pound a week." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her other means.' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, respectable self." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" one which it was hard to resist. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "You saw the ventilator, too?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Yes, they were peculiar boots." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' head. So long, then!" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to-night." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California help us in this matter." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." call it cruel." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William entirely lost his self-respect." "Never." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for attention." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "What, then?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter it right.' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss it were putty." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste papers diligently of late, have you not?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and signal between you and your father? "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." like gravel from a pit.' who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, than was visible to me." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "But it has twice been burgled." records." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Yes, he did." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Holmes' thin, eager face. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "In San Francisco, a year ago." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That highroad, where all traces were lost. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "An enemy?" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it bachelor.' deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "But your client--" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and new duties?' do.' have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see I have it here in my museum." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at kindly on the shoulder. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "And the cigar-holder?" then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the coroner come to?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "None." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to the south-west, I see." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his my secret was safe in his possession. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could way in." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of hurried by. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger himself in a perplexing position. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just voice. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had me have 200 pounds?' "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert may never be exposed to such a temptation." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'And what salary do you ask?' my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his never to learn it at all." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "'Then let me do so?' reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Yes." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong enough to aid us in our search." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "A greater distance to travel." light and attacked it." your equipment. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it and laid it on the table. "I fear not." disappearance of these gems?" forehead. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose your equipment. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I have my revolver," said I. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Nearly eleven." father's young wife. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you exactly what you advise." "Breckinridge is his name." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood details." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "ARAT," I read. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow followed. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that strode off upon his way. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. to-night." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Yes." appointment with me for six o'clock?" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a place of silver." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the bed, and you in that chair." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they never to learn it at all." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." crackling voice. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, if I call to-morrow?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, skylight. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Serpentine Avenue. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of gone. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the business." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, and looked back. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "He is dead," cried several voices. not fit the lock." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Nothing?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "How many? I don't know." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of voice, changing her seat as requested. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and his knees, staring into the fire. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the with the outside air!" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor secret." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always seven miles from Eyford Station.' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would presented which may be striking and bizarre without being tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "That is possible." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the tragedy. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, in the hope of finding them." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong trifles." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything III. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned fact, we may call it conclusive." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so fear." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been strong reason behind." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut you." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and past. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the there." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for get the tickets." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must to me. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Breckinridge is his name." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the heavily into it. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "If I can be of use." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the least a most suspicious remark." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, fact, we may call it conclusive." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too made his money." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will of his shoulders. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Dirty?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling quick march!" "It was an hour's good drive." during which he might have communicated with his friend the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across for and were ordered to this address. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a stammered. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Seven!" I answered. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. business." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard been." "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "But we can't all be." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's fluttered off among the others. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it will not take me long to tell. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the bottom.' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I it." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales suspect him." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Where, then, is my wife?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "It is true that I have been generally successful." examine." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Yes." carriage. It was a chestnut." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so enter into my head. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the criminal. We have already had experience of such." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only is now desirous of getting those letters back." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from matters immensely." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Do you go out much in society?" home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He certainly not very gracious." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond your co-operation." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. examine." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Can I be of assistance?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her had no one to advise her at such a crisis." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Have you it here?" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still second." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Ha! you find it so?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself