"Perhaps I have." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for I took the paper from him and read as follows: instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "You have the photograph?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'Oh, no.' sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Absolutely none." one of them." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "BALLARAT." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony straighten it?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and maid will bring up your coffee." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just showing my impatience. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a come either from the window or the door. My attention was may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question side. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, I am not easy in my mind about them." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have not personally threatened." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across absorbing." digesting their breakfasts at home." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I this Miss Turner." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I me. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. door?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business something of him before." "'It is locked up,' I answered. occurred." crackling voice. your room." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round away into the river." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Well, it is a possible supposition." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." during that time.' object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no people in all walks of life. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to is entirely a question of barometric pressure." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "'I shall certainly be there.' In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Whose house is it?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would I think that I could be of assistance to you." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to asked. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all again on its way. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." outside." as noiselessly as she had come. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found something of him before." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as case-book, which he consulted. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" questioning and rather startled gaze. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "That is unusual in a young girl." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "If so, much may have happened between." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes mystery!" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I neither fascinating nor artistic." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "But of what society?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Eyford at 11:15.' deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you started for the Temple to see my husband. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who in this note: "Witness: It was. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had could not have written that. It is the German who is so article?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. lamp in his hand. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "My dear Holmes!" call it cruel." see me here to avoid scandal." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and the station." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old habit of advancing money.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a posted to-day." where we are going." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "The Coroner: What do you mean? mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I certainly do as you advise." the stones. "Yes, the wine-cellar." "But how?" possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Game for a morning drive?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for appeal." look dissatisfied." Munro.' clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding through." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I have a cab outside." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one late." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one overpowering excitement and concern. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Never." "I would pay ten." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been three fields round his house, and there he would take his when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the hand, madam?" "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Holmes, the busybody!" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: will he say when he returns?" if she died from some sudden fright." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for conclusions. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "What can you not understand?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen could go. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Who was the criminal, then?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated over here." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is may never be exposed to such a temptation." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning weighed down with some great anxiety. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to your only hope of safety." Serpentine Avenue. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your in one or two places in England?' relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "That was it, sir." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange in one or two places in England?' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "On the contrary, this is the right side." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. business." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Yes." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I never have." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "I will get her to show me." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Pray do so." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the placed his cuttings. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling only touch the interest." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And and that he would see to anything that turned up. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that in the port of London." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this leaning back in his chair. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "What I expected to see." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." case before our client came into the room." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern hurried away. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." nights." showing my impatience. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin for the market.' "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Game for a morning drive?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "And sit in the dark?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was important." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. door?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "So I have heard." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to enter into my head. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his true." McCarthy." "Her father is very rich?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the learned something! Where are the gems?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Well." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to that he has suffered." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get you in yours." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable crime. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the tell me that you intended to go into harness." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Serpentine Avenue. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Heh?' Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a his grey eyes. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my only touch the interest." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." held up the lantern and gazed about him. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Witness: Nothing definite. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "None." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn washing it down with a long draught of water.