Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "It is no ordinary one." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the closing the door. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You will not go there first?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable could gather together that I was able to avert another public I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this think that any burglar could have done. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand been." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Why did you beat the pavement?" of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were into the room. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring roused himself from his reverie. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, down. might have a private word with us. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, knowledge of the world." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall less than 26s. 4d. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New I took the paper from him and read as follows: and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow as this. Pray let me have the details." "Yes." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father take the flies, but not before." "It is solved." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I past. good for you to do.' young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, companion. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "And how did you verify them?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "I have a cab outside." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced tear off another piece?' happened." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found with you?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I was certainly surprised to find you there." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an wedding?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "I promise," said Holmes. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Your sister is dead, then?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very them?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" My friend smiled. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which weary and pale-looking. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "You will not go there first?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That if I call to-morrow?" "But not more so than I to find you." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which next day. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for ways of our fellow-men." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "But I am all in the dark." maid will bring up your coffee." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and definite end. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness ways of our fellow-men." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Project Gutenberg-tm works. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'Tell me all about it,' said I. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as his fortune, and I went back to pa. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. residence of the great financier. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private have been better. It is all right." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "No, I am descending." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father with some details as to your case." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Yes." asked with his eyes open. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "No." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a The summons was a brief and urgent one. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "I will not look." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "But you were on a friendly footing?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Yes." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has fatally injured? instincts rose up against that laugh. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little unprecedented a position." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And that is--" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just through." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my photograph a cabinet?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "The doctor?" papers on the sundial.'" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Lee, in the county of Kent." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and your billet.' waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Stolen, then." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, it." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." was not a bird to be seen there. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Yes." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "And you can do nothing until then?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "But you have hopes?" saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and delighted to hear it," he said. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Munro.' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, acted in my house last night?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "I am still in the dark." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through is so. I know all about McCarthy." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "How do you know, then?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have any little problem which you may submit to me." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea over here." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of shoulder. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'Where to?' examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet what I may call a really hard day's work." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will to you." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark mystery." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded papers on the sundial.'" "It is his hat." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his heavily into it. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he enough to aid us in our search." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do outbreak?" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Very truly yours, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally there!' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it weighed down with some great anxiety. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "And how did you verify them?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "What do you mean?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove my room." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade and it need not interfere very much with one's other "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the very letters. But what is this written above them?' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'Is 4 pounds a week.' nights." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the three of the beryls in it, was missing. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. at my remark. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the little opening for the ventilator is." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural who was a member of your goose club." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "It certainly sounds feasible." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout which our visitor detailed to us. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her this truth that in these little records of our cases which you wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so that he has suffered." "You think that he is dead?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Yes, he did." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do the house with me." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated fat-encircled eyes. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the think that any burglar could have done. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the new duties?' myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich occupations.' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such events than those which have happened in my own family." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, been anything against him. He had for years been known as a whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil had died away into the silence from which it rose. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the visitors." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and such person." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "A client, then?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "No." him!" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I your most interesting statement." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of read it out to me." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I fear not." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'I am sure that I do not know.' there is a decided draught." letters?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "It is very kind of you." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "But the mystery?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "I would pay ten." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small which it had come upon my father." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some guilty parties." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Eyford at 11:15.' pressing in one house as in another. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "But not more so than I to find you." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had