reathing which had prompted them.

our client, however, stared in amazement.

"yes, i am all that, mr. holmes, and in addition i am the

most unfortunate man at this moment in london. for

heaven's sake don't abandon me, mr. holmes! if they come

to arrest me before i have finished my story, make them

give me time so that i may tell you the whole truth. i

could go to gaol happy if i knew that you were working for

me outside."

"arrest you!" said holmes. "this is really most grati --

most interesting. on what charge do you expect to be

arrested?"

"upon the charge of murdering mr. jonas oldacre, of lower

norwood."

my companion's expressive face showed a sympathy which was

not, i am afraid, entirely unmixed with satisfaction.

"dear me," said he; "it was only this moment at breakfast

that i was saying to my friend, dr. watson, that

sensational cases had disappeared out of our papers."

our visitor stretched forward a quivering hand and picked

up the _daily telegraph_, which still lay upon holmes's knee.

"if you had looked at it, sir, you would have seen at a

glance what the errand is on which i have come to you this

morning. i feel as if my name and my misfortune must be in

every man's mouth." he turned it over to expose the

central page. "here it is, and with your permission i will

read it to you. listen to this, mr. holmes. the

head-lines are: 'mysterious affair at lower norwood.

disappearance of a well-known builder. suspicion of murder

and arson. a clue to the criminal.' that is the clue

which they are already following, mr. holmes, and i know

that it leads infallibly to me. i have been followed from

london bridge station, and i am sure that they are only

waiting for the warrant to arrest me. it will break my

mother's heart -- it will break her heart!" he wrung his

hands in an agony of apprehension, and swayed backwards and

forwards in his chair.

i looked with interest upon this man, who was accused of

being the perpetrator of a crime of violence. he was

flaxen-haired and handsome in a washed-out negative

fashion, with frightened blue eyes and a clean-shaven face,

with a weak, sensitive mouth. his age may have been about

twenty-seven; his dress and bearing that of a gentleman.

from the pocket of his light summer overcoat protruded the

bundle of endorsed papers which proclaimed his profession.

"we must use what time we have," said holmes. "watson,

would you have the kindness to take the paper and to read

me the paragraph in question?"

underneath the vigorous head-lines which our client had

quoted i read the following suggestive narrative:--

late last night, or early this morning, an incident

occurred at lower norwood which points, it is feared, to a

serious crime. mr. jonas oldacre is a well-known resident

of that suburb, where he has carried on his business as a

builder for many years. mr. oldacre is a bachelor,

fifty-two years of age, and lives in deep dene house, at

the sydenham end of the road of that name. he has had the

reputation of being a man of eccentric habits, secretive

and retiring. for some years he has practically withdrawn

from the business, in which he is said to have amassed

considerable wealth. a small timber-yard still exists,

however, at the back of the house, and last night, about

twelve o'clock, an alarm was given that one of the stacks

was on fire. the engines were soon upon the spot, but the

dry wood burned with great fury, and it was impossible to

arrest the conflagration until the stack had been entirely

consumed. up to this point the incident bore the

appearance of an ordinary accident, but fresh indications

seem to point to serious crime. surprise was expressed at

the absence of the master of the establishment from the

scene of the fire, and an inquiry followed, which showed

that he had disappeared from the house. an examination of

his room revealed that the bed had not been slept in, that

a safe which stood in it was open, that a number of

important papers were scattered about the room, and,

finally, that there were signs of a murderous struggle,

slight traces of blood being found within the room, and an

oaken walking-stick, which also showed stains of blood upon

the handle. it is known that mr. jonas oldacre had

received a late visitor in his bedroom upon that night, and

the stick found has been identified as the property of this

person, who is a young london solicitor named john hector

mcfarlane, junior partner of graham and mcfarlane, of 426,

gresham buildings, e.c. the police believe that they have

evidence in their possession which supplies a very

convincing motive for the crime, and altogether it cannot

be doubted that sensational developments will follow.

later. -- it is rumoured as we go to press that mr. john

hector mcfarlane has actually been arrested on th