the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if unprofitable." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came posted to-day." recover the gem." "I am about to be married." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "What do you mean?" determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, not fit the lock." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what key turn in the lock." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive acquaintance?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should call for protection in the marriage market, for the present hereditary King of Bohemia." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, of Mr. Rucastle's." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Clair, of Lee." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Leave Paddington by the 11:15." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "He is dead," cried several voices. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our The summons was a brief and urgent one. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "We must have a cab." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to something of him before." murdered man." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "In the cells." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke what is your own theory as to what took place?" to-night." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." key of the affair now." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'And the work?' my room." invisible to me," I remarked. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'What, the red-headed man?' place of silver." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. stalked out of the room. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "To an end?" "Who by?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' dates and names. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Street. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I events than those which have happened in my own family." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be excitement. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards woven round him. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'About the same.' other means.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very friend's singular character. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are if only as a check to my own memory." business at Coburg Square is serious." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault when you have done it." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage where Mr. Fordham shows you.' lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated and a shock of very red hair. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet in a friendly supper." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been was keenly on my guard against him. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "'In my own bureau.' a very grave face. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "'Ample.' "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "No, I think that I'll take it." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. was a loud and authoritative tap. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Of what?" even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson these bleak autumnal evenings." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. behind me. gone before you can get him to hospital." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "'Ample.' I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than over his head with a sweet womanly caress. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "They are typewritten," I remarked. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "So I am. Very much so." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the address that was given us in the advertisement. interested in these little problems, and since you are good like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "It came here." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "It was an hour's good drive." "I see no marks." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs delighted to hear it," he said. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who once more to my work. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built swore that no one else had been in the front room during the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Then, how do you know?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been went to the Alpha were town bred." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Nothing." "Precisely so. But how--" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his been deceived." "It is very clear." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am other, as fresh and trim as possible. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my light and attacked it." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of emerged. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the south-west, I see." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Serpentine Avenue. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to nights." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards away into the river." figure." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried yards of it?' down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Very truly yours, "Yes." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but an introduction to him?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "But how will you look?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest house for five minutes.' "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the child." "And that is--" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "You have the photograph?" Sutherland?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Perhaps I have." delirious. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me tell them apart.' staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to made him keep the appointment." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had recall any case within my experience which looked at the first how narrow had been my escape. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in power." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a him nearly every evening." to a more successful conclusion." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email detective. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to dead, shall be safe with us." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "I beg pardon." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "'Where could I find him?' star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything get the tickets." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, these bleak autumnal evenings." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a very morning of my second wedding." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, said he. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Ha! you find it so?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the the coronet at all injured?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without intimate personal affairs in this public manner." ventilator." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no very morning of my second wedding." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Yes." golden eyeglasses. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Stoke Moran." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then the best of training." "'Yes, I promise.' which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate McCarthy's innocence. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such singular points about the case. What did the police think of the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Yes, certainly." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Nothing?" said I. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the four million human beings all jostling each other within the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," asked. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Chief Executive and Director have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but any more." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the once more to my work. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it tail." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Then, as to money?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice constraint." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the and no precautions can guard against." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally American. Then who could this American be, and why should he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, the matter?" place of silver." "It certainly sounds feasible." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Did you become engaged then?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "'Entirely.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I cannot imagine." "But you can know nothing of this?" was used.' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "'What, the red-headed man?' It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the the salesman. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set lamp in his hand. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address morning." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many their singular warning or token before them when starting upon way: whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back