                ,*APT] #E

   ,,! ,,TRAG$Y ,,( ,,PONDI*]RY ,,LODGE

  ,X 0 NE>LY ELEV5 O'C :5 WE R1*$ ? F9AL
/AGE ( \R NI<T'S ADV5TURES4 ,WE _H LEFT !
DAMP FOG (! GRT C;Y 2H U1 &! NI<T 0 FAIRLY
F9E4 ,A W>M W9D BLEW F ! WE/W>D1 & H1VY
CL\DS MOV$ SL[LY ACR ! SKY1 ) HALF A MOON
PEEP+ O3A.N,Y "? ! RIFTS4 ,X 0 CLE> 5 6SEE
= "S 4T.E1 B ,?A4EUS ,%OLTO TOOK D[N "O (!
SIDE LAMPS F ! C>RIAGE 6GIVE U A BETT]
LI<T ^U \R WAY4
  ,PONDI*]RY ,LODGE /OOD 9 XS [N GR.DS & 0
GIRT R.D )A V HI< /"O WALL TOPP$ ) BROK5
GLASS4 ,A S+LE N>R[ IRON-CLAMP$ DOOR =M$ !
ONLY M1NS ( 5TR.E4 ,ON ? \R GUIDE KNOCK$ )
A PECULI> PO/MAN-L RAT-TAT4
  ,:O IS "!80 CRI$ A GRUFF VOICE F )94
  8,X IS ,I1 ,MC,MURDO4 ,Y SURELY "K MY
KNOCK 0? "T40
  ,"! 0 A GRUMBL+ S.D &A CLANK+ & J>R+ (
KEYS4 ,! DOOR SWUNG H1VILY BACK1 &A %ORT1
DEEP-*E/$ MAN /OOD 9 ! OP5+1 )! YELL[ LI<T
(! LANT]N %9+ ^U 8 PROTRUD$ FACE &     
TW9KL+1 4TRU/;L EYES4
  8,T Y1 ,MR4 ,?A4EUS8 ,B :O >E ! O!RS8 ,I
_H NO ORD]S AB !M F ! MA/]40
  8,NO1 ,MC,MURDO8 ,Y SURPRISE ME6 ,I TOLD
MY BRO!R LA/ NI<T T ,I %D BR+ "S FRS40
  8,HE HA9'T BE5 \ O' 8 ROOMS TO-"D1 ,MR4
,?A4EUS1 & ,I H NO ORD]S4 ,Y "K V WELL T
,I M/ /ICK 6REGUL,NS4 ,I C LET Y IN1 B YR
FRS !Y M/ J /OP ": !Y >E40
  ,? 0 AN UNEXPECT$ OB/ACLE4 ,?A4EUS
,%OLTO LOOK$ AB HM 9 A P]PLEX$ & HELP.S
MANN]4
  8,? IS TOO BAD ( Y1 ,MC,MURDO60 HE SD4
8,IF ,I GU>ANTEE !M1 T IS 5 = Y4 ,"! IS !
"Y LADY1 TOO4 ,%E _C WAIT ON ! PUBLIC ROAD
AT ? H\R40
  8,V SORRY1 ,MR4 ,?A4EUS10 SD ! PORT]
9EXORABLY4 8,FOLK MAY 2 FRS O' YRS1 & YET
NO FR O' ! MA/]'S4 ,HE PAYS ME WELL 6D MY
DUTY1 & MY DUTY ,I'LL D4 ,I DON'T "K N"O
O' YR FRS40
  8,OH1 YES Y D1 ,MC,MURDO10 CRI$ ,%]LOCK
,HOLMES G5I,Y4 8,I DON'T ?9K Y C H =GOTT5
ME4 ,DON'T Y REMEMB] T AMATEUR :O F"\ ?REE
R.DS ) Y AT ,ALISON'S ROOMS ON !       
