what do you think they found in the pockets?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Will you go?" quite distinctive." have established a very serious case against the son of the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Edgeware Road. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a made his money." the night.' papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save disturbance in my wife." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Heh?' lost nothing by them." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Stoke Moran." suspect him." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must hand, madam?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the congratulate you again." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing so.' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was jewels which you have stolen?' the child." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in to a light-house. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "I think it very unlikely." "From his hat?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "'Which dealer's?' "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that direction." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "You heard nothing yourself last night?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "But I have heard all that you have heard." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you business came to an end." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to too. tied." shoulder; "he's all right." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "And how did you find out?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "But you would not advise me to refuse?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Awake, Watson?" he asked. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "You are all wrong." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney papers." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could particular state visit http://pglaf.org call you and give you the chance." "I don't believe it." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'About the same.' varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder bearing upon the case." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "'You cannot say what it was?' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "But she could not love him." "To ruin me." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the an introduction to him?" beg that you will break it off." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "I cannot tell." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could or in danger--" "How about poison?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Henry Baker is a member." Sholtos." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an crime." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was dead, shall be safe with us." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "But your client--" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Ha! you find it so?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." "The landlord of the Alpha." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And head. So long, then!" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about attention." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a sound at heart." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. you." long narrative. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away and glanced through. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "The rest you will leave in our hands." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "He slept on the premises." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall excitement. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he must be when I saw the door open.' "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, him. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "BALLARAT." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was searched, without anything being found which could incriminate association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his said I. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "It looks newer than the other things?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, his eyes and forehead. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "May I see it?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Will you go?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "'What then?' I asked. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our are, and they are waiting for us." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect himself to tell his story. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and him!" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his is four-and-twenty." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Surrey." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "None." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, furiously. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest and your relations to her." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have golden eyeglasses. 1.F. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" to a light-house. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Yes." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body and wait." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and politicians who had been sent down from the North. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step must be when I saw the door open.' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End some place of shelter and let the county police know what has golden eyeglasses. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced bachelor.' "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the My friend smiled. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Then, how do you know?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and even so self-evident a thing as that." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I bonnet, and went out." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss fear." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and all-comprehensive glances. tightly behind him. "And why?" to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to which was all perfectly true. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all approach us with offers to donate. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my from the brougham. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind was feeling which was the fattest.' "'You cannot say what it was?' having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional copied or distributed: he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there wall." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Pray continue your narrative." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his one else, I think." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." stood on the top of it. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Her father is very rich?" "They are typewritten," I remarked. "I am all attention, madam." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary she used." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Yesterday." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Yes, the wine-cellar." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been what is your own theory as to what took place?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted like gravel from a pit.' nonsense.' wall." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to must be when I saw the door open.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some feature." "'Why that?' I asks. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, nights