fine creature, this man old English soil, simple, straight, and gentle, great, earnest blue eyes and broad, comely face His love wife trust in her shone features Holmes had listened story utmost attention, and now he sat for in silent thought

"Don't , Mr Cubitt," said he, at last, "that your best plan direct appeal to your wife, and to ask her to share her secret ? "

Hilton Cubitt shook his massive head

"A promise is promise, Mr Holmes If Elsie wished me , to force her confidence But justified in taking my own line -- "

"Then with all my heart first place, heard of any strangers being seen in your neighbourhood ? "

"No "

"I presume very quiet place Any fresh face would cause comment ? "

" immediate neighbourhood, yes But several small watering-places not very far away farmers take in lodgers "

"These hieroglyphics have evidently meaning purely arbitrary one it impossible to solve it If, other hand, systematic, that get bottom of it But this particular sample is so short that do nothing, facts which brought me are so indefinite that no basis for an investigation you return to Norfolk, that you keep keen look-out, you take an exact copy of any fresh dancing men appear thousand pities that reproduction which were done in chalk window-sill Make discreet inquiry also any strangers neighbourhood have collected some fresh evidence come again best advice which , Mr Hilton Cubitt any pressing fresh developments always ready to run down you in your Norfolk home "

The interview left Sherlock Holmes very thoughtful, and next him take his slip of paper note-book and look long and earnestly curious figures inscribed upon it no allusion affair, however, until one afternoon fortnight or so later going out when me back

"You had better stay here, Watson "

"Why ? "

"Because I had wire from Hilton Cubitt -- you remember Hilton Cubitt, dancing men ? to reach Liverpool Street at one-twenty here at any moment I gather wire that been some new incidents of importance "

We long to wait, Norfolk squire came straight station as fast as hansom could bring him looking worried and depressed, with tired eyes and lined forehead

"It's getting on my nerves, this business, Mr Holmes," said he, as he sank, like wearied man, into an arm-chair "It's bad enough that surrounded by unseen, unknown folk, some kind of design upon you; but when, , just killing your wife by inches, then it becomes as flesh and blood can endure She's wearing away under it -- just wearing away before my eyes "

"Has she said anything yet ? "

"No, Mr Holmes, she And yet been times poor girl has wanted , and yet quite bring herself to plunge to help her; but I dare say it clumsily, and scared her off She has spoken old family, reputation county, pride unsullied honour, and I always felt leading point; but somehow it turned off before we got there "

"But found out something ? "

"A , Mr Holmes several fresh dancing men pictures to examine, and, more important, the fellow "

"What, the man who draws them ? "

"Yes, him at his work But tell you everything When I got back after my visit , the very first thing next morning was fresh crop of dancing men They drawn in chalk black wooden door tool-house, which stands beside the lawn in full view front windows an exact copy, and here " He unfolded paper and laid it table copy hieroglyphics:--

"Excellent ! " said Holmes "Excellent ! Pray continue "

"When I had taken the copy I rubbed out the marks; but two mornings later fresh inscription had appeared copy of it here":--

Holmes rubbed his hands and chuckled with delight

"Our material is rapidly accumulating," said he

"Three days later message was left scrawled upon paper, and placed under pebble sun-dial Here The characters are, as , exactly the same last one I determined to lie in wait; so I got out my revolver and I sat up in my study, which overlooks the lawn and garden About two morning seated window, all being dark save moonlight outside, when I heard steps behind me, and my wife in her dressing-gown She implored me to bed her frankly that I wished who who played such absurd tricks upon us She answered some senseless practical joke, I take any notice of it

"' really annoys you, Hilton, go and travel, you and I, and so avoid this nuisance '

"'What, be driven out own house by practical joker ? ' said I `Why, the whole county laughing at us '

"'Well, come to bed,' said she, `and discuss it morning '

"Suddenly, as she spoke, her white face grow whiter yet moonlight, and her hand tightened upon my shoulder Something was moving shadow tool-house dark, creeping figure which crawled round the corner and squatted in front door Seizing my pistol rushing out, when my wife threw her arms round me and held me with convulsive strength I tried to throw her off, but she clung most desperately At last I got clear, but I had opened the door and reached the house the creature was gone He had left trace presence, however, for there door very same arrangement of dancing men which had already twice appeared, and which copied paper no other sign fellow anywhere, though I ran all over the grounds And yet the amazing thing been there all the time, for when I examined the door again morning he had scrawled some more pictures under the line which I had already seen "

" that fresh drawing ? "

"Yes; very short, but copy of it, and here "

Again he produced paper