book in the top left drawer.”

“That is quite true,” said Dr. Naismith, looking across at the detective, who jotted the fact down in his notebook.
“Did you notice anything else about the room, either of you?”
“No,” said Frank at once.
“TI found a match in the fireplace,” I said rather
timidly, fearing lest the statement should provoke an outburst of laughter.
THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT. 189
“What sort of a match?”
“A wax vesta. Jane the housemaid uses safety matches.”
“Do you use vestas?” the inspector asked Dr. Naismith.
INO.”
Again the inspector bent over his notebook, but looked up at my next statement.
“T found another wax vesta in the turret at Fare- ham Castle.”
“You did? When was that?” he asked eagerly.
I hesitated, and then like a flash it came into my mind that it was the day we had signed the Rules of the Sherlock Holmes Society, and the copy of these rules was in the pocket of the very jacket I was wearing. I pulled out the paper and read the date at the top.
“Very good,” commented the detective. “ What paper was that you consulted ?”
I hesitated and glanced at Frank. He had evi- dently no idea what it was, and whispered to me to go on.
“Tt’'s—it’s only the rules of a secret society that we drew up that day,” I stammered lamely.
“Aha! that wonderful secret society again,”
said
140 THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
Dr. Naismith, laughing. “I don’t know what In- spector Melvin will have to say to this.”
“T must hear what its aim and object is first,” replied the inspector, smiling. “What is it called?”
“The Sherlock Holmes Society. Frank is Sher- lock.”
“And you?”
“Tam Dr. Watson.”
“You ought to be Mycroft.”
“Nora is Mycroft,’ said Frank, very red in the face.
“Your sister? Quite a select society. Might I see the rules?”
I handed over the paper, which the inspector glanced over.
“Ah! I think I understand now,” he said, glancing at Frank with an amused smile. “It seems an innocent if useful society. Hullo!”
We all looked up quickly at the change of tone as he made the exclamation. By chance he had turned the paper over, and something written on the back had arrested his attention.
“Where did you get this?” he asked sharply.
“T found it in Humphrey’s pocket,” replied Frank.
“Tt was amongst a lot of exercises and notes,”
THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT. 141
“Then how comes this writing on it?”
I glanced at the paper he held out and read, “Ware beeks. The cap. wants oof,” in sprawling capitals.
“T don’t know how that got there,” I said. “You remember, Frank, I asked you about it when we signed the rules.”
Frank nodded.
“Try and think how it came into your possession,” said the detective quietly, though it was evident that he regarded the point as very important. “Your chum found it in your pocket. Do you remember putting any papers there after you left school ?”
“No,” I answered slowly. “I have not worn this suit till to-day. Mrs. Naismith told me to wear flannels or any old things, as we were in the country.”
“ Yes,” agreed Dr. Naismith ; “ good clothes wouldn’t last you long here.”
“That makes it all the easier,’ said Inspector Melvin. “You must have picked up this paper somewhere the day you travelled down.”
The phrase “picked up” brought to my memory the difficulty about my ticket the day we arrived, and the papers the porter handed me.
142 THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
“JT did drop some papers at the station in giving my ticket to the porter,’ I said rather doubtfully, “and he picked them up and handed them to me, but—”
“T think we have got at it now,” said Mr, Melvin quietly, as he closed his notebook and rose to his feet. “T need hardly ask you, doctor, not to say a word to any one except your wife about this business——And as to you boys, suppose you let me join the Sherlock Holmes Society, and we’ll help one another ?”’
The offer seemed too good to be true. A real live detective from Scotland Yard! We stared at the speaker, who appeared much amused at our embarrass- ment.
“Tt is a bargain, then, eh? If you find any likely ‘clues, I shall be glad to hear about them; and if I come across the track of any ghosts, Pll let you know. How will that do?”
“ Ripping,” said Frank, finding his tongue at last; “but we must tell Nora.”
“Mycroft? Certainly Mycroft must know. By- the-bye, who shall I be? Inspector Blunt, of course.” “He was rather a rotter,” said Frank doubtfully.
“Well, you know, we police officers are great bunglers compared to Sherlock Holmes with his
THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT. 148
scientific methods, and you mustn’t expect too much from me. Good-night. Til keep the rules to study them, if you don’t mind,” and the detective took his leave with a parting word to Dr. Naismith at the door.
“So that was the meaning of your secret society,” said the latter, smiling on his return. “Mr. Melvin thinks you have done very well for beginners, aiid your information may prove very useful to him.” e
“We know more about him than he thinks,” ex- claimed Frank triumphantly. “I watched him look- ing for clues in Fareham Castle, and he never found me out.”
“ Are you sure of that?” replied his father, with a sly glance at me, “He hinted at something of the sort to me just now, and remarked that the presence of a bicycle generally meant that the owner was not very far off.”
“But I hid my bike,” protested the crestfallen Sherlock, and was going on to explain how he had done it, when the door flew open and in dashed Nora.
{?
“It’s the same, boys, it’s the same!” she exclaimed, waving the chain in her hand. “Gently, gently, Nora,” said Mrs. Naismith, who
had followed her.—“The chain is certainly part of
144 THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT.
the one found on the child when she came ashore,” she continued, addressing her husband; “the links are identical.”
“Tt is very wonderful,” said Dr. Naismith, examin- ing the chain very carefully, “ but, as you say, there is little doubt that it was all originally one piece. Now that the locket has been cleaned, I can distinctly see a mark round the rim showing that it opens, but there seems to be some secret catch which holds it together.”
“Qh, do try and open it,” cried Nora.
“T have tried but failed. You must just have patience until I take it to a jeweller. It would be a pity to damage the locket by using force.”
“Do take it to-morrow,’ urged Nora.
“Tm afraid I can’t promise that; but the day after I might find time to run up to town again. Now I must go over to Cliffiden and see Colonel Leighton.~—-He has not been very well this last little while,” the doctor explained to his wife. “The trouble seems more mental than physical, and Jeffer- son was much interested in his case when he heard about it—Shall I thank the colonel for his birthday present, Nora?”
“Please do, father. I haven’t seen him for a long
time now—ever since the holidays began.”
THE SOCIETY GAINS A RECRUIT. 145
“No, you've been too much occupied lately with other things; but a visit might cheer him up a bit. Good-night. Don’t stay up late. You've had a long, exciting day, and Frank and Humphrey have another piece of news for you. Ask them who they have got to join the Sherlock Holmes Society.”
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