The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-27
T he Engineers | f1ur11Ib

was fresh and glossy when you got In. How could 1t be that If it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads2'
 "Indeed 1t Is . likely ruse enough observed Bradstreet, thoughtfully. "of course there can be no doubt as to the nature of the gang"
 "None at all, said Holmes. They are eoiners on a large scale and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the place of silver
 We have known for some time that clever gang was at work said tho in- speetor. "'rhey have been turning cut half-erowns by the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading but could get no further for they had covered their traces In a way that showed they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this lucky chance l think that we have got them right enough" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into Eyford station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighborhood, and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape.
 "A house on fire?' asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off again on its way.
 ''Yes sirl' said the station master.
 When did it break out2"
 'I hear that it was during the night. sir, but it has got wnrse and the whole place is in a blaze
 Whose house Is it?'
 ''Dr. Bechers.'
 "TeI me" broke in the engineer "ls , Dr. Becher a German, very thin, with long sharp nose?"
 The station master laughed heartily. No sir. Dr. Beeher is an Englishman, and there isn't q man In the parish who , has a better lined waistcoat. But Tie has a gentleman staying with him, a patient. as I understand. who is a for | eigner, and he looks as if little Berk- shire beef would do him no harm" The station master had not finished his speech before we were all hastening In the direction of the fire. The road top ped a low hill and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in front of us spouting fire al every chink and window. while in the garden in front three fire engines were vainly striving to keep the flames under.
 "rhat's tr' cried Hatherley. in intense excitement. "There is the gravel drive, and there are the rose bushes where I lay That second window is the one that l jumped from"
 Well, at least" said Holmes. 'you had your revenge upon them. There is no question that Ii was your oil lamp which. when It was crushed In the press. set fire to the wooden walls. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to observe if at the time, Now, keep yonr eyes open In this crowd for your friends of last night. though l very much fear that they are a good hundred miles off by now
 And Holmes fears came to be realized. for from that day 10 this no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the sinister German, or the morose Engllshman. Early that morning HsxI~. eral people and some very bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Read Ing, but there all traces of the furgitiVes disappeared, and even Holmes ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their whereabouts.
 The hremen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements which they found within. and still more so by dis covering a newly severed human thumb upon d window sill of the second floor. About sunset, however their efforts were at last successful and they snbdued the flames. but not before the roof had fallen In, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that save some twist ed cylinders and Iron piping, not trace remained of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored in an outhouse, but no coins were to be found, which may have explained the presence of those 1 bulky boxes which have been already referred to.
 How our hydraulic engineer had been conv q from the garden to the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained forever mystery were 1t not for the soft mould which told Us very plain tale. He had evidently been car ried down by two persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other unusually large ones. On tho whole 1t was most probable that the silent Eng lshman being less bold or less murderous than his companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out of The way of danger.
 ''Well" said our engineer ruefully, as we took our seats 10 return once more to London 'it has been a pretty business for mel I have lost my thumb and IshaGs lost a fifty guinea fee, and what have I gained?"
 "Experience, said Holmes. laughing. "Tndreeiy If may be of value. YOU know you have only to nut 1t into words to gain the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your exist ence"