightening yourself about nothing. How could you possibly tell that 1t was the wooden legged man who came in the night? l don't quite understand how you can be so sure. "
 His voice, sir I knew his voice, which 4S AAuu U OuACN 1hA AOSSy. AA0 UdPp0N AO the winder-about it would be. Show guard My old man woke up Jim-that's my eldest-and away they went without so much as a word to me. l could hear the wooden leg clackin on the stOnes."
 And was this wooden legged man alone?"
 "Couldn' t say, I am sure, didn't hear no one else
 II am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for wanted a steam launch, and have heard good re- ports of the - Let me see. What is her name?'
 "The Aurora, sir. .''
 "Ahl She's not that old green launch with yellow line, very broad in the beam?"
 No, indeedl She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. She's been | fresh painted - black, with two red streaks"
 'Thanksl I hope that you will hear soon from MT. Smith. I am going down the river and if should see anything of l the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. A black funnel, you say?" ."No, sir-black, with white band. " "Ah, of course! It was the sides which were black. Good morning, Mrs. Smith There is boatman here with wherry, | Watson. We shall take it and cross the | river"
 | HThe main thing with people of that | sort, :" said Holmes as we sat in the sheets | of the wherry, lis never to let them think that their information can be of the slight est importance to you. If you do, they will instantly shut up like an oyster. If you listen to them under protest, as it were you are very likely to get what you | want ''
 Our course now seems pretty clear. :" said l.
 What would you do, then?'
 II would engage launch and go down the track of the Aurora. U
 My dear fellow, it would be colossal task. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich Below the bridge there is perfect labyrinth of landing places fol miles. It would take you days and days to exhaust them if you set about it alone. ' Employ the police, then"
 No. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment He is not a bad fellow, and I should not like to do anything which would injure him profes sionally, but l have fancy for working it out myself, now that we have gone sc far
 
 information from wi ingers?"
 ''Worse and worse Our men woul know that the chase was hot at theil heels, and they would be off out of the country As it is, they are likely enough to leave, but as long as they think they are perfectly safe they will be in no hurry. Jones' energy will be of use to us there, for his view of the case is sure to push it self into the daily press and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent
 ''What are we to do, then?' I asked as we landed near Millbank penitentiary.
 "Take this hanson, drive home, have some breakfast and get an hours sleep. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot tonight again. Stop at a telegraph office, cabby We will keep Toby, for he may be of use to us yet
 We pulled up at the Great Peter street postoftice and Holmes dispatched his wire. ''Whom do you think that is toP" he asked as we resumed our journey.
 II am sure l don't know"
 "You remember the Baker street div1- sion of the detective force whom e1u- ployed in the Jefferson Hope case2"
 ''Well?'' said l. laughing
 ''This is just the case where they might be invaluable If they fail, I have other resources, but shall try them first. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant, Wiggins, and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have fin ished our breakfast.
 1twas between and 9o'clock now, and 1 was conscious of q strong reaction after the succossiTe settlements of the night. l was limp and weary, befogged in mind and fatigucd in body. I had not the pro fcssional enthusiasm which carried my companion on, nor could I look at the mtitter as moro distract intellectual problem. As far as the death of BarthOl- onaew Sholto went had heard little good of him and could feel no intense antipathy to his murdepeRs. Ihc treasure, however was~a tEifTcasAt z: matter. That, or part o1 Faithfully to Miss Morstan ;. W44fT6 there was chance of recovering il I 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 a petty and selfish low which would be influenced by such { thought as that. If Holmes could work tc find the criminals, ] had d tcnfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure
 A bath in Baker street and a complete change frcshened me up wonderfully When 1 came down to our room, 1 found the breakfast laid and Holmes pouring ou the coffee
 Here it is,'' said he, laughing ant pointing to an open newspaper. Th' energetic Jones and the ubiquitous report CT have fixed it mp between them. Btu you have had enough of the case. Bette1 : have your ham and eggs first.'
 took the paper from him and read thu short notice, which was headed, 'Myste rious Business at Upper Norwood.' ''
 33o Ioc ioI, 7 Standard, MT. Bartholomew Sholto o Pondicherry Lodge, Upper Norwood, wa found dead in his room under circum stances which point to foul play. As ia as we can learn, no actual traces of vio lence were found upon MT. Sholto's per son, but valuable collection of Indian gcms which the dcccnsed s,nntleman hat