The Press., 1895-06-20

| the world, SOmeGh1ng always turning up to keep us from London. All the time, however, never lost sight of my purpose I would dream of Sholto at night. A hundred times srI have killed him in my sleep At last, however, some three or four years ago, we found ourselves in England. Ihad no great difficulty in find ing where Sholto lived, and set to work to discover whether he had realized the treasure or if he still had it. made | friends with some one who could help me II name no names, for don't want to | get any one else in 8 hole-and l soon found that he still had the jewels. Then tried to get at him in many ways, but he was pretty sly and had always two prizeflghters besides his sons and his knit mutgar, on guard over him.
 "One day, however, got word that he was dying I hurried at once to the gar | den, mad that he should slip out of my clutches like that, and looking through the window saw him lying in his bed, with his sons on each side of him. I'd have come through and taken my chance with the three -of them, only even as l | looked at him his jaw dropped, and l knew that he was gone. got into his room that same night, though, and l searched his papers to see if there was any record of where he had hidden our jewels. There was not line, however, so l came away, bitter and savage as a man could | be. Before left I bethought me that if l ever met my Sikh friends again it would | be a satisfaction to know that l had left | some mark of our hatred, so l scrawled down the sign of the four of us, as it had been on the chart, and pinned it on his bosom. It was too much that he should be taken to the grave without some token from the men whom he had robbed and befoOled.
 We earned living at this time by my exhibiting poor Tonga at fairs and other such places as the black cannibal. He would eat raw meat and dance his war dance, so we always had hatful of pen nies after days work. still heard all the news from Pondicherry Lodge, and for some years there was no news to hear, ex- cept that they were hunting for the treas ure. At last, however, came what we had waited for so long. The treasure had been found It was up at the top of the house, in MT. Bartholomew Sholto's chemical la boratory. I came at once and had a look at the place, but could not see how, with my wooden leg, was to make my way up to 1t. I learned, however, about trap door in the roof, and also about MT. Shol- to's supper hour. It seemed to me that could manage the thing easily through Tonga. brought him out with me with long rope wound round his waist. He could climb like cat, and he soon made his way through the roof; but, as i'll luck would have it, Bartholomew Sholto was still in the room, to his cost.
 Tonga thought he had done something very clever in killing him, for when came up by the rope found him strutting Io,- oL surprised was he when made at him with the rope's end and cursed him for little bloodthirsty imp. took the treasure box and let 1t down and then slid down my self, having first left the sign of the four upon the table, to show that the jewels had come hack at last to those who had most right to them. Tonga then pulled up the rope, closed the window and made off the way that he had come.
 II don know that have anything else to tell you. 1 had heard a waterman speak of the speed of Smiths launch, the Au- rora, so l thought she would be handy craft for our escape. I engaged with old Smith and was to give him big sum if ho got us safe to our ship. He knew, no doubt, that there was some screw loose, but he was not in our secrets. All this is the truth, and if tell it to you, gentle men, 1t is not to amuse you-for you have not done me a very good turn-but it is because believe the best defense can make is just to hold back nothing, but let all the world know how badly have my self been served by Major Sholto and how innocent lam of the death of his son.'
 "A very remarkable account" said Sherlock Holmes "A fitting windup to an extremely interesting case. There Sis nothing at all new to me in the latter part of your narrative, except that you brought your own rope. That did not know. By the way, had hoped that Tonga had lost all his darts. Yet he managed to shoot one at us in the boat
 He had lost them all, sir, except the one which was in his blowpipe at the time.'
 "Ah, of course" said Holmes. II had not thought of that"
 Ills there any other point which you would like to ask aboutF' asked the con- viot affably.
 II think not, thank you," my compan- ion answered.
 Well, Holmes" " said Athelney Jones, 'you are man to be humored, and we all know that you are a connoisseur of crime, but duty is duty, and have gone rather far in doing what you and your friend asked me. shall feel more at ease when we have our story teller here safe under lock and key. The cab still waits, and there are two inspectors down stairs. I am much obliged to you both for your as- sistance. Of course you will be wanted at the trial. Good night to you!"
 Good night, gentlemen bothH' said Jonathan Small
 'You>ffrst, Small" remarked the wary Al IzgL 4 particular care that you don't club me with your wooden leg. whatever you may have done to the gentleman at the Anda- man isles.''
 Well, and there is the end of our little drama" I remarked after we had sat some ti1no smoking in silence. II fear that it may be the last investigation in which I shall have the chance of studying your methods. Miss Morstan has done me the honor to accept me as husband in prospective ''
 He gave a most dismal groan. II feared as much, said he. II really cannot con- gratufate you"
 I was little hurt. "Have you my req son to be dissatisfied with my chOice?' asked S%
 Not at all. think she is one of the most charming young ladies l ever met ana mlgnG naNc been most uSc1ul Tn such work as we have been doing. She had decided genius that way. Witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan from all the other papers of her fa- ther. But lovo is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things. I should never marry myself, lest bias my judgment"
 II trust" said I, laughing, 'that my judgment may survive the ordeal. But you look weary"
 ''Yes, the reaction is already upon me. shall be as limp as rag for week"
 Strange" said I, how terms of what in another man should call laziness al- ternate with fits of splendid energy and vigor.''
 ''Yes," he answered, there are in me the makings of very fine loafer and also 0f a T1Tof fu cDru cOrf oP PolIo1u