" too far , weak and ill as I determined to wait until I got back to town before telling my story police little past six when I arrived, so I went first my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to bring me along here I put the case into your hands and shall do exactly what you advise "

We both sat in silence for some little time after listening extraordinary narrative Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down shelf ponderous commonplace books he placed his cuttings

" an advertisement which will interest you," said he "It appeared in all the papers about year ago Listen : 'Lost, 9th inst , Mr Jeremiah Hayling, aged twenty-six, hydraulic engineer Left his lodgings at ten o'clock at night, and heard of since Was dressed in,' etc , etc Ha ! That represents the last time colonel needed his machine overhauled, I fancy "

"Good heavens ! " cried my patient "Then that explains what the girl said "

"Undoubtedly quite clear colonel was cool and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should stand way little game, like those out-and-out pirates leave no survivor from captured ship Well, every moment now is precious, so feel equal go down to Scotland Yard at once as preliminary to starting for Eyford "

Some three hours or so afterwards we were all train together, bound from Reading little Berkshire village There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, plain-clothes man, and myself Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map county out seat and was busy compasses drawing circle with Eyford for its centre

"There ," said he "That circle is drawn at radius of ten miles village The place somewhere near that line You said ten miles, , sir "

" an hour's good drive "

"And brought you back all that way were unconscious ? "

" done so confused memory, too, of having been lifted and conveyed somewhere "

"What understand," said I, "is why they spared you found you lying fainting garden Perhaps the villain was softened woman's entreaties "

"I hardly think that likely I never saw more inexorable face in my life "

"Oh, soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet "Well, drawn my circle, and I only wish at what point upon it the folk that in search of are found "

" lay my finger ," said Holmes quietly

"Really, now ! " cried the inspector, " formed your opinion ! Come, now, see who agrees south, country is more deserted there "

"And east," said my patient

" for west," remarked the plain-clothes man " several quiet little villages up there "

"And for north," said I, "because no hills there, friend says that notice the carriage go up any "

"Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's very pretty diversity of opinion boxed the compass among us Who give your casting vote to ? "

" all wrong "

"But 't all be "

"Oh, yes, my point " He placed his finger centre circle " where find them "

"But the twelve-mile drive ? " gasped Hatherley

"Six out and six back Nothing simpler You say yourself horse was fresh and glossy got in How could it be that had gone twelve miles over heavy roads ? "

"Indeed, likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet thoughtfully " there nature gang "

"None at all," said Holmes " coiners on large scale, used the machine the amalgam taken the place of silver "

" known for that clever gang was at work," said the inspector "They turning out half-crowns thousand We even traced them as far as Reading, but could get no farther, for they had covered their traces in way that showed were very old hands But now, thanks lucky chance, that got them right enough "

But the inspector was mistaken, criminals destined hands of justice rolled into Eyford Station we saw gigantic column of smoke which streamed up from behind small clump of trees neighbourhood and hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape

"A house on fire ? " asked Bradstreet train steamed off again on its way

"Yes, sir ! " said the station-master

"When did it break out ? "

"I hear during the night, sir, but it has got worse, whole place is in blaze "

"Whose house ? "

"Dr Becher's "

"Tell me," broke engineer, "is Dr Becher German, very thin, with long, sharp nose ? "

The station-master laughed heartily "No, sir, Dr Becher is an Englishman, and there isn't man parish who has better-lined waistcoat But he has gentleman staying , patient, as I understand, foreigner, and he looks little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm "

The station-master finished his speech before we were all hastening direction fire The road topped low hill, and great widespread whitewashed building in front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving the flames under

"That's it ! " cried Hatherley, in intense excitement " the gravel-drive, and the rose-bushes where I lay That second window one that I jumped from "

"Well, ," said Holmes, " your revenge upon them There no question your oil-lamp which, when crushed press, set fire wooden walls, though they were too excited chase after you to observe it Now keep your eyes open crowd for your friends of last night, though I fear good hundred miles off by now "

And Holmes's fears came realised, for day no word has ever been heard either beautiful woman, the sinister German, or the morose Englishman Early that morning peasant had met cart containing several people and some very bulky boxes driving rapidly direction of Reading, but there all traces fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes's ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clew as whereabouts

The firemen much perturbed strange arrangements which they had found within, and still more so by discovering newly severed human thumb upon window-sill second floor About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, subdued the flames, but not roof had fallen in, whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not trace remained machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so dearly Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored in an out-house, but no coins were found, have explained the presence bulky boxes been already referred to

How our hydraulic engineer conveyed garden spot where he recovered his senses remained forever mystery were it not soft mould, which told us very plain tale He had evidently been carried down by two persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet other unusually large ones whole, most probable silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man way of danger

"Well," said our engineer ruefully took our seats to return once more to London, " pretty business ! lost my thumb and lost fifty-guinea fee, and what have I gained ? "

"Experience," said Holmes, laughing "Indirectly it of value, ; only it into words to gain the reputation of being excellent company remainder of your existence "