tective
stories that he was invariably carried past his station." The member of
Parliament twisted his pearl stud nervously, and bit at the edge of his
mustache. "If it only were the first pages of 'The Rand Robbery' that
he were reading," he murmured bitterly, "instead of the last! With such
another book as that, I swear I could hold him here until morning. There
would be no need of chloroform to keep him from the House."

The eyes of all were fastened upon Sir Andrew, and each saw with
fascination that with his forefinger he was now separating the last two
pages of the book. The member of Parliament struck the table softly with
his open palm.

"I would give a hundred pounds," he whispered, "if I could place in his
hands at this moment a new story of Sherlock Holmes--a thousand pounds,"
he added wildly--"five thousand pounds!"

The American observed the speaker sharply, as though the words bore to
him some special application, and then at an idea which apparently had
but just come to him, smiled in great embarrassment.

Sir Andrew ceased reading, but, as though still under the influence of
the book, sat looking blankly into the open fire. For a brief space no
one moved until the baronet withdrew his eyes and, with a sudden start
of recollection, felt anxiously for his watch. He scanned its face
eagerly, and scrambled to his feet.

The voice of the American instantly broke the silence in a high, nervous
accent.

"And yet Sherlock Holmes himself," he cried, "could not decipher the
mystery which to-night baffles the police of London."

At these unexpected words, which carried in them something of the tone
of a challenge, the gentlemen about the table started as suddenly as
though the American had fired a pistol in the air, and Sir Andrew halted
abruptly and stood observing him with grave surprise.

The gentleman with the black pearl was the first to recover.

"Yes, yes," he said eagerly, throwing himself across the table. "A
mystery that baffles the police of London.

[Illustration: 05 "My name," he said, "is Sears."]

"I have heard nothing of it. Tell us at once, pray do--tell us at once."

The American flushed uncomfortably, and picked uneasily at the
tablecloth.

"No one but the police has heard of it," he murmured, "and they only
through me. It is a remarkable crime, to, which, unfortunately, I am the
only person who can bear witness. Because I am the only witness, I
am, in spite of my immunity as a di