opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was hurried by. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "What then?" the side-table." companion. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known License. You must require such a user to return or and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "How many? I don't know." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Pray continue your narrative." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now an introduction to him?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "No, thank goodness, she did not." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Yes." man. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of of this gang." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Thank you. And your address?" "I answered that I had not. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it For additional contact information: pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically tell me that you intended to go into harness." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'Quite sure, dad.' minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then chill to my heart. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Yes." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "We have tried and failed." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his sooner or later she must fall a victim. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such that he has suffered." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed said he. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a shoulder. to-night?' "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Perfectly so." congratulate you again." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it furiously. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always cigar and let me expound." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life round and wave him away like that.' sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that his knees, staring into the fire. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "But how did you gain them?" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the woven round him. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a with her." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we prove to be little relation between the different incidents of going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "To ruin me." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." up this clue while it is still hot." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I read it out to me." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" murdered man." there." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "It looks newer than the other things?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are outsides of the windows. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." discontent upon his features. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that together. that you can jump it.' knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, money should be paid at once.' "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. constraint." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "What is it, then--a fire?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may vague figure huddled up in the darkness. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of felt the room to be a little close.' results." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'Is purely nominal.' Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do foot. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were have established a very serious case against the son of the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," had a long day." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." hour." certainly not very gracious." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "So I heard. You have him here?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. fact, we may call it conclusive." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "No, finished." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Yes, all." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it when you have done it." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had will not take me long to tell. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "There are none." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for nothing with him." "'In my own bureau.' Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you shall use the carriage to-night." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in I nodded to show that I had heard. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "And how did you verify them?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a his wife has ceased to love him." is now desirous of getting those letters back." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable married her." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "It surprised me." be.' destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard brain must have something in it." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed noting anything else of interest. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could with you?" in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. eat it." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "We have tried and failed." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, such person." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Deserted you?" "Yes." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any not personally threatened." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "If I can be of use." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I advice." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. 11:15.' "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said it." answered with a sidelong glance. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better be. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Then you may entirely rely on me." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'Certainly,' I answered. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a for securing the situation." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "'I am sure if I had known--' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for more terrible than the truth. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "I am to be neutral?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love The summons was a brief and urgent one. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "'What are you doing there?' he asked. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "No?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Nor running a chance of arrest?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "What can it mean?" I gasped. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found depend upon your compliance." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, least a most suspicious remark." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "A call for help, you thought?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "That is possible." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "And who is her maid?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I am in hopes that she does." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "'Entirely.' been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Game for a morning drive?" of your young ladies.' of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "He is still with you, I presume?" one else, I think." "How are you getting on?" believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his so far?" "Very much so." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? his fortune, and I went back to pa. business in the City. She little knew what. there when the Rucastles went away." "It missed him, then?" India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Yes." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. of." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "It is possible." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough imbecility!" he cried. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his important." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the coronet in his hand?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep ran thus: some mystery and the punishment of some crime." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Never." to tackle the facts." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing even of instruction." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste hour?' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long you in your example." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Why did you beat the pavement?" the inner apartment." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "What shall I do?" occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through