Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-19


 Only that l insist upon you dining with Us. IL will hr ready in half an hour. have oysters and a trace of grouse, with something littlr choice in white wine. Watson, you have never yet rrCCgniZCd my merits d. a huu>, keeper"
 CHAPTER N
 Our meal was a merry one. Holmes could talk CXCrcdinRly well when he chose, and that night he did choose. He appeared to he in a state of nervous CXal- tation. l have never known him so bril- liant. He spoke on quick succo>sion of subjects, on miracle plays on mCdiDval pottery, on SiridiVariuS violinS, on the Buddhism Ut e., ion and Un the WaEships of tho future. h.H'!!ing each as though he had madr a >rtct.! study of it. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of IL" preceding days. AtbclnCy Juu"s pTo"l| hC a sociablc soul in his Au,.rs ot !, .,,&..;luA and faced bis dinner Nlth the ..4r Cf Il bon NiVaut. Fer myself felt clatcd at tho thought | that we wcr2 nearing the end of our task, and CnuEh, something of Holmes gay ety. None "f u' alluded during dinner to tho cause which lad brought us together. When tho cloth was cleared. Holmes l glanced at his watch and filled up three glasses with port Ono bumper" said he, ito thr >ucccsS of our little expedition And now il k high time WIG were of | Have you pistol, Watson!'
 Il have my old service revolver in my desk .
 | You had best take it, then. It is well to bc prepared. I scc that tho cab is at tho door. ordered it for half past 6. It was little past before we reached ( hn ir,zN Fr-l, nrf ] launch awaiting Us. Holmes eyed il crit ically.
 Is there anything to mark it as po- lice boat
 "Ycs; inst green lamp at tho side Then take it off. "
 The small change was made. We stepped on board, and the ropes wCre cast of. | Jones, Holmes and I sat in tho stern. l Thero was one man at the ruddcr, one to tend the cnSinr- and two burly police in spectors forward.
 "Whorc to:' asked Jones.
 To the Tower, Tell them to stop op- poSite to Jacobson yard.
 Our craft was evidently very fast one. We shot past the long lines of loaded ] barges as though they worc stationary. Holmes smiled with satisfaction as WIG overhauled a river steamer and left her be hind.
 We ought to be able to catch anything on the river" he said.
 "Well, hardly that, but there arc not many launches to beat us"
 We shall havc to catch the Aurora, and she has namo for being n clipper Twill tell you how the land lies, Watson You recollect how annoyed I was at being baked by SO small thing" | Yes"
 Well, l gave my mind n thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis ! One of our greatest statesmen has said that n change of work is tho best rest. SC it is. When had succcCdcd in diSsolvine the hydrocarbon which was at work at camo back to our problem of the Sholto. and thought the whole matter out again My boys had been mp the river and down without result The launch was not al any landing stage or wharf, nor had it re turned. Yet it could hardly havo beeI scuttled to hide their traces, though thai always remained as possible hypothosi, if all else failed. 1 knew that this mar Small had a certain degree of low cum ming, but 1 did not think him capable o anything in the nature of delicate finesse That is usually product of higher educa ton. then reflected that since he hat certainly been in London some time, a we had evidence that he maintained | continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge he could hardly leave at q moments no tice, but would need some time, if it wer only n day, to arrange his affairs. Thi was the balance of probability, at an, rate"
 Tt seems to me to be q little weak, ' said l. Tt is more probable that he haC ; arranged his affairs before ever he set ou upon his expedition"
 No; I hardly think so. This lair O his would be too valuable n retreat in cas, of need for him to give it up until hc wa sure that he could do without it. But second consideration struck me Jonathan Small must have felt that tho pcculia appearance of his companion, howeve much he may have topcoatod him, woulC give rise to gossip and possibly be associ ated with this Norwood tragedy. He wa quite sharp enough to sec that. They haS started from their headquarters nnde cover of darkness, and he would wish [, g"t back before it was broad light. Now 1t was past 3 o'Cl, Smith. when they E. .;.I , be quite bright, ana |. As!' ,,r.tiI | about In an hour or sl. Therefore, argued, they did not go very far. The paid Smith we'll to hold his tongue, n served his launch for the final escape an hurried to their lodgings with the trcnsui pqx Tn couple of nights. when tAs