to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." 1.F. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "No?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott had a long day." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, that he has suffered." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "And why in hopes?" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered to-night." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at chance." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "None." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Literary Archive Foundation words came to my lips. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that instituted." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from was not a bird to be seen there. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "It is his hat." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the never came back." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Does that suggest anything?" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, morning." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom should be so warm over such a trifle." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, weapon." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is man. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, it." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "An accident, I presume?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson could not account in any way for the presence of the missing skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "If I can be of use." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Surrey." you." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. questioning and rather startled gaze. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone hereditary King of Bohemia." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any works. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "She showed me, as I told you she would." has little to do with my story." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, reach." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing enter into my head. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "And how did he make his money?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong straightened it out again. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Could he throw no light?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of her also." "I cannot think." 1.F. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. to talk it over. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He all?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "The landlord of the Alpha." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "It looks newer than the other things?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be was a lad." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "What! Had he lost his wife?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Certainly, madam." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "He disappeared so suddenly." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "You did not overhear what they said?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Not in a good cause." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had fact, we may call it conclusive." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, ago." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies friends, not even his own brother. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The one of them." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was long narrative. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the this man was intellectual?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "And why?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were which was all perfectly true. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better my little problems." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" used to be." may have an influence upon European history." his cane at the bell-pull. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying one which it was hard to resist. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and 'please.'" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Where does the thing come from?' the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and that you can jump it.' his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own I was concerned in it." ordinary clothes on?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted placed his cuttings. "I think that it is very probable." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be call for it in person on Monday morning.' "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they night.' said he. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "What can you not understand?" broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this said I. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of particular state visit http://pglaf.org Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'Certainly not. But why?' back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some is four-and-twenty." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were father's place of business?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, it." one which it was hard to resist. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be business came to an end." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he following enigmatical notices: Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he bell. Holmes whistled. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed ventilator." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. nothing with him." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." II. "That is unusual in a young girl." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very seven miles from Eyford Station.' "She showed me, as I told you she would." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" hand, madam?" guilty parties." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I vault. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, that you saw all that I did." hair?' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice it." I leave." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "But the mystery?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I will, Miss Turner." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "None." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless tell him that I know him to be innocent." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return suddenly upon us." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "I cannot imagine." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the child." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "I would give my fortune to have them back." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and but preventing her from injuring another. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my tightly behind him. open." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Her father is very rich?" down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out way in." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock despair." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to coat-tails." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable it." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an any." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all your bag." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I whatever might befall. again on its way. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached read it out to me." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with made his money." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution had a long day." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "You saw the ventilator, too?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to disappearance of the bride.'" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows crackling voice. made him keep the appointment." recover the gem." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't is entirely a question of barometric pressure." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied compunction about shooting them down." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off them?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant.