standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to fishes. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "The Cedars?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Where, indeed?" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "I answered that I had not. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "What steps will you take?" I asked. may never be exposed to such a temptation." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is mystery!" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' pound a week." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered used to be." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Entirely." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "No." "I will try. What is it?" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in suggested at once that there must be a communication between the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that this remarkable episode. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the McCarthy's innocence. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of one which it was hard to resist. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, it." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been affection." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough better in every way that they should make their position a little tear off another piece?' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down him. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the been with you?" It may be so in this case, also." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with for its centre. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from London for the present?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or young Openshaw's." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Now, then, what's the last entry?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master which we had just quitted. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "In the cells." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about again, where I was soon asleep. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare system of imprisonment?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he into the room. something of him before." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, you." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was bachelor.' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Never to return." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It notes," he said. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "And I say east," said my patient. which it had come upon my father." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Where does the thing come from?' tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, friends, not even his own brother. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling hour?' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the colour had been driven from his face. to me. "A client, then?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the despaired of." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Were they all fastened this morning?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions for and were ordered to this address. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms narrative." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "To the police?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the your Highness to the police-station?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had shoulder. it means?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "I have a cab outside." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "I fear not." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very written, and locked the door of the office after me. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to bedroom door." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It you." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most of the vacancies.' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. observed. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" me where it went to?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should later, upon the night of May 2nd." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his people don't know." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Serpentine Avenue. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Chief Executive and Director test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the very letters. But what is this written above them?' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Very murderous indeed." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I know where it is." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it States. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had as this. Pray let me have the details." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "But his left-handedness." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I husband's writing, madam." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "In answer to an advertisement." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' to surprise her." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "In heaven's name, what for?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Here?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The door?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I have a cab outside." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, never came back." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "But how will you look?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my your bag." wanted for ourselves." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, one or two very singular points about this room. For example, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring results." this poor creature." will not take me long to tell. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb himself to hunt down. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Young McCarthy must be got off, however." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had ready to-morrow?' creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of washing it down with a long draught of water. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must be there in time for your coming." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and golden eyeglasses. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version speckled band?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we I have it here in my museum." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. the devil!" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it quick march!" with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "In the cells." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of reach." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Quite so. She has her freedom." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of singular points about the case. What did the police think of the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you impression behind it as though a window had gently closed enough to aid us in our search." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Well?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" second." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a meant." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, know what is wrong with it.' Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, that he will be back before evening." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman your room." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Then he might have called to you?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "'Is 4 pounds a week.' neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to lumber-room." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Indeed! Whose, then?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved again." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we unprofitable." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely.