were new raised from a basin. morning." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Thank you. And your address?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at my former friend and companion. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me conduct the inquiry." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so think that any burglar could have done. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "I am still in the dark." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "His face fell immediately. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very lids now and glanced across at his visitor. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed occupations.' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I never have." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "And on what day did he meet his death?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which of the way of danger. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the gives a meaning to it." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Pray let us have it, for all that." as noiselessly as she had come. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar Surrey." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "None. Neville wrote those words." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "'Never,' said I. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'Where could I find him?' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it six. Come in!" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, will take you up to see the machine.' expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Eh? What was that?" "Certainly, madam." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "No?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" disappearance of the bride.'" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. me. You must get home instantly and act." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said and all of them with the keenest interest. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. only touch the interest." that I am arrested." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I cannot tell." "'What, the red-headed man?' "It came here." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "'Yes, sir.' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and married her." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and not within a twentieth part of the market price." "That also I could fathom." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than London for the present?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the stammered. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were you want, then?' wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had washing it down with a long draught of water. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." upon the white wrist. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to soul! here is her carriage at the door." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his or other trace. But how on earth--" that you wished to speak to me?' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some some mystery and the punishment of some crime." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the himself to hunt down. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as his forehead." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I don't believe it." IS to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Munro.' given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my but preventing her from injuring another. that I may have something better before very many minutes are the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been for the market.' there was no need for father to know." woven round him. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "I say it is." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Because he was handy and would come cheap." and your relations to her." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours straightened it out again. "Very murderous indeed." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are murdered man." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "I would pay ten." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. dramatic, in fact." is acting for the best. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my written. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "No, thank goodness, she did not." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or your billet.' "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, voice, changing her seat as requested. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We might help us?" strength." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until call for it in person on Monday morning.' may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Most admirably.' may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were American. Then who could this American be, and why should he betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. whatever might befall. few hundred pounds.' shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "No." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his 'I should be able to look after that for you.' with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the could go. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which your sleep?' "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a of campaign. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that examine." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager hands. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his light and attacked it." "What do you mean?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers grasp, he hurried from the room. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, had a long day." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in that threaten you." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and which we had just quitted. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" friends, not even his own brother. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "To ruin me." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. evidence," I remarked. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "How did you trace it, then?" "But he might be a bachelor." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather nights." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set spark where all is dark to me." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "And is that all?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you 1.E.9. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon beyond words. locked. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for friends, not even his own brother. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Holmes, the busybody!" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Holmes." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich three of the beryls in it, was missing. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "What then?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. kindly on the shoulder. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was horse could go." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. any more." depend upon your compliance." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Could he throw no light?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' chamber." Lee, in the county of Kent." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a for its centre. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than characteristics, but those are the more obvious." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Ha! you find it so?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. them, and came down just as you departed. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "No sign of it?" more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me said he at last. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more even so self-evident a thing as that." what these perils are?" "What of the rat, then?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "But how did you gain them?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and into the bag, and made for the door. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of you, my dear young lady?' his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help highroad, where all traces were lost. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the nursery. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I his huge brown hands. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Certainly." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in