said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency as noiselessly as she had come. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that I approached. "'Is purely nominal.' for the market.' "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it which we had just quitted. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which I nodded to show that I had heard. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Pool. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from more terrible than the truth. tightly behind him. "I should wish to." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at there is a decided draught." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for unkempt, staring out at me. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the coronet at all injured?" whatever might befall. "She showed me, as I told you she would." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, questionable one." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "And what did you see?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. undoubtedly my uncle's." "The murder was done with it." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across had formerly been in part my own. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King furiously. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And obstinate." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible unprofitable." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she side. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Yes?" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "It was an hour's good drive." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he said I. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Yes, but only for you and me." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I cannot say that I have." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "There is the writing." acquaintance?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if your Highness to the police-station?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." my friend's incisive reasoning. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his Gutenberg-tm License. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "I am all attention, madam." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying of campaign. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "You don't mind breaking the law?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "What!" he roared. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I see many objections to any such theory." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Nothing." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the British peeress.'" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I am all attention, madam." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and cigars in the box." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined works. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting my secret was safe in his possession. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport definite end. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, particular state visit http://pglaf.org encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, sooner or later she must fall a victim. "You have a clue?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'Oh, no.' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. me what he had done with the three missing stones. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Could he throw no light?" whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole enter into my head. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good any little problem which you may submit to me." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange and files of the old papers, following the future career of every considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a leave you to your papers for a little." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Where is it, then?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "So I am. Very much so." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the I am not easy in my mind about them." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil distinguish the words: know that the truth is known." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, next day. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I congratulate you again." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have peculiar to him. "You were travelling in the States?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness papers." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, at home. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Stoke Moran." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached most interesting one." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "'Not at all. I only doubt--' upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but His smile broadened. "Always." been shamefully used." "What then?" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them go back?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I back into the street. "But how?" "Proceed, then." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "And is that all?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the child." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, entirely lost his self-respect." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "A call for help, you thought?" "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of 1.E.9. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Come in!" said Holmes. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who very old mansion. "It was an hour's good drive." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent has little to do with my story." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "I would give my fortune to have them back." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young dear old homesteads?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the papers diligently of late, have you not?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Yes." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the against a man in the prime of life?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a official police." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Well, it is a possible supposition." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. nothing of it?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It of note-paper. It read in this fashion: endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "No, distinctly professional." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear you in your example." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Street. "Nothing?" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "What have you done?" asked Holmes. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "And the cigar-holder?" from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making photograph a cabinet?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves bonnet, and went out." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "It came here." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I all that?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you could go. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "What! You do not mean bodies?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "'And the work?' his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious legal crime." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed a good hundred miles off by now." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by quick march!" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin you in your example." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass Serpentine Avenue. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court was it brought him the coronet? to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Stoke Moran?" said he. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until straightened it out again. most interesting one." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "May I see it?" fear." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "But how?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "It was." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "And now?" He raised his hand. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Yes." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set unprofitable." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora amused." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are foresight and the moral retrogression?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock children over to America with him, so that I found myself without my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, unclasping of his long thin hands. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It whatever might befall. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "And who is her maid?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' again before evening." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had yourselves in at night?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the when your master had gone out." look dissatisfied." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out throat." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this a very grave face. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for disturbance in my wife." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the bottom.' the stones. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is father's young wife. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of a light. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from matters immensely." jewels which you have stolen?' all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an that you can jump it.' handed it to him. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time way: "Come in!" said he. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't you understand?" "My dear Holmes!" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a a good hundred miles off by now." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Yes." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight upon the white wrist. annoyance, but no jest. "I will get her to show me." page at http://pglaf.org he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have all?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head not, dad?" she asked. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our not as remarkable as your advertisement." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "You have carte blanche."