" look in way train," answered Holmes moment later he and I were back front room, where the impassive lady was still quietly working away at her antimacassar She put it down on her lap entered and looked at us with her frank, searching blue eyes

" convinced, sir," she said, "that is mistake, and parcel was never meant at all said this gentleman from Scotland Yard, but he simply laughs at me an enemy , as far as , so why should anyone play me such trick ? "

" coming same opinion, Miss Cushing," said Holmes, taking seat beside her " more than probable " he paused, and surprised, on glancing round that staring with singular intentness lady's profile Surprise and satisfaction were both for an instant read upon his eager face, though when she glanced round out the cause silence he had become as demure as ever I stared hard myself at her flat, grizzled hair, her trim cap, her little gilt earrings, her placid features; but I nothing which could account companion's evident excitement

"There were questions --"

"Oh, weary of questions ! " cried Miss Cushing impatiently

" two sisters, I believe "

"How could that ? "

"I observed the very instant that I entered the room that portrait group of three ladies mantelpiece, one of whom is undoubtedly yourself, while the others are so exceedingly like you that there relationship "

"Yes, quite right Those are my sisters, Sarah and Mary "

"And here at my elbow is another portrait, taken at Liverpool, of your younger sister, company of man who appears steward by his uniform I observe that she was unmarried "

" very quick at observing "

" my trade "

"Well, quite right But she was married to Mr Browner afterwards South American line was taken, but so fond of her that he couldn't abide to leave her for , and he got Liverpool and London boats "

"Ah, the Conqueror, perhaps ? "

"No, the May Day, when last I heard Jim came down here me once That was before he broke the pledge; but afterwards always take drink when ashore, and little drink would stark, staring mad Ah ! bad day that ever glass hand again First he dropped me, then he quarrelled with Sarah, and now that Mary has stopped writing we don't know how things are going "

evident that Miss Cushing had come upon subject she felt very deeply Like most people who lead lonely life, she was shy at first, but ended by becoming extremely communicative She told us many details about her brother-in-law the steward, and then wandering off of her former lodgers, the medical students, she long account delinquencies, with their names and those hospitals Holmes listened attentively to everything, throwing in question

" second sister, Sarah," said he "I wonder, since both maiden ladies, that keep house together "

"Ah ! you don't know Sarah's temper or wonder no more I tried it when to Croydon, and we kept on until about , when we had to part I don't want word against my own sister, but she was always meddlesome and hard , was Sarah "

"You say that she quarrelled with your Liverpool relations "

"Yes, were the best of friends at Why, she went up there to live near them And now she has no word hard enough for Jim Browner The last six months that she was here speak of nothing but his drinking ways He had caught her meddling, I suspect, and given her bit mind, start of it "

" , Miss Cushing," said Holmes, rising and bowing "Your sister Sarah lives, you said, at New Street Wallington ? Good-bye, and very sorry that you troubled over case , say, nothing whatever "

cab passing came out, and Holmes hailed it

"How far to Wallington ? " he asked

"Only about mile, sir "

" Jump in, Watson strike while the iron is hot Simple case is, been very instructive details in connection with it Just pull up at telegraph office pass, cabby "

Holmes sent off short wire and rest drive lay back cab, hat tilted over his nose the sun face Our driver pulled up at house not unlike the one which we had just quitted My companion ordered him to wait, and had his hand knocker, door opened and grave young gentleman in black, with very shiny hat, appeared step

"Is Miss Cushing at home ? " asked Holmes

"Miss Sarah Cushing is extremely ill," said he "She suffering since yesterday from brain symptoms of great severity As her medical adviser, possibly responsibility of allowing anyone her recommend you again in ten days " He drew gloves, closed the door, and marched off down the street

"Well, 't 't," said Holmes, cheerfully

"Perhaps or have told you much "

" wish her me anything I only wanted to look at her However, that got all that Drive us to some decent hotel, cabby, where some lunch, and afterwards drop down upon friend Lestrade police-station "

We had pleasant little meal together, during which Holmes would talk about nothing but violins, narrating with great exultation how he had purchased his own Stradivarius, worth five hundred guineas, at Jew broker's in Tottenham Court Road for fifty-five shillings This led him to Paganini, and we sat for an hour over bottle of claret while me anecdote after anecdote extraordinary man The afternoon was far advanced hot glare had softened into mellow glow before ourselves police-station Lestrade was waiting door

"A telegram , Mr Holmes," said he

"Ha ! answer ! " He tore it open, glanced his eyes over it, and crumpled it into his pocket "That's all right," said he

" found out anything ? "

" found out everything ! "

"What ! " Lestrade stared at him in amazement " joking "

" never more serious in my life shocking crime committed, and now laid bare every detail of it "

" criminal ? "

Holmes scribbled few words back of one visiting cards and threw it over to Lestrade

" name," " effect an arrest until to-morrow night earliest prefer that mention my name at all in connection case, as I choose only associated with those crimes which present some difficulty in their solution Come on, Watson " We strode off together station, leaving Lestrade still staring with delighted face card which Holmes had thrown him

"The case," said Sherlock Holmes chatted over our cigars that night rooms at Baker Street, "is one where, as investigations which chronicled under the names of 'A Study in Scarlet' and of 'The Sign of Four,' compelled to reason backward from effects to causes written to Lestrade asking him to supply us details which are now wanting, and which only get after he has secured his man That safely trusted , for although absolutely devoid of reason, as tenacious as bulldog when he once understands what he do, and, indeed, just this tenacity brought him top at Scotland Yard "