NI<T ( YR B5EFIT F\R YE>S BACK80
  8,N ,MR4 ,%]LOCK ,HOLMES60 RO>$ ! PRIZE-
FI<T]4 8,GOD'S TRU?6 H[ CD ,I H MISTOOK Y8
,IF 9/1D O' /&9' "! S QUIET Y _H J /EPP$
UP & GIV5 ME T CROSS-HIT ( YRS "U ! JAW1
,I'D HA0' "KN Y )\T A "Q4 ,AH1 Y'RE "O T
HAS WA/$ YR GIFTS1 Y H6 ,Y MI<T H AIM$
HI<1 IF Y _H JO9$ ! FANCY40
  8,Y SEE1 ,WATSON1 IF ALL ELSE FAILS ME1
,I H / "O (! SCI5TIFIC PROFES.NS OP5 6ME10
SD ,HOLMES1 LAU<+4 8,\R FR WON'T KEEP U \
9 ! COLD N[1 ,I AM SURE40
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ANSW]$4 8,V SORRY1 ,MR4 ,?A4EUS1 B ORD]S
>E V /RICT4 ,_H 6BE C]TA9 ( YR FRS 2F ,I
LET !M IN40
  ,9SIDE1 A GRAVEL PA? W.D "? DESOLATE
GR.DS 6A HUGE CLUMP (A H\SE1 SQU>E &
PROSAIC1 ALL PLUNG$ 9 %AD[ SAVE ": A
MOONB1M /RUCK "O CORN] & GLIMM]$ 9 A G>RET
W9D[4 ,! VA/ SIZE (! BUILD+1 ) XS GLOOM &
XS D1?LY SIL;E1 /RUCK A *ILL 6! HE>T4 ,EV5
,?A4EUS ,%OLTO SEEM$ ILL AT EASE1 &!
LANT]N QUIV]$ & RATTL$ 9 8 H&4
  8,I _C "U/& X10 HE SD4 8,"! M/ 2     
"S MISTAKE4 ,I 4T9CTLY TOLD ,B>?OLOMEW T
WE %D 2 "H1 & YET "! IS NO LI<T 9 8 W9D[4
,I D N "K :AT 6MAKE ( X40
  8,DOES HE ALW GU>D ! PREMISES 9 ? WAY80
ASK$ ,HOLMES4
  8,YES2 HE HAS FOLL[$ MY "F'S CU/OM4 ,HE
0 ! FAV\RITE SON Y "K1 & ,I "S"TS ?9K T MY
"F MAY H TOLD HM M ?AN HE "E TOLD ME4 ,T
IS ,B>?OLOMEW'S W9D[ UP "! ": ! MOON%9E
/RIKES4 ,X IS Q B"R1 B "! IS NO LI<T F )91
,I ?9K40
  8,N"O10 SD ,HOLMES4 8,B ,I SEE ! GL9T (A
LI<T 9 T LL W9D[ 2S ! DOOR40
  ,AH1 T IS ! H\SEKEEP]'S ROOM4 ,T IS ":
OLD ,MRS4 ,B]N/"O SITS4 ,%E C TELL U ALL
AB X4 ,B P]H Y WD N M9D WAIT+ "H =A M9UTE
OR TWO1 = IF WE ALL G 9 TGR1 & %E HAS _H
NO ^W ( \R -+1 %E MAY 2 AL>M$4 ,B1 HU%6
:AT IS T80
  ,HE HELD UP ! LANT]N1 & 8 H& %OOK UNTIL
! CIRCLES ( LI<T FLICK]$ & WAV]$ ALL R.D
U4 ,MISS ,MOR/AN SEIZ$ MY WRI/1 & WE ALL
/OOD1 ) ?UMP+ HE>TS1 /RA9+ \R E>S4 ,F !
GRT BLACK H\SE "! S.D$ "? ! SIL5T NI<T !
SA4E/ & MO/ PITI;L ( S.DS- ! %RILL1    
BROK5 :IMP]+ (A F"R5$ WOMAN4
  8,X IS ,MRS4 ,B]N/"O10 SD ,%OLTO4 8,%E
IS ! ONLY WOMAN 9 ! H\SE4 ,WAIT "H4 ,I % 2
BACK 9 A MO;T40
  ,HE HURRI$ =! DOOR & KNOCK$ 9 8 PECULI>
WAY4 ,WE CD SEE A TALL OLD WOMAN ADMIT HM
& SWAY ) PL1SURE AT ! V SI<T ( HM4
  8,OH1 ,MR4 ,?A4EUS1 SIR1 ,I AM S GLAD Y
H -E6 ,I AM S GLAD Y H -E1 ,MR4 ,?A4EUS1
SIR60
  ,WE HE>D H] REIT]AT$ RJCGS UNTIL ! DOOR
0 CLOS$ & H] VOICE DI$ AWAY 96A MU6L$
MONOT"O4
  ,\R GUIDE _H LEFT U ! LANT]N4 ,HOLMES
SWUNG X SL[LY R.D & PE]$ KE5LY AT ! H\SE &
AT ! GRT RU2I%-H1PS : CUMB]$ ! GR.DS4
,MISS ,MOR/AN & ,I /OOD TGR1 & H] H& 0 9
M9E4 ,A WONDR\S SUBTLE ?+ IS LOVE1 = "H 7
WE TWO1 :O _H N"E SE5 EA* O!R 2F T "D1 2T
:OM NO ^W OR EV5 LOOK ( A6EC;N _H "E
PASS$1 & YET N[ 9 AN H\R ( TR\# \R H&S
9/9CTIVELY S"\ = EA* O!R4 ,I H M>VELL$ AT
X S9CE1 B AT ! "T X SEEM$ ! MO/ NATURAL ?+
T ,I %D G \ 6H] S1 &1 Z %E HAS (T5 TOLD
ME1 "! 0 9 H] AL ! 9/9CT 6TURN 6ME =   
-=T & PROTEC;N4 ,S WE /OOD H& 9 H& L TWO
*N1 & "! 0 P1CE 9 \R HE>TS = ALL ! D>K ?+S
T SURR.D$ U4
  8,:AT A /RANGE PLACE60 %E SD1 LOOK+ R.D4
  8,X LOOKS Z ?\< ALL ! MOLES 9 ,5GL& _H
BE5 LET LOOSE 9 X4 ,I H SE5 "S?+ (! SORT
ON ! SIDE (A HILL NE> ,BALL>AT1 ": !
