-. .4- on \BTER VT.-CO.‘ITINUED “Not only will I clear him, Mr. Jones, but I will make you a free pres- ent of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night. His name, I have every reason to believe, is Jonathan Small. He is a poorly-educated man, small, active, with his right leg off and wearing a wooden stump which is worn away upon the inner side. His left boot has a coarse, square-toed sole, with an iron band round the heel. lie is a middle-aged man, much sunburned, and has been a convict. These few in- dications may be of some assistance to you, coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the .palm of his hand. The other man—” “Ah! the other man?“ asked Athel- ney Jones, in a sneering voice. but im- pressed none the less, as I could easily see, by the precision of the other's manner. ’ . “Is a rather curious person.” said Sherlock Holmes, turning upon his heel. “I hope before long to be able to intro-- duce you to the pair of them. A word with you, “’atson.” He led me out to the head of the stair. "This unexpected occurrence,” he said, “has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey.” “I have just been thinking so,” I an- swered. “It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house.” “No. You must escort her home. She lives with Mrs. Cecil Forrester in Lower Camberwell; so it'is not very far. I will wait for you here if you will drive out again. Or perhaps you are too tired?” “By no means. I don’t think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. I have seen something of the rough side of life, but I give you my word that this quick succession~ of strange surprises to-night has. shaken my‘ nerve completely. I should like, however, to see the matter through with you, now that I have got so far.” “Your presence will be of great serv- ice to me,” he answered. “We shall work the case out independently and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare’s-nest which he may choose to construct. When you have dropped. Miss Morstau I wish you to go on to No. 3 Pinchin lane, down near the wa—' ter's edge at Lambeth. The third house on the right—hand side is'a bird. stufEer’s; Sherman is the name. You: will see a weasel holding a young rab- bit in the window. Knock old Sher- man up and tell him, with my compli- ments, that I want Toby at once. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you.” “A dog, I suppose." ' ' “Yes—a queer mongrel, with a most amazing power of scent. I Would rather have Toby’s help than that of the whole detective force of London.” “I shall bring him, then,” said I. “It is one now. I ought to be back before three, if I can get a fresh horse.” “And I,” said Holmes, “shall see what I can learn from Mrs. Bernstone, and from the Indian servant, who, Mr. Thaddeus tells me, sleeps in the next garnet. Then I shall study the great Jones’s methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. ‘Wir sind ge- wohnt dass die Menschen verhohnen was sie nicht verstehen.’ Goethe is al- ways pithy.” $554,wa Lg! “"1 CHAPTER. VII. 3 THE EPISODE on THE BARREL. The police had brought a cab with them, and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. After the angelic fashion of women, she shad borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than her- self to support, and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. In the cab, however, she first turned faint, and then burst into a passion of weeping— so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distaiit upon that journey. She little guessed the struggle within my breast, or the effort of self-restraint which held me back. My sympathies and my love went' out to her, even as my hand had in the garden. i felt that years of the conventionalities of lifelcould not teach me to know her sweet, brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. She was weak and helpless. shaken in mind and nerve. It was to take her at a dis- advantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. Worse, still, she was rich. 1f Holmes’ researches were suc- cessful she would be an heiress. Was it fair, was it honorable, thata half- pay surgeon should take such advan- tage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. It was nearly two o’clock when we reached Mrs. Cecil Forrester’s. The servants had retired hours ago, but -Mrs. Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. She opened the door herself, a middle-aged, graceful woman, and it gave me joy to, see how tenderly her arm stole round the other’s waist and how motherly was the voice in which she greeted her. She was clearly no mere paid depend- ent, but an honored friend. I was in- troduced, and Mrs. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and to tell her our idventures. I explained. however, the .mportance of my errand, and prom- ised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. As we drove away I stole a glance back. and I still seem to see / that little group on the step, the two graceful, clinging figures, the half- )pened door, the hall light shining :hrough stained glass, the barometer, and the bright stair rods. It was sooth- .ng to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the.midst ' 3f the wild, dark business which had absorbed us. And the more I thought of What had happened, the wilder and darker it grew. I reviewed the whole extraor-‘ dinary sequence of events as I rattled on through the silent gas-lit streets. There was the original problem; that at least was pretty clear now. The death of Capt. Morstan, the sending of the pearls, the advertisement, the let- ter—we