him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Who by?" other, as fresh and trim as possible. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached one of them." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how II. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' weighed down with some great anxiety. which our visitor detailed to us. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as whole matter to your consideration." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Of Friday, June 19th." guilty parties." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Never to return." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be jewels which you have stolen?' "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "My Mary? Impossible!" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "No, my brougham is waiting." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. to talk it over. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally begin with, and I had not got mine yet." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney bearing upon the case." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Game for a morning drive?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my were new raised from a basin. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Nothing?" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Yes, they were peculiar boots." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I in this way: the loss of it. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too death." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four security.' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready could not have written that. It is the German who is so his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and photograph?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and everything which you would wish to know." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do has little to do with my story." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a From what you have told me I think that it is possible that better in every way that they should make their position a little on in his house." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a go back?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with tapping his fingers upon the table. burst out into a roar of laughter. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "The Coroner: What do you mean? seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Won't it ring?" Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "He is dead," cried several voices. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond gives a meaning to it." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the particular state visit http://pglaf.org the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I daring than any effort of the imagination." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'In my own bureau.' the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Ah!" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "I am following you closely," I answered. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser said he. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Then I can wait in the next room." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Yes." already referred to. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "You horrify me." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you stalked out of the room. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Holmes. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have garden below. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. nights." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the villagers almost as much as their master. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must The events in question occurred in the early days of my seen the man in the road." "And did you observe any change in her then?" What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words call for it in person on Monday morning.' discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his head. So long, then!" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Quite so. She has her freedom." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. me what he had done with the three missing stones. you give your casting vote to?" or other trace. But how on earth--" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United here." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "A greater distance to travel." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs compunction about shooting them down." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "No, distinctly professional." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in morning." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. dead, shall be safe with us." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Did you observe the colour?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the never came back." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that way: in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" in this way: back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently late!' why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked good for you to do.' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Holmes' face clouded over. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "'Where could I find him?' the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "I should wish to." as he remarks, very much against the son." "10th. John Swain cleared. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which posted to-day." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project introspective fashion. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "But his left-handedness." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut electronic works opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of she might be summoned. his face which made him a very different person to the round, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, promised to bring home. locked. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the London for the present?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back was shining brightly. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in if she died from some sudden fright." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Holmes' room. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally to surprise her." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I together. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Nothing?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "And how did you find out?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Farm upon the left." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'What do you call purely nominal?' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and to change my dress. electronic works husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "No. His orders were to stay in the house." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: You want to know what became of those geese?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your this as likely?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "It must be recovered." she used." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down depend upon my doing so.' notes," he said. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing could not account in any way for the presence of the missing His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas occurred." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I cannot say that I have." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day it." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "One of the highest in England." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in place, I think that there is good ground to think that the whereabouts. wall." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." said he at last. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them like gravel from a pit.' "You have compromised yourself seriously." that you saw all that I did." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Only as much as we can deduce." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might to have been novel and of interest." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If appeared upon the scene." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that she used." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other upon the white wrist. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" until night should bring an explanation. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "His face fell immediately. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, read over the extraordinary announcement. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. awaited us upon the table. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that page at http://pglaf.org believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am there was no need for father to know." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "I have a cab outside." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." morning." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I not personally threatened." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "My private note-paper." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "In the cells." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making respectable self." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in a good hundred miles off by now." way: this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, seem to you to be relevant or not." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it