PROSPECTORS _H BE5 AT "W40
  8,& F ! SAME CAUSE10 SD ,HOLMES4 8,^! >E
! TRACES (! TR1SURE SEEK]S4 ,Y M/ REMEMB]
T !Y 7 SIX YE>S LOOK+ = X4 ,NO WOND] T !
GR.DS LOOK L A GRAVEL-PIT40
  ,AT T MO;T ! DOOR (! H\SE BUR/ OP51 &
,?A4EUS ,%OLTO CAME RUNN+ \1 ) 8 H&S ?R[N
=W>D & T]ROR 9 8 EYES4
  8,"! IS "S?+ AMISS ) ,B>?OLOMEW60 HE
CRI$4 8,I AM F"R5$6 ,MY N]VES _C /& X40
  ,HE WAS1 9DE$1 HALF BLU2]+ ) FE>1 & 8
TWIT*+1 FEE# FACE PEEP+ \ F ! GRT A/RAKHAN
COLL> _H ! HELP.S1 APP1L+ EXPRES.N (A
T]RIFI$ *4
  8,-E 96! H\SE10 SD ,HOLMES 9 8 CRISP1
FIRM WAY4
  8,YES1 D60 PL1D$ ,?A4EUS ,%OLTO4 8,I
RE,Y D N FEEL EQUAL 6GIV+ DIREC;NS40   
  ,WE ALL FOLL[$ HM 96! H\SEKEEP]'S ROOM1
: /OOD ^U ! LEFTH& SIDE (! PASSAGE4 ,! OLD
WOMAN 0 PAC+ UP & D[N )A SC>$ LOOK &
RE/.S1 PICK+ F+]S1 B ! SI<T ( ,MISS
,MOR/AN APPE>$ 6H A SOO?+ E6ECT ^U H]4
  8,GOD B.S YR SWEET1 CALM FACE60 %E CRI$
)A HY/]ICAL SOB4 8,X DOES ME GD 6SEE Y4
,OH1 B ,I H BE5 SORELY TRI$ ? "D60
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MURMUR$ "S FEW ^WS ( K9DLY1 WOMANLY -=T :
BR"\ ! COL\R BACK 96! O!R'S BLOOD.S *EEKS4
  8,MA/] HAS LOCK$ HMF 9 & W N ANSW] ME10
%E EXPLA9$4 8,ALL "D ,I H WAIT$ 6HE> F HM1
= HE (T5 LIKES 6BE AL"O2 B AN H\R AGO ,I
FE>$ T "S?+ 0 AMISS1 S ,I W5T UP & PEEP$
"? ! KEYHOLE4 ,Y M/ G UP1 ,MR4 ,?A4EUS- Y
M/ G UP & LOOK = YRF4 ,I H SE5 ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW ,%OLTO 9 JOY & 9 SORR[ = T5 L;G
YE>S1 B ,I N"E SAW HM ) S* A FACE ON HM Z
T40
  ,%]LOCK ,HOLMES TOOK ! LAMP & L$ ! WAY1
= ,?A4EUS ,%OLTO'S TEE? 7 *ATT]+ 9 8 H1D4
,S %AK5 0 HE T ,I _H 6PASS MY H& "U 8 >M Z
WE W5T UP ! /AIRS1 = 8 KNEES 7 TREMBL+ "U
HM4 ,TWICE Z WE ASC5D$1 ,HOLMES        
:IPP$ 8 L5S \ ( 8 POCKET & C>E;LLY EXAM9$
M>KS : APPE>$ 6ME 6BE M]E %APE.S SMUDGES (
DU/ ^U ! COCOANUT-MATT+ : S]V$ Z A /AIR-
C>PET4 ,HE WALK$ SL[LY F /EP 6/EP1 HOLD+ !
