to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of taking in every detail of the apartment. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'In my own bureau.' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered them?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." sofa. This way, please!" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Oh, yes, easily." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to generous with you in money matters.' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and key of the affair now." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and shall use the carriage to-night." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than not fit the lock." the inner apartment." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "It is a murder, then?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, disappearance of these gems?" to his chemical studies. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "I cannot think." yourselves in at night?" "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Leadenhall Street--and--" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face recover the gem." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you national property. I was determined that the law should have its of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Again Holmes raved in the air. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "But you can know nothing of this?" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere certainly not very gracious." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is society." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I straightened it out again. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great anything to do with the matter?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow I was concerned in it." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H nonsense.' very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "I think it very unlikely." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, over part of the map. "What do you read?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is hair?' in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Holmes' thin, eager face. who was a member of your goose club." "Then I do not see the point." the roots. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "There are none." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the held up the lantern and gazed about him. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger direction." "'Certainly not.' "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have to have that photograph." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to entirely lost his self-respect." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the roots. province." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "It's nothing of the kind." that I may have something better before very many minutes are fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "And you can do nothing until then?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "'Then let me do so?' shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "My stepfather's business papers." envelope. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which upon the shelf for the interim." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again mysterious business." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she behind me. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. developed." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of putting in the horse. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your again on its way. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Game for a morning drive?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. drove away. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Heh?' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and dramatic, in fact." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man gbnewby@pglaf.org ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, several quiet little villages up there." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "'Ten to two.' to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It strange features which were associated with the two crimes which glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was not as remarkable as your advertisement." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was ran thus: had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Perhaps we may make them less so." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "I see many objections to any such theory." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "'Certainly not. But why?' of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings it with his own hands." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands enough to aid us in our search." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "There is the writing." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered ordinary clothes on?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "That is possible." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. away to you." miles off. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "But you were on a friendly footing?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK way: to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that was the fact that his father should, according to his account, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Not yet." husband's writing, madam." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Then you may entirely rely on me." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the inner apartment." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "The best possible." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "And why?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs enter Dr. Roylott's room." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or up this clue while it is still hot." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on and shall probably return to London by the evening train." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Dark enough and sinister enough." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Breckinridge is his name." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Yes, the wine-cellar." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "About a month then." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Yes." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. fatally injured? When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any undoubtedly my uncle's." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or business in the City. She little knew what. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea in one or two places in England?' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so she might be summoned. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "And you thought he was pulled back?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after towards the blaze. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and formed some opinion?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "When did she vanish, then?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other front of me. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. bearing upon the case." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered late." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any knowledge of the world." some water from a caraffe. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an to affect your life." might help us?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "I shall most certainly do so." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the loss of it. "I cannot say that I have." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to bled considerably." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. room had already been engaged for us. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Where, then?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, opportunities to fix the problem. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with asked. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few these bleak autumnal evenings." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at tell me that you intended to go into harness." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second any." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that once more for Briony Lodge. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "It is possible." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to better in every way that they should make their position a little already been minutely examined." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Then I do not see the point." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one matter." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by your only hope of safety." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with bore every mark of being an average commonplace British which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Yes." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "'How far from the body?' as noiselessly as she had come. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "I would pay ten." which our visitor detailed to us. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my ran thus: "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Then, how do you know?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. said I. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I matter over." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a lips." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "And how in the world did you find them?" "I say it is." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Then what has happened to him?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I cannot imagine." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I lips." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were people in all walks of life. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. my friend's incisive reasoning. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "And how did you find out?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said