" your idea, then ? "

"IT seemed obvious Greek girl carried off young Englishman named Harold Latimer "

"Carried off from where ? "

"Athens, perhaps "

Sherlock Holmes shook his head "This young man talk word of Greek The lady could talk English fairly well Inference--that she in England some little time, but he in Greece "

"Well, then, presume that she had come on visit to England, and Harold had persuaded her to fly "

" more probable "

"Then the brother-- , I fancy, the relationship--comes over from Greece to interfere He imprudently puts himself power young man older associate They seize him and use violence towards him him sign some papers over the girl's fortune-- trustee-- This he refuses to negotiate an interpreter , pitch Mr Melas, having used some other one before The girl told arrival of her brother, and finds it out merest accident "

"Excellent, Watson ! " cried Holmes "I really fancy that far truth that we hold all the cards, and only to fear some sudden act of violence on their part time them "

"But how can where this house lies ? "

"Well, if our conjecture is correct girl's name is or was Sophy Kratides, no difficulty in tracing her be our main hope, brother is, , complete stranger clear that has elapsed Harold established these relations girl--some weeks, at any rate-- brother in Greece has had time to hear of it and come across living same place during , probable that some answer to Mycroft's advertisement "

We had reached our house in Baker Street while we talking Holmes ascended the stair first, and as he opened the door room start of surprise Looking over his shoulder, equally astonished His brother Mycroft was sitting smoking arm-chair

"Come in, Sherlock ! Come in, sir," said he blandly, smiling at our surprised faces "You don't expect such energy from me, , Sherlock ? But somehow attracts me "

"How did you get here ? "

"I passed you in hansom "

" some new development ? "

"I had an answer to my advertisement "

"Ah ! "

"Yes, it came within of your leaving "

"And to what effect ? "

Mycroft Holmes took out sheet of paper

"Here ," said he, "written with J pen on royal cream paper by middle-aged man with weak constitution 'Sir,' , 'in answer to your advertisement of to-day's date, I beg to inform you that know the young lady If care upon me some particulars her painful history living at present Myrtles, Beckenham Yours faithfully, J Davenport '

"He writes from Lower Brixton," said Mycroft Holmes " not think that drive to him now, Sherlock, and learn these particulars ? "

"My dear Mycroft, the brother's life is more valuable sister's story call at Scotland Yard for Inspector Gregson, and go straight out to Beckenham that man is being done to death, and every hour vital "

"Better pick up Mr Melas way," I suggested " need an interpreter "

"Excellent," said Sherlock Holmes "Send the boy for four-wheeler, and off at once " He opened the table-drawer as he spoke, and I noticed that he slipped his revolver into his pocket "Yes," said he, in answer to my glance; " say from what heard, that dealing with particularly dangerous gang "

almost dark before ourselves in Pall Mall, rooms of Mr Melas gentleman had just called for him, and gone

" tell me where ? " asked Mycroft Holmes

"I don't know, sir," answered the woman who had opened the door; "I only know that he drove away gentleman in carriage "

"Did the gentleman give name ? "

"No, sir "

"He wasn't tall, handsome, dark young man ? "

"Oh, nor, sir little gentleman, with glasses, thin face, but very pleasant ways, for laughing al the time that talking "

"Come along ! " cried Sherlock Holmes, abruptly "This grows serious," he observed, drove to Scotland Yard "These men have got hold of Melas again man of no physical courage, well aware from their experience the other night This villain was able to terrorise him the instant that he got into his presence his professional services, but, having used him, inclined to punish him for what regard as his treachery "

Our hope , by taking train, get to Beckenham as soon or sooner carriage On reaching Scotland Yard, however, more than an hour before get Inspector Gregson and comply legal formalities which would enable us to enter the house quarter to ten before we reached London Bridge, and half past four of us alighted Beckenham platform drive of half mile brought us Myrtles--a large, dark house standing back road in its own grounds Here we dismissed our cab, and made our way up the drive together

"The windows are all dark," remarked the inspector "The house seems deserted "

"Our birds are flown nest empty," said Holmes

"Why say so ? "

"A carriage heavily loaded with luggage has passed out hour "

The inspector laughed " the wheel-tracks light gate-lamp, but where does the luggage come in ? "

" observed the same wheel-tracks going the other way But the outward-bound ones were deeper-- we for certainty that very considerable weight carriage "

"You get trifle beyond me there," said the inspector, shrugging his shoulder " an easy door to force, but try make some one hear us "

He hammered loudly knocker and pulled bell, but without any success Holmes had slipped away, but back

" window open," said he

" mercy that side force, and not against it, Mr Holmes," remarked the inspector, as he noted the clever way my friend had forced back the catch "Well, that under the circumstances enter without an invitation "

One other our way into large apartment, evidently that Mr Melas had found himself The inspector had lit his lantern, and by its light we the two doors, the curtain, the lamp, suit of Japanese mail as he had described them table lay two glasses, and empty brandy-bottle, remains of meal

"What ? " asked Holmes, suddenly

We all stood still and listened low moaning sound was coming from somewhere over our heads Holmes rushed door and out hall The dismal noise came from upstairs He dashed up, the inspector and I at his heels, while his brother Mycroft followed as quickly as his great bulk would permit

Three doors faced up second floor, and central sinister sounds were issuing, sinking sometimes into dull mumble and rising again into shrill whine locked, but the key left outside Holmes flung open the door and rushed in, but out again in an instant, hand throat "

"It's charcoal," he cried "Give it time clear "