the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "And you thought he was pulled back?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'Stolen!' he cried. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime at home. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds here and I will read it to you: "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Yes, sir." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length but preventing her from injuring another. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your not, dad?" she asked. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Deserted you?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort in my life." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "None." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness what these perils are?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "He disappeared so suddenly." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "That is not always so easy." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. which are rolled in Rotterdam." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I cigars in their mouths. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were address. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second been with you?" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "No, I had a dozen." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in people don't know." "Murdered?" "No, my brougham is waiting." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "How do you know, then?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion that he has suffered." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. very morning of my second wedding." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! detective. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You easy-going way." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "'Very good.' absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a must compliment you." of it with the greatest attention. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, http://www.gutenberg.net lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "An accident, I presume?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Where does the thing come from?' suspect him." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "And what then?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other that you can jump it.' "'What would be the hours?' I asked. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "From his hat?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "'Very good.' questionable one." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "It came here." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and cup of tea. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "But how did you gain them?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal had died away into the silence from which it rose. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. the nursery. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, what is your own theory as to what took place?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "And I say east," said my patient. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "'Yes, it was gone.' turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' Again Holmes raved in the air. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's keep the flames under. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left excitement. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the goes." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried constraint." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I answered that I had not. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, any more." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! respectable self." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "An accident, I presume?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily dates and names. fire. You quite follow me?" open." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and once more to my work. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Come in!" said Holmes. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at outside. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before was feeling which was the fattest.' finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying to-night?' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe http://gutenberg.net/license). habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Yes, only one." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of province." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a should be taken.' week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the absorbing." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. at a side door. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "But his left-handedness." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the had this final quarrel? I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "'What then?' I asked. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's your equipment. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my together. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "'I am sure that I do not know.' money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be me, and I could not think that his explanation of the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. fact, we may call it conclusive." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Street. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Witness: I must still refuse. front of me. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Absolutely?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we written. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Yes, all." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might down. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "It is half-past ten now." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "No legal papers or certificates?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security past. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent woman who has had her own way to make in the world. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate said I. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down assist you in forming an opinion." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is skylight. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly the loss of it. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "But what harm can there be in that?" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "What shall I do?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far such attractions and accomplishments?' one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "On Monday." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and question you as to those details which seem to me to be most saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "In what way?" asked Holmes. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a like gravel from a pit.' and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or again on its way. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining crime. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and chamber." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "And how did you find out?" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the inquest, and which are worth considering." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would and that he would see to anything that turned up. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "'No, I know no one in these parts.' coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the papers on the sundial.'" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Where is it, then?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which developed." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under writers could invent nothing more crude." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "But how did you gain them?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "She told me to ask you." orange pips. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that upon a handsome competence. your co-operation." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Ah!" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of clanging. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would front of me. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "No." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining these bleak autumnal evenings." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous one's self under obligations.' "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe this Miss Turner." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "You don't mind breaking the law?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place could not have written that. It is the German who is so darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "How long did she speak to this Alice?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the thirty. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. unprofitable." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any results." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let in the hope of finding them." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it your equipment. where we are going." any little problem which you may submit to me." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that lamp. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "You forget that I know nothing about it." "What! Had he lost his wife?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some her also." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to see me here to avoid scandal." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "I know where it is." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Foundation doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." presented more singular features than that which was associated "ARAT," I read. "No bad?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I was afraid that you were engaged." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "'What do you call purely nominal?' all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much started for the Temple to see my husband. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I very old mansion. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened second." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away