higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret and glanced through. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there will find little credit to be gained out of this case." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." used to be." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. following enigmatical notices: of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Always." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or lamp. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no begun to whiten, even as mine has." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "In San Francisco, a year ago." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the stones. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the cigars in the box." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more locked." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Yes." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." strong and stiff." disappearance of the bride.'" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Nearly eleven." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "'Yes, it was gone.' "And I." dramatic, in fact." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my have got?" carried out of court." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at more terrible than the truth. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Will you bet, then?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very thirty. "Who was the criminal, then?" Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the coronet at all injured?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. your room." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of you found me to-night--and running through the front room she and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that character. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Game for a morning drive?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'What then?' I asked. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Have you it here?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "But it has twice been burgled." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Not social, then?" "And how in the world did you find them?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I matter." in my life." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." interested in these little problems, and since you are good before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have overpowering excitement and concern. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Why, what do you mean?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear now. It seems that there had been some informality about their this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the 1.F. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw salesman. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the vanished into the darkness. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant looking up at the numbers of the houses." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must behind me. time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty to a light-house. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to my special province." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's to some other building. seven miles from Eyford Station.' across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old you understand?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for John Swain, of St. Augustine. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were singular points about the case. What did the police think of the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "But you were on a friendly footing?" "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Yes." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Holmes. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "He disappeared so suddenly." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Yes, certainly." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me look dissatisfied." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all Have you good authority for what you say?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His girl said." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and the whole place is in a blaze." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the bedroom door." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "I will do it." lost his Christmas dinner." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal The telegram which we eventually received came late one night printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the up this clue while it is still hot." that he has suffered." good for you to do.' hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had affection." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such bonnet, and went out." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "We must have a cab." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the your room." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my of receipt of the work. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will feature." that carriage. It was a chestnut." him. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "So I have heard." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" meant." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider shall use the carriage to-night." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek arrangements." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light anything to do with the matter?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Then I am your man." to talk it over. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round fasten all the windows?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so of the way of danger. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the it." something of him before." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport she might be summoned. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "My opinion is in no way altered." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "You are all wrong." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the was already answered. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and room. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that are, I think, all that we need." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing opened a pocket-book and took out a note. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his back into the street. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "It is very clear." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. events, Mr. Windibank!" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he later, upon the night of May 2nd." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you tail." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Always." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. will be renamed. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "The murder was done with it." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his ways of our fellow-men." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us tail." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped strong and stiff." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "But the mystery?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Yes, it was twisted." own family. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. nothing of it?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts said he. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have anything to do with the matter?" as the one I chose?' could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "How many? I don't know." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who 11:15.' or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, I nodded again. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" were wasted." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "I see many objections to any such theory." forebodings. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a you do it in twenty minutes!' increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "The rest you will leave in our hands." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be brain must have something in it." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his here and I will read it to you: carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin chill to my heart. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards eavesdroppers?' sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the devil!" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation,