"The indications are ruined three days' delay mean something or nothing Well, Watson, that Woolwich can further small crop which gathered do better in London "

Yet we added one more sheaf to our harvest before we left Woolwich Station The clerk ticket office was with confidence that Cadogan West- whom well by sight- Monday night, he went to London 8:15 to London Bridge alone and took single third-class ticket The clerk was struck by his excited and nervous manner So shaky was he that hardly pick up his change, clerk had helped him with it reference timetable showed 8:15 first train which possible for West after he had left the lady about 7:30

" reconstruct, Watson," said Holmes after half an hour of silence " not aware that in all our joint researches ever had case more difficult at Every fresh advance which only reveals fresh ridge beyond And yet surely made some appreciable progress

"The effect inquiries at Woolwich has main been against young Cadogan West; but the indications window would lend themselves to more favourable hypothesis suppose, for example, that he approached by some foreign agent It done under such pledges as prevented him from speaking of it, and yet affected his thoughts direction indicated by his remarks fiancee now suppose that as he went theatre young lady he suddenly, fog, caught glimpse same agent going direction office an impetuous man, quick decisions Everything gave way duty He followed the man, reached the window, saw the abstraction documents, and pursued the thief we get over the objection that no one would take originals when make copies This outsider had originals it holds together "

" the next step ? "

"Then we come into difficulties One would imagine that under such circumstances the first act of young Cadogan West to seize the villain and raise the alarm Why did he not ? Could it an official superior who took the papers ? explain West's conduct Or could the chief have given West the slip fog, and West started at once to London to head him off own rooms, presuming that where the rooms were ? The call must very pressing, since he left his girl standing fog and made no effort to communicate with her Our scent runs cold here, and vast gap between either hypothesis laying of West's body, with seven papers pocket, roof of Metropolitan train My instinct now is to work other end If Mycroft us the list of addresses to pick our man and follow two tracks instead of one "

Surely enough, note awaited us at Baker Street government messenger had brought it post-haste Holmes glanced at it and threw it over

" numerous small fry, but few handle so big an affair The only men worth considering are Adolph Meyer, of 13 Great George Street, Westminster; Louis La Rothiere, of Campden Mansions, Notting Hill; and Hugo Oberstein, 13 Caulfield Gardens, Kensington The latter was known in town on Monday now reported as having left seen some light The Cabinet awaits your final report utmost anxiety Urgent representations have arrived very highest quarter The whole force State is at your back if need it

MYCROFT

"I'm afraid," said Holmes, smiling, "that all the queen's horses and all the queen's men cannot avail " He had spread out his big map of London and leaned eagerly over it "Well, well," said he presently with an exclamation of satisfaction, "things are turning little direction at last Why, Watson, honestly believe that going to pull it off, after all " He slapped me shoulder with sudden burst of hilarity, " going out now only reconnaissance do nothing serious without my trusted comrade and biographer at my elbow stay here, odds are that me again in an hour or two If time hangs heavy get foolscap and pen, and begin your narrative of how we saved the State "

some reflection elation in my own mind, for well that depart usual austerity of demeanour unless good cause for exultation All the long November evening I waited, filled with impatience return At last, shortly after nine o'clock, there arrived messenger with note:

Am dining at Goldini's Restaurant, Gloucester Road, Kensington Please come at once and join me there Bring jemmy, dark lantern, chisel, and revolver

S H

nice equipment for respectable citizen to carry dim, fog-draped streets I stowed them all discreetly away in my overcoat and drove straight address given There sat my friend at little round table near the door garish Italian restaurant

" had something to eat ? Then join me in coffee and curacao Try proprietor's cigars less poisonous than one would expect the tools ? "

" here, in my overcoat "

"Excellent Let me short sketch of what , with some indication of what about Now it evident , Watson, young man's body was placed roof train That was clear instant that I determined the fact roof, and not from carriage, that he had fallen "

"Could it not dropped from bridge ? "

" say impossible examine the roofs slightly rounded, and no railing round them Therefore, we for certain that young Cadogan West was placed "

"How could he be placed there ? "

"That question which we had to answer possible way aware Underground runs clear of tunnels at some points West End I had vague memory that as travelled occasionally seen windows just above my head Now, suppose that train halted under such window, would there be any difficulty in laying body roof ? "

"It seems most improbable "

" fall back old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, the truth Here all other contingencies have failed When leading international agent, who had just left London, lived in row of houses which abutted Underground, so pleased that you were little astonished at my sudden frivolity "

"Oh, that , ? "

"Yes, that Mr Hugo Oberstein, Of 13 Caulfield Gardens, had become my objective I began my operations at Gloucester Road Station, where very helpful official walked with me along the track and allowed me to satisfy myself back-stair windows of Caulfield Gardens open line but the even more essential fact that, owing intersection of larger railways, the Underground trains are frequently held motionless for some minutes very spot "

"Splendid, Holmes ! got it ! "

" - , Watson We advance, but the goal is afar Well, having seen the back of Caulfield Gardens, I visited the front and satisfied myself bird was indeed flown considerable house, unfurnished, as judge, upper rooms Oberstein lived there with single valet, who was probably confederate entirely confidence bear in mind that Oberstein has gone Continent to dispose booty, but not with any idea of flight; for he had no reason to fear warrant, idea of an amateur domiciliary visit would certainly never occur to him Yet precisely what about "

"Could we not get warrant and legalize it ? "

"Hardly evidence "

"What can ? "

" tell what correspondence there "

"I don't like it, Holmes "