had had light upon all those events. They had only led us, how- ever, to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. The Indian treasure, the curious plan found among Morstan’s baggage, the strange scene at Maj. Sholto’s death, the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer, the very sin- gular accompaniments to the crime, the footsteps, the remarkable weapons, the ' words upon the card, corresponding with those 'upon Capt. Morstan’s chart 7—here indeed was a labyrinth in which a. man less singularly endowed than my fellow lodger might well despair of ever finding the clew. Pinehin lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. I had to knock for some. time at No. 3 before I could make any impression. At last, how- ever, there was the glint of a candle behind the blind, and a face looked out at the upper window. “Go on, you drunken vagabond,” said the face. _“If you kick up any more row I’ll open the kelinels and let out forty-three dogs upon you.” “If you’ll let one out it’s just what I have come for,” said I. “Go on!” yelled the voice. ”So help me gracious, I have a wiper in this bag, an’ I’ll drop it on you’re ’ead if you don’t hook it.” “But I want a dog!” I cried. “I won’t be argued with!” shouted Mr. Sherman. “Now stand clear; for when I say ‘three,’ down goes the wiper.” “Mr. Sherlock Holmes—” I began, but the words had a most magical effect, for the window instantly slammed down, and within a minute the door was unbarred and open. Mr. Sherman was a lanky, lean old man, with stoop- ing shoulders, a stringy neck and blue- tinted glasses. “A friend of Mr. Sherlock is always welcome,” said he. “Step in, sir. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. Ah, naughty, naughty, would you take a nip at the gentleman?” This to a stoat nn ,‘ / / l.nn l/ /‘ i .ll l - llllllllll-l' ' “NOW STAND CLEAR." which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. “Don’t mind that, sir; it’s only a slow- worm. It hain’t 'got no fangs, so I gives it the, run 0’ the room, for it *keeps the beetles down. You must not mind my bein’ just a little short wi’ you at first, for I'm guyed at by the children, and there’s many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. What was it that Mr. Sherlock Holmes wanted. sir?” -J-:'-¢~\r~i¢flfit’f"*- “He wanted a dog of yours.” “Ah! that would be Toby." “Yes, Toby was the name.” “Toby lives at No. 7 on the left here.” He moved slowlyforward with his candle among the queer animal family which he had gathered round him. In the uncertain, shadowy light I could see dimly that there Were glancing, glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls, who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices dis- turbed their slumbers. _ Toby proved to be an ugly. long- haired, lop-cared creature, half span- iel and half lurcher, brown-and-white in color, with a. very clumsy waddling gait. It accepted, after some hesita- tion, a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me, and, having thus sealed an alliance, it followed me to the cab, and made no diiiiculties about accompanying me. It had just struck three on the palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pon- dicherry lodge. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had, I found, been arrested as an accessory, and both he and Mr. Sholto. had been marched .off to the station. Two constables guarded the narrow gate, but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detectives name. . Holmes was standing on the door- step, with his hands in his pockets, smoking his pipe. “Ah, you have him there!” said he. “Good deg, then! Athelney Jones has gone. We have had an immense dis- play of energy since you left. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus, but the gatekeeper, the housekeeper, and the Indian servant. We have the place to ourselves, but for a sergeant upstairs. Leave the dog here, and come up.” I We tied Toby to the hall table, and reascended the stairs. The room was as we had left it, save that a sheet Had been draped over the central figure. A weary-looking police sergeant reclined in the corner. . “Lend me your bull’s-eye, sergeant,” said my companion. “Now tie this bit . of can} round my neck, so as to hang it in front of me. Thank you. Now I must kick off my boots and stockings! Just you carry them down with you. Watson. I am going to do a little climbing. And dip my handkerchief into the creosote. That will do. Now come up into the garret with me for a moment.” We clambered up through the hole. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust. “I wish you particularly to notice- these footmarks,” he said. “Do you ob— serve anything noteworthy about them?” “They, belong,” I said, “to a child or a. small woman.” “Apart from their size, though. Is there anything else?” . “They appear to be much as other footmarks.” “Not at all. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. What is the chief difference?” “Your toes are all cramped together. The other print has each toe distinctly divide( ."’ “Quite so. That is the point. Bear that in mind. Now, would you kindly step over. to the flap- window and smell the edge of the woodwork? I shall stay over here, as I have this handker- chief in my hand.” I did as he directed, and was in- stantly conscious of a strong tarry smell. . “That is where he put his foot in get- ting out. If you can trace him, I should think that Toby will have no difficulty. Now run downstairs, loose the dog, and look out for Blondin.” By the time that I got out into the grounds Sherlock Holmes was on the roof, and I could see him like an enor: mous glow-worm, crawling very slowly along the ridge. I ‘lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys, but he presently reappeared, and then van- ished once more upon the opposite side. When I made" my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves, “That you, Watson?” he cried. “YeS-” “This is the place. What is that black thing down there?” , “A water—barrel." “Top on it?” 1,2. . ,ggfi ‘3}?85. 