LAMP L[1 & %OOT+ KE5 GL.ES 6"R & LEFT4
,MISS ,MOR/AN _H REMA9$ 2H )! F"R5$
H\SEKEEP]4
  ,! ?IRD FLI<T ( /AIRS 5D$ 9 A /RAI<T
PASSAGE ( "S L5G?1 )A GRT PICTURE 9 ,9DIAN
TAPE/RY ^U ! "R ( X & ?REE DOORS ^U !
LEFT4 ,HOLMES ADV.ED AL;G X 9 ! SAME SL[ &
ME?ODICAL WAY1 :ILE WE KEPT CLOSE AT 8
HEELS1 ) \R L;G BLACK %AD[S /R1M+ BACKW>D
D[N ! CORRIDOR4 ,! ?IRD DOOR 0 T : WE 7
SEEK+4 ,HOLMES KNOCK$ )\T RCVG ANY ANSW]1
& !N TRI$ 6TURN ! H&LE & =CE X OP54 ,X 0
LOCK$ ON ! 9SIDE1 H["E1 & 0A BROAD & P[];L
BOLT1 Z WE CD SEE :5 WE SET \R LAMP UP AG/
X4 ,! KEY 2+ TURN$1 H["E1 ! HOLE 0 N
5TIRELY CLOS$4 ,%]LOCK ,HOLMES B5T D[N 6X
& 9/ANTLY ROSE AG )A %>P 9TAK+ (! BR1?4
  8,"! IS "S?+ DEVILI% 9 ?1 ,WATSON10 SD
HE1 M MOV$ ?AN ,I _H "E 2F SE5 HM4 8,:AT D
Y MAKE ( X80
  ,I /OOP$ 6! HOLE & RECOIL$ 9         
HORROR4 ,MOONLI<T 0 /R1M+ 96! ROOM1 & X 0
B"R )A VAGUE & %IFTY RADI.E4 ,LOOK+ /RAI<T
AT ME & SUSP5D$1 Z X W]E1 9 ! AIR1 = ALL
2N 0 9 %AD[1 "! HUNG A FACE- ! V FACE ( \R
-PANION ,?A4EUS4 ,"! 0 ! SAME HI<1 %9+
H1D1 ! SAME CIRCUL> BRI/LE ( R$ HAIR1 !
SAME BLOOD.S C.T5.E4 ,! F1TURES 7 SET1
H["E1 9 A HORRI# SMILE1 A FIX$ & UNNATURAL
GR91 : 9 T / & MOONLIT ROOM 0 M J>R+ 6!
N]VES ?AN ANY SC[L OR 3TOR;N4 ,S L 0 !
FACE 6T ( \R LL FR T ,I LOOK$ R.D AT HM
6MAKE SURE T HE 0 9DE$ ) U4 ,!N ,I RECALL$
6M9D T HE BAD M5;N$ 6U T 8 BRO!R & HE 7
TW9S4
  8,? IS T]RI#60 ,I SD 6,HOLMES4 8,:AT IS
6BE D"O80
  8,! DOOR M/ -E D[N10 HE ANSW]$1 & SPR++
AG/ X1 HE PUT ALL 8 WEI<T ^U ! LOCK4
  ,X CR1K$ & GROAN$ B DID N YIELD4 ,TGR WE
FLUNG \RVS ^U X ONCE M1 & ? "T X GAVE WAY
)A SU45 SNAP1 & WE F.D \RVS )9 ,B>?OLOMEW
,%OLTO'S *AMB]4
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,BUNS5 BURN]S1 TE/-TUBES1 & RETORTS4 ,9 !
CORN]S /OOD C>BOYS ( ACID 9 WICK] BASKETS4
,"O ( ^! APPE>$ 6L1K OR 6H BE5 BROK51 =A
/R1M ( D>K-COL\R$ LIQUID _H TRICKL$ \ F X1
&! AIR 0 H1VY )A PECULI>LY PUNG5T1 T>LIKE
OD\R4 ,A SET ( /EPS /OOD AT "O SIDE (!
