" but one retreat," whispered Holmes " back house into Saxe-Coburg Square you what I asked you, Jones ? "

"l have an inspector and two officers waiting front door "

"Then stopped all the holes And now silent and wait "

What time it seemed ! From comparing notes afterwards but an hour and quarter, yet it appeared night almost gone dawn be breaking above us My limbs were weary and stiff, for I feared my position; yet my nerves were worked highest pitch of tension, and my hearing was so acute that only hear the gentle breathing companions, but distinguish the deeper, heavier in-breath bulky Jones thin, sighing note bank director From my position look over the case direction floor Suddenly my eyes caught the glint of light

At first but lurid spark stone pavement Then it lengthened out until it became yellow line, and then, without any warning or sound, gash seemed to open and hand appeared; white, almost womanly hand, which felt about centre little area of light For minute or more the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded floor Then withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again save the single lurid spark which marked chink stones

Its disappearance, however, was but momentary With rending, tearing sound, broad, white stones turned over upon its side and left square, gaping hole, through which streamed the light of lantern Over the edge there peeped clean-cut, boyish face, which looked keenly , and then, with hand on either side aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and waist-high, until one knee rested edge In another instant he stood side hole and was hauling after him companion, lithe and small like himself, with pale face and shock of very red hair

"It's all clear," he whispered " the chisel bags ? Great Scott ! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing ! "

Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder collar The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts The light flashed barrel of revolver, but Holmes's hunting crop came down man's wrist, pistol clinked stone floor

"It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly " no chance at all "

"So ," the other answered utmost coolness "I fancy that my pal is all right, though got his coat-tails "

" three men waiting for him door," said Holmes

"Oh, indeed ! You seem to the thing very completely compliment you "

"And I you," Holmes answered "Your red-headed idea was very new and effective "

"You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones "He's quicker at climbing down holes than Just hold out while I fix the derbies "

"I beg that touch me with your filthy hands," remarked our prisoner handcuffs clattered upon his wrists " not be aware that royal blood in my veins Have the goodness, also, address me always 'sir' and 'please '"

"All right," said Jones with stare and snigger "Well, would you please, sir, march upstairs, where get cab to carry your Highness police-station ? "

" better," said John Clay serenely sweeping bow three of us and walked quietly off custody detective

"Really, Mr Holmes," said Mr Merryweather followed them cellar, " know how the bank can or repay you that detected and defeated most complete manner determined attempts at bank robbery ever come within my experience "

" little scores own to settle with Mr John Clay," said Holmes " at some small expense over , which expect the bank to refund, but beyond that amply repaid by having had an experience in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative Red-headed League "

" , Watson," he explained early hours morning sat over glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, " perfectly obvious first only possible object rather fantastic business advertisement League, copying Encyclopaedia, this not over-bright pawnbroker way for number of hours every day curious way of managing it, but, really, it difficult to suggest better The method was suggested to Clay's ingenious mind color accomplice's hair The 4 pounds week was lure draw him, and it , who were playing for thousands ? They put advertisement, one rogue temporary office, the other rogue incites the man to apply and together they manage to secure his absence every morning week time that I heard assistant having come for half wages, obvious that he had some strong motive for securing the situation "

"But how could you guess what the motive was ? "

"Had there been women house, suspected mere vulgar intrigue That, however, was The man's business was small one, and nothing house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and such an expenditure were at It must, then, be something house What could it be ? assistant's fondness for photography, trick of vanishing cellar The cellar ! the end tangled clew Then inquiries mysterious assistant and found that I had to deal with coolest and most daring criminals in London doing something cellar--something which took many hours day for months on end What could it be, once more ? think of nothing save that running tunnel to some other building

" I had got when we went to visit the scene of action I surprised you by beating pavement with my stick ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind not in front Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the assistant answered it some skirmishes, but we had never set eyes upon before I hardly looked at his face His knees were what I wished yourself have remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were They spoke hours of burrowing The only remaining point was what they were burrowing for I walked round the corner, saw the City and Suburban Bank abutted friend's premises, and felt that I had solved my problem drove home concert I called upon Scotland Yard and chairman bank directors, result that seen "

"And how could you tell that make their attempt to-night ? " I asked

"Well, closed their League offices that was sign cared no longer about Mr Jabez Wilson's presence--in other words, had completed their tunnel But essential should use it soon, as it discovered, or the bullion removed Saturday would suit them better than day, as it would give them two days for their escape For all these reasons I expected them to-night "

"You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration " chain, and yet every link rings true "

"It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning "Alas ! I already feel it closing in upon me My life is spent in one long effort to escape commonplaces of existence These little problems help me "

"And benefactor race," said I

He shrugged his shoulders "Well, perhaps, after all, of some little use," he remarked " 'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand "