"Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Again Holmes raved in the air. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Of what day?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Holmes rather sternly. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the room while you explain this matter?" present." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them narrative." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle it. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Will you bet, then?" fat-encircled eyes. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to dead, shall be safe with us." success. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Yes." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really behind me. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "I guessed as much." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my happened." had picked up in the wood. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an ready to-morrow?' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE to-night?" I asked. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "My private note-paper." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to said I. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should your bag." "Who by?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were question. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, the warnings." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little other, as fresh and trim as possible. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not page at http://pglaf.org me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Ha! you find it so?" and the whole place is in a blaze." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' and I shall be with you presently." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and this as likely?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus my former friend and companion. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the six. Come in!" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Pope's Court. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of digesting their breakfasts at home." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met few hundred pounds.' "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was You can understand that this register and diary may implicate deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a to Leatherhead. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be passage and a tap at the door. have established a very serious case against the son of the "Then you may be so with me." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a upon an income of about 60 pounds." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows breakfast." time." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "And how did he make his money?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "I will not look." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "But how will you look?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the cup of tea. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one is acting for the best. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of a light. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I to talk it over. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "No. His orders were to stay in the house." status with the IRS. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "'Then let me do so?' him. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "'In my own bureau.' at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in have one." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the where we are going." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Then I shall certainly come." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "That is it on the dressing-table." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't his face which made him a very different person to the round, pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a about. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "What of the rat, then?" you." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, The police have openly confessed that they can at present make continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man The summons was a brief and urgent one. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet something of him before." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what o'clock is it?" "And who is her maid?" back alive. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical matters immensely." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the Sutherland?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I cannot as yet see any connection." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I see many objections to any such theory." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "How many? I don't know." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "And is that all?" to-night?' "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on on re-entering her father's house?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms them, and came down just as you departed. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left a few minutes he said that it would be all right. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "And you can do nothing until then?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which examine." "Well, some hundreds of times." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow of fine shops and stately business premises that they really really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at congratulate you again." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and weapon." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Dr. Gregory B. Newby became a certainty. important." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. to have that photograph." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'Certainly,' I answered. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Two days later this same performance was gone through under extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a written. quick march!" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative gentleman's clothes. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "How long did she speak to this Alice?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Were they all fastened this morning?" A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as way in." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a chambers. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Sutherland?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. you." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "That is not always so easy." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" acted in my house last night?" entirely lost his self-respect." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was third from London." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of less than 26s. 4d. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Edgeware Road. was keenly on my guard against him. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." it right.' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Countess of Morcar's?" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "What, then?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend call it cruel." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom six. Come in!" my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "And why?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in would then never go into court at all." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very what these perils are?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took note?" made his money." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am meant." national property. I was determined that the law should have its It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but along the entire front of the house, with three long windows slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Cross for the Continent." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, himself in a perplexing position. memory. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. to tackle the facts." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow memory. "You did not overhear what they said?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin hair?' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have eat it." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was instincts rose up against that laugh. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down what do you think they found in the pockets?" hardly wander." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the general public were present, then?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder the salesman. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with thin, with a long, sharp nose?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my