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"You come back and be washed, Jack," she shouted "Co imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that, he'll let us hear of it"

"Dear little chap!" said Hol rascal! Now, Jack, is there anything you would like?"

The youth pondered for ayou would like better?"

"I'd like two shillin' better," the prodigy answered, after soht

"Here you are, then! Catch!--A fine child, Mrs Sets a'e, 'specially when my man is away days at a time"

"Away, is he?" said Holmes, in a disappointed voice "I am sorry for that, for I wanted to speak to Mr Smith"

"He's been away since yesterday htened about him But if it was about a boat, sir, maybe I could serve as well"

"I wanted to hire his steam launch"

"Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steaone That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend, and then if there was ood is a steaht soht, sir, but it weren't his way Many a tie for a few odd bags Besides, I don't like that wooden-legged ly face and outlandish talk What did he want always knockin' about here for?"

"A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes, with bland surprise

"Yes, sir, a brown, monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for ht, and, what's more, my man kneas coht, sir, I don't feel easy in my mind about it"

"But,his shoulders, "You are frightening yourself about nothing How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged ht? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure"

"His voice, sir I knew his voice, which is kind o' thick and foggy He tapped at the winder,--about three it would be 'Show a leg, uard' My old man woke up Jim,--that's my eldest,--and away they went, without soclackin' on the stones"