for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. you." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "On Monday." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "What then?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Has he come with you to-night?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One crime." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six opened the door, and slipped through. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: good-night and bustled off upon her way. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, call the police, let the police find what they can.' slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to all-comprehensive glances. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "No sign of it?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Awake, Watson?" he asked. indeed which he could not unravel. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, was feeling which was the fattest.' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more to have been novel and of interest." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall chemical work which was so dear to him. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy emerged. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King room had already been engaged for us. "How are you getting on?" you came in." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who like gravel from a pit.' forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the one as in the other." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my papers must be those that are destroyed.' would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so him to go away.' "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "How on earth--" pound a week." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by affection." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "No, my brougham is waiting." "It was an hour's good drive." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. and no precautions can guard against." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He me what he had done with the three missing stones. business at Coburg Square is serious." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were results." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. arrested. You then--" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Why, it's a dummy," said he. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all time." "Witness: I must still refuse. one which it was hard to resist. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Lee, in the county of Kent." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I tied." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Of what?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little bell. Holmes whistled. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble not come at once?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its occurred." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down even so self-evident a thing as that." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase at home. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with and the church but not where the lady lived." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. the window, rose as we entered. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and arrested. You then--" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the very morning of the wedding." "Never to return." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with present." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "I will try. What is it?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at and the colonel ushered me in. telegram would bring me down to your help." stepfather?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would most interesting one." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An forbidden door. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try shag which I had seen upon the previous night. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and thirty. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. charged with?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" a little more before I quite committed myself. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Mrs. Toller serenely. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch useful material for showing traces. The double line a little passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." so far?" whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon I. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One down in his armchair and closing his eyes. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story said he. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," to me. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In any little problem which you may submit to me." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few call it cruel." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "To the police?" "'Yes, sir.' felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." really the only notable feature about the thing." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. she used." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "And it is--" questionable one." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw III. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as lamp. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might clanging. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or I approached. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his for the market.' "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "The best possible." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "And how did he make his money?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a allusion to a rat. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. we went to search for him, face downward in a little you came in." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "I was afraid that you were engaged." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the approach us with offers to donate. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, when your master had gone out." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet papers on the sundial.'" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "I am about to be married." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard window when the police appeared." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds salesman. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "I know where it is." them?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation go--none." go--none." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' to Leatherhead. papers must be those that are destroyed.' my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open written, and locked the door of the office after me. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, with you?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Nothing." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its or other trace. But how on earth--" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed enough to aid us in our search." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "One?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by his eyes and forehead. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be I leave." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange events than those which have happened in my own family." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Perhaps we may make them less so." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary I have it here in my museum." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had she slowly sank and died without having recovered her willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable."