"But for what possible end ? "

"Ah ! there lies our problem one rather obvious line of investigation " down the great book , day by day, he filed the agony columns various London journals "Dear me ! " said he, turning over the pages, "what chorus of groans, cries, and bleatings ! What rag-bag of singular happenings ! But surely the most valuable hunting-ground that ever was given to student unusual ! This person is alone and approached by letter without breach absolute secrecy desired How is any news or any message to reach him from without ? Obviously by advertisement through news paper There seems no other way, and fortunately concern ourselves one paper only Here are the Daily Gazette extracts last fortnight 'Lady with black boa at Prince's Skating Club'- that pass 'Surely Jimmy will not break his mother's heart'- that appears irrelevant ' lady who fainted Brixton bus'- she interest me 'Every day my heart longs-' Bleat, Watson- unmitigated bleat ! Ah, little more possible Listen : 'Be patient some sure means of communication Meanwhile, this column G ' two days after Mrs Warren's lodger arrived It sounds plausible, does it not ? The mysterious one could understand English, even if print it pick up the trace again Yes, here - three days later 'Am making successful arrangements Patience and prudence The clouds will pass G ' Nothing for week Then comes something much more definite: 'The path is clearing If chance signal message remember code agreed- one A, two B, and so on hear soon G ' That was in yesterday's paper, and nothing in to-day's It's all very appropriate to Mrs Warren's lodger wait little, Watson, I don't doubt affair will grow more intelligible "

So it proved; for morning my friend standing hearthrug back fire and smile of complete satisfaction upon his face

"How's this, Watson ? " he cried, picking up the paper table 'High red house with white stone facings Third floor Second window left After dusk G ' definite enough after breakfast make little reconnaissance of Mrs Warren's neighbourhood Ah, Mrs Warren ! what news bring us ? "

Our client had suddenly burst room with an explosive energy which told of some new and momentous development

"It's police matter, Mr Holmes" she cried "I'll have no more of it He shall pack out of there baggage gone straight up and told him so, only but fair your opinion first But I'm end patience, and when it comes to knocking my old man about-"

"Knocking Mr Warren about ? "

"Using him roughly, anyway "

"But who used him roughly ? "

"Ah ! that's what ! , sir Mr Warren is timekeeper at Morton and Waylight's, in Tottenham Court Road He be house before seven Well, he gone ten paces down the road when two men came up behind him, threw coat over his head, and bundled him into cab that was beside the curb They drove him an hour, and then opened the door and shot him out He lay roadway so shaken wits that he never saw what became cab When he picked himself up on Hampstead Heath; so bus home, and there he lies now sofa, while straight round you what had happened "

"Most interesting," said Holmes "Did he observe the appearance men- did he hear them talk ? "

"No; clean dazed He just knows that lifted up by magic and dropped by magic Two were , and maybe three "

"And you connect this attack with your lodger ? "

"Well, we've lived there fifteen years and no such happenings ever came before I've had enough of him Money's not everything I'll have him out house day is done "

"Wait bit, Mrs Warren Do nothing rash I begin affair more important than appeared at first sight clear now that some danger is threatening your lodger equally clear that his enemies, lying in wait for him near your door, mistook your husband for him foggy morning light On discovering their mistake they released him What done had it not been mistake, only conjecture "

"Well, what am I , Mr Holmes ? "

" great fancy this lodger of yours, Mrs Warren "

"I don't see how that managed, unless you break door I always hear him unlock it as I go down the stair after I leave the tray "

"He tray in Surely conceal ourselves him "

The landlady thought for moment

"Well, sir, there's the box-room opposite arrange looking-glass, maybe, and were behind the door-"

"Excellent ! " said Holmes "When does he lunch ? "

"About one, sir "

"Then Dr Watson come round , Mrs Warren, good-bye "

At half-past twelve ourselves steps of Mrs Warren's house- high, thin, yellow-brick edifice in Great Orme Street, narrow thoroughfare northeast side British Museum Standing as it does near the corner street, it commands view down Howe Street, with its more pretentious houses Holmes pointed with chuckle to , row of residential flats, which projected fail to catch the eye

"See, Watson ! " said he "'High red house with stone facings ' the signal station all right the place, and the code; so surely our task simple There's 'to let' card window evidently an empty flat confederate has access Well, Mrs Warren, what now ? "

" it all ready both come up and leave your boots below landing, I'll put you there now "

an excellent hiding-place which she had arranged The mirror was so placed that, seated dark, very plainly see the door opposite We had hardly settled down , and Mrs Warren left us, when distant tinkle announced mysterious neighbour had rung Presently the landlady appeared tray, laid it down upon chair beside the closed door, and then, treading heavily, departed Crouching together angle door, we kept our eyes fixed mirror Suddenly, landlady's footsteps died away, the creak of turning key, the handle revolved, and two thin hands darted out and lifted the tray chair An instant later hurriedly replaced, and I caught glimpse of dark, beautiful, horrified face glaring narrow opening box-room Then the door crashed to, the key turned once more, and all was silence Holmes twitched my sleeve, and together we stole down the stair

" call again evening," said he expectant landlady " , Watson, discuss this business better own quarters "