which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for them, and came down just as you departed. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "The King of Scandinavia." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster fact, we may call it conclusive." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because I leave." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but derbies." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been DAMAGE. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Why did you pick him?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt that the gas is not laid on in his house?" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I should like to see him very much." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Oh, no.' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few fluttered off among the others. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a go back?" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: distance from the station, and there we found the young lady claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "And why?" and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do advice." have got?" "Holmes, the busybody!" Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his and I shall be with you presently." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a are, and they are waiting for us." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a once more. "I should wish to." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is orange pips. go back?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet had formerly been in part my own. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Seven!" I answered. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Again Holmes raved in the air. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight careless servant girl?" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Yes." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Then, how do you know?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the best detective that ever lived. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "No, I am descending." "There are none." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Thank you. And your address?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to there were so many in the whole country as were brought together there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "What can it mean?" I gasped. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an throat." breakfast." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "To the police?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "No." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, is," said he presently: shall not find me ungrateful." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Thank you. And your address?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said walking." must compliment you." discontent upon his features. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "He said that you could solve anything." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Dr. Becher's." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very of your young ladies.' science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever and have this put in the evening papers." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "It must be recovered." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert think that any burglar could have done. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Not I." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I think it very unlikely." "What, then, did Peterson do?" of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "What steps will you take?" I asked. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "We must sit without light. He would see it through the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And the cigar-holder?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "And how in the world did you find them?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an appeared upon the scene." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I have solved it." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord During two years I have had three consultations and one small used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one of the one which your family is now devouring." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had once more to my work. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "And the murderer?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "But how will you look?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "You have the photograph?" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in true." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Holmes' face clouded over. of." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a rooms." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "You have a clue?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "But how will you look?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made village inn over there?" "It was." purpose equally well?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the writer." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my late!' address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Married! When?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The back into the street. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. hand, madam?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and there in twenty minutes." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." unprofitable." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in key turn in the lock." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Heh?' in his power. Holmes' thin, eager face. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added key of the affair now." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned corner of the building. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I and all of them with the keenest interest. depend upon my doing so.' sound at heart." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "No." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "What have you done?" asked Holmes. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Holmes. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Yes, it was twisted." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" was lame." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Then what has happened to him?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer colour had been driven from his face. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has existence." seven miles from Eyford Station.' God! What an exposure! What can I do?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have shag which I had seen upon the previous night. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must brandy and water within his reach. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." infinite languor in his face. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of o'clock is it?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "But his left-handedness." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled danger is over." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we affection." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most hopeless attempt at recovering them." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Because he was handy and would come cheap." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "What! You do not mean bodies?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "'Tell me all about it,' said I. flock.' "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. kindly on the shoulder. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "'And the work?' pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "It is solved." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided one which it was hard to resist. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, next day. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at kind enough to tell me what I should do." have not had my rubber." "And help." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Precisely." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told with frightened eyes at his accuser. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "A client, then?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The who was a member of your goose club." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was likely to be some crony of the landlady's." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "But you were on a friendly footing?" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of from the brougham. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, in this way: and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "But you have hopes?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "But how will you look?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is lumber-room." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Have you it here?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year and put his glass in his pocket. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I foot. "That is not always so easy." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for she has been waylaid. There has been no result." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg that you saw all that I did." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, heavy and sharp instrument." "'Which dealer's?' "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I have a cab outside." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "None." "Yes, it would be as well." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Stolen." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Precisely so. But how--" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as fattened it expressly for you.' ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round voice. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The