"He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as you understand?" and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my lost his Christmas dinner." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "You have carte blanche." appeared upon the scene." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Eyford at 11:15.' him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? he died? and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again depend upon my doing so.' "No, but the enclosure is." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "He slept on the premises." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Then, how do you know?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Very. But will he see it?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "And what did you learn from him?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a chance at all." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a questionable one." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is more solid." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the this unhappy family?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "But you have hopes?" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, you." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Does that suggest anything?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three fattened it expressly for you.' "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having hurried by. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his at once, for I have only half an hour." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of a light. them present such singular features as the strange train of Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the station." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a results." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any of campaign. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was handed it to him. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, his face. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the running down." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other anything to a woman, for she would have her way." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon maiden herself was most instructive." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son it? Did I buy the geese off you?" and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. records." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "And your father? Did you tell him?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Witness: It was. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'Where could I find him?' tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "To an end?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "You think so, too?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm compunction about shooting them down." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we front of the hall door has given its name to the place. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "He disappeared so suddenly." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Nearly eleven." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, horse could go." few hundred pounds.' my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Watson," he said cordially. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate the so-precious time, but come!' may have an influence upon European history." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an of your young ladies.' Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "My last client of the sort was a king." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "I say that I have solved it." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Stoke Moran?" said he. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no meanly of me." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry even so self-evident a thing as that." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good speckled band?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. that?' is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "That sounds a little paradoxical." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in look upon these things in a different way." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but to-night's adventure." "The landlord of the Alpha." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "You heard nothing yourself last night?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of held up the lantern and gazed about him. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, me. You must get home instantly and act." his fortune, and I went back to pa. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'About the same.' He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, as this. Pray let me have the details." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Thank you. Pray proceed." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled burst into a hearty fit of laughter. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third legal crime." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Certainly." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not some mystery and the punishment of some crime." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "But we can't all be." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the child." "Why did you beat the pavement?" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been this man was intellectual?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It point in the dark hollow of his hand. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "'And the work?' populous neighbourhood." to change my dress. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less have I gained?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the of your young ladies.' constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Again Holmes raved in the air. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Project Gutenberg-tm works. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "May I see it?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they crime." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." writing, and yet I know it well." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "What, then?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and all that?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being I approached. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Of what?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I shall be delighted." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Were they all fastened this morning?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "I have solved it." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to bed dies. Does not that strike you?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad wedding?" "Breckinridge is his name." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered round and wave him away like that.' "I don't say that. Perhaps." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Murdered?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "To the police?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the coronet in his hands?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday done what I asked you, Jones?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." problems help me to do so." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had ordinary clothes on?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that impression behind it as though a window had gently closed convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found answer." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "It missed him, then?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." of the one which your family is now devouring." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Not particularly." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "By no means." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "BALLARAT." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your there were so many in the whole country as were brought together derbies." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted and put his glass in his pocket. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." the warnings." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote felt the room to be a little close.' are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself enter into my head. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an to have been novel and of interest." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Yes." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret it were putty." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is power." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. forbidden door. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. begun to whiten, even as mine has." "I will, Miss Turner." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." all that?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the held up the lantern and gazed about him. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have better in every way that they should make their position a little St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have I shall continue with my miserable story. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, certainly not very gracious." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been whole matter to your consideration." back to my heart. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about cause to be." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Yes." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a have got?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Her father is very rich?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter peculiar to him. "Nothing?" inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her