7.‘ ~ figfléfi “No sign of a ladder?” ‘4' v 9, o. “Confound the fellow! .It’s a most break-neck place. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. The waterpipe feels pretty firm. Here goes, anyhow.” There was a scathing of the feet, and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel, and from there to the earth. “It was easy to follow him,” he said, drawing on his stockings and boots. “Tiles were loosened the whole way along, and in his hurry he had dropped this. It confirms my diagnosis, as you doctors express it.” The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of colored grasses and with a few tawdry beads strung round it. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette case. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood, sharp at one end and rounded at the other. like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto. “They are hellish things,” said he. “Look out that you don’t prick your— self. l‘m delighted to have them for the chances are that they are all he has. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. I would sooner face a Martini bullet, myself. Are you game for asix-mile trudge, \l'atson'B” “Certainly," I answered. “Your leg will stand it?” “Oh, yes.” . “Here you are, doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it, Toby, smell it!” He pushed the creosote handker- chief under the dog's nose, while the creature stood with its fluffy legs separated, and with a most comical cock to its head, like aconnoisseur snif- fing the bouquet of a famous vintage. Holmes then threw the handkerchief to a distance, fastened a stout cord to the mongrel’s collar, and led him to the foot of the water barrel. The creature instantly broke into a succes- sion of high, tremulous yelps, and, with his nose on the ground, and his tail in the air, pattered 01f upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. The cast had been gradually whiten- ing. and we could now see some dis- tance in the cold gray light. The square, massive house, with its black, empty windows and high, bare walls, towered up, sad and forlorn, behind WITH A LIGHT SPRING ER CAME ON THE BARREL. us. Our course led right across the grounds, in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. The whole place, with its scattered dirt heaps and ill- grown shrubs, had a blighted, ill- omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. [To BE CONTINUED NEXT mammal 4.-—. —- Mrs. Benjamin Taylor has returned from a three months Vl-‘lt will) relatives in SVrucllm', N. Y. 4_ *THE'. MUTUA‘L'. LIFE \ I In URANCE CO. 7 OF NEW YORK. RICHARD A. MCCURDY President. a men for nYBal ndingflenlllfllfi. - . $221,213,721 33 194,347,157 58 $26,866,563 7.5 ' ' $46,597,430 51 $23,126,728 45 $899,074,453 78 $61,647,645 36 NOTE—Insurance merely written, Is discarded from this Statement as wholly mlsleadlng, and only insurance actually issued and paid for in cash ls lncluded. , I have carefully examined the foregoing Statement and find the same to be correct. ' CHARLES A. PRELLER, Auditor. Assets. . . Liabilities ‘ .Surplus Total Income - . ’ . Total Paid Policy-holdersin 1895, . Insurance and Annuities in force, . Net gain in 1895 . i From the Surplus a dividend will be apportioned as usual. Report, of the Examining Committee. lllllne nl lhe llulual-Llle lnsuranne company at New York, February '1 l, 1896. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of this Company, held on the 18th day of December last, the undersigned were appointed a Committee to examine the annual Statement for the year ending December 315i, 1895, and to verify the same by com-_. parison with the assets of the Company._ , ' I The Committee‘have carefully performed the duty assigned to them, and hereby certify that the Statement is in all particulars correct and that the assets specified therein are in possession of the Company. In making this certificate the Committee bear testimony to the high character of the investments (f the Company and express their approval of the system, order and accuracy with which the accounts and vouchers haVe been kept, and the business in general transacted. - H. C. Von Post, Charles R. Henderson, James C. Holden, Robert Clyphant, 'Wm. P. Dixon, J. H. Herrick. Committee ROBERT A. G‘RANNIS, Vice-President. WALTER R. GILLETTE, General Manager. , HENRY E. DUNCAN. Jr., Cor Seoy. ALBERT KLAMROTH, Asst. Secy. ISAAC F. LLOYD, Second Vice-President, WILLIAM J. EASTON, Secretary, ‘FREDERIC CROMWELL, Treasurer. ' JAMES TIMPSON, 2d Asst. Treas EDWARD P. HOLDEN, Asst. Cashier, IOHN A. FONDA, Assistant Treasurer». WILLIAM P. SANDS, Cashier . . EMORY MoCLINTOCK LL.D., F. I. A., Actuary. JOHN TATLOCK, J 3., Asst. Actuary. WM. W. RICHARDS, Comptroller. CHARLES A. PRELLER, Auditor, HENRY 8. BROWN, Asst. Comp. JOHN C. ELLIOTT, Superintendent of Domestic Agencies, EDWARD LYMAN SHORT, Gen. Solicitor. MEDICAL DIRECTORS ELIAS J. MARSH, M. D. GRANVILLE M. WHITE, Mun. IGUSTAVUS S. WINSTON, M. D. JOHN WV. NICHOLS, New Haven, General Agt. for State of. Connecticut. A. m. CAMP, . w - . ‘ . Local Agent.
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