ROOM 9 ! MID/ (A LITT] ( LA? & PLA/]1 &
ABV !M "! 0 AN OP5+ 9 ! CEIL+ L>GE 5 =A
MAN 6PASS "?4 ,AT ! FOOT (! /EPS A L;G
COIL ( ROPE 0 ?R[N C>E.SLY TGR4
  ,0! TA# 9 A WOOD5 >M*AIR ! MA/] (! H\SE
0 S1T$ ALL 9 A H1P1 ) 8 H1D SUNK ^U 8 LEFT
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H\RS4 ,X SEEM$ 6ME T N ONLY 8 F1TURES B
ALL 8 LIMBS 7 TWI/$ & TURN$ 9 ! MO/
FANTA/IC FA%ION4 ,0HIS H& ^U ! TA# "! LAY
A PECULI> 9/RU;T- A BR[N1 CLOSE-GRA9$
/ICK1 )A /"O H1D L A HAMM]1 RUDELY LA%$ ON
) CO>SE TW9E4 ,2S X 0 A TORN %EET ( NOTE-
PAP] ) "S ^WS SCRAWL$ ^U X4 ,HOLMES GL.ED
AT X & !N H&$ X 6ME4
  8,Y SEE10 HE SD )A SIGNIFICANT RAIS+ (!
EYEBR[S4                               
  ,9 ! LI<T (! LANT]N ,I R1D )A ?RILL (
HORROR1 8,! SIGN (! F\R40
  8,IN ,GOD'S "N1 :AT DOES X ALL M1N80 ,I
ASK$4
  8,X M1NS MURD]10 SD HE1 /OOP+ OV] ! D1D
MAN4 8,AH6 ,I EXPECT$ X4 ,LOOK "H60
  ,HE PO9T$ 6:AT LOOK$ L A L;G D>K ?ORN
/UCK 9 ! SK9 J ABV ! E>4
  8,X LOOKS L A ?ORN10 SD ,I4
  8,X IS A ?ORN4 ,Y MAY PICK X \4 ,B 2
C>E;L1 = X IS POISON$40
  ,I TOOK X UP 2T MY F+] & ?UMB4 ,X CAME
AWAY F ! SK9 S R1DILY T H>DLY ANY M>K 0
LEFT 2H4 ,"O T9Y SPECK ( BLOOD %[$ ": !
PUNCTURE _H BE54
  8,? IS ALL AN 9SOLU# MY/]Y 6ME10 SD ,I4
8,X GR[S D>K] 9/1D ( CLE>]40
  8,ON ! 3TR>Y10 HE ANSW]$1 8X CLE>S E
9/ANT4 ,I ONLY REQUIRE A FEW MISS+ L9KS 6H
AN 5TIRELY 3NECT$ CASE40
  ,WE _H ALM =GOTT5 \R -PANION'S PRES;E
S9CE WE 5T]$ ! *AMB]4 ,HE 0 / /&+ 9 !
DOORWAY1 ! V PICTURE ( T]ROR1 WR++ 8 H&S &
MOAN+ 6HMF4 ,SU45LY1 H["E1 HE BROKE \ 96A
%>P1 QU]UL\S CRY4                      
  8,! TR1SURE IS G"O60 HE SD4 8,!Y H RO2$
HM (! TR1SURE6 ,"! IS ! HOLE "? : WE L[]$
X4 ,I HELP$ HM 6D X6 ,I 0 ! LA/ P]SON :O
SAW HM6 ,I LEFT HM "H LA/ NI<T1 & ,I HE>D
HM LOCK ! DOOR Z ,I CAME D[N/AIRS40
  8,:AT "T 0 T80
  8,X 0 T5 O'C4 ,& N[ HE IS D1D1 &! POLICE
W 2 CALL$ IN1 & ,I % 2 SUSPECT$ ( HAV+ _H
A H& 9 X4 ,OH1 YES1 ,I AM SURE ,I %4 ,B Y
DON'T ?9K S1 G5TLEM58 ,SURELY Y DON'T ?9K
T X 0 ,I8 ,IS X LIKELY T ,I WD H BR"\ Y "H
IF X 7 ,I8 ,OH1 DE>6 OH1 DE>6 ,I "K T ,I %
G MAD60
  ,HE J]K$ 8 >MS & /AMP$ 8 FEET 9 A K9D (
3VULSIVE FR5ZY4
  8,Y H NO R1SON = FE>1 ,MR4 ,%OLTO10 SD
,HOLMES K9DLY1 PUTT+ 8 H& ^U 8 %\LD]2
8TAKE MY ADVICE & DRIVE D[N 6! /,N 6REPORT
! MATT] 6! POLICE4 ,(F] 6ASSI/ !M 9 E WAY4
,WE % WAIT "H UNTIL YR RETURN40
  ,! LL MAN OBEY$ 9 A HALF-/UPEFI$ FA%ION1
& WE HE>D HM /UMBL+ D[N ! /AIRS 9 ! D>K4

_>CH6
                                       
