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A very patient man was that inspector in the cab, for it was a weary time before I rejoined him His face clouded over when I showed hilooht's ould have been worth a tenner each to Sam Brown and me if the treasure had been there"

"Mr Thaddeus Sholto is a rich man," I said "He will see that you are rewarded, treasure or no"

The inspector shook his head despondently, however "It's a bad job," he repeated; "and so Mr Athelney Jones will think"

His forecast proved to be correct, for the detective looked blank enough when I got to Baker Street and showed him the empty box They had only just arrived, Holed their plans so far as to report theed in his arm-chair with his usual listless expression, while S cocked over his sound one As I exhibited the ehed aloud

"This is your doing, Srily

"Yes, I have put it ahere you shall never lay hand upon it," he cried, exultantly "It is ood care that no one else does I tell you that no living ht to it, unless it is three men who are in the Andaman convict-barracks and myself I kno that I cannot have the use of it, and I know that they cannot I have acted all through for then of four with us always Well I know that they would have had me do just what I have done, and throw the treasure into the Thao to kith or kin of Sholto or of Morstan It was not to make them rich that we did for Achmet You'll find the treasure where the key is, and where little Tonga is When I saw that your launch must catch us, I put the loot away in a safe place There are no rupees for you this journey"

"You are deceiving us, Small," said Athelney Jones, sternly "If you had wished to throw the treasure into the Thames it would have been easier for you to have thrown box and all"