ocracy like Sir Henry Darlington. We're on the trail, Jenkins--we're on
the trail. Here's a letter from Bar, LeDuc & Co.--let's see what light that
sheds on the matter."

Holmes took a letter from an envelope and read, rapidly:

Sir Henry Darlington--care of Bruce, Watkins and so forth--dear Sir Henry--
We are having some difficulty matching the pearls--they are of unusual
quality, but we hope to have the necklace ready for delivery as requested on
Wednesday afternoon at the office of Messrs. Bruce, Watkins and so forth,
between five and six o'clock. Trusting the delay will not--and so forth--and
hoping to merit a continuance of your valued favors, we beg to remain, and
so forth, and so forth.

"That's it," said Holmes. "It's a necklace that Mr. Cato is bringing up to
Sir Henry Darlington--and, once in his possession--it's Sir Henry for some
place on one of these folders."

"Why don't they send them directly here?" I inquired.

"It is better for Darlington to emphasize Bruce, Watkins, Brownleigh & Co.,
and not to bank to much on the Hotel Powhatan, that's why," said Holmes.
"What's the good of having bankers like that back of you if you don't
underscore their endorsement? Anyhow, we've discovered the job, Jenkins; to-
day is Wednesday, and the 'goods' Cato has to deliver and referred to in his
telegram is the pearl necklace of unusual quality--hence not less than a
$50,000 stake."

At this point the telephone bell rang.

"Hello," said Holmes, answering immediately, and in a voice entirely unlike
his own. "Yes--what? Oh yes. Ask him to come up."

He hung up the receiver, put a cigar in his mouth, lit it, and turned to me.

"It's Cato--just called. Coming up," said he.

"I wish to Heavens I was going down," I ejaculated.

"You're a queer duck, Jenkins," grinned Holmes. "Here you are with a front
seat at what promises to be one of the greatest shows on earth, a real live
melodrama, and all you can think of is home and mother. Brace up--for here
he is."

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," said Holmes, cheerily.

A tall cadaverous-looking man opened the door and entered. As his eye fell
upon us, he paused on the threshold.

"I beg your pardon," he said. "I--I'm afraid I'm in the wrong--"

"Not at all--come in and sit down," said Holmes, cordially. "That is if you
are our friend and partner, Cato--Darlington couldn't wait--"

"Couldn't wait?" said Cato.

"Nope," said Holmes. "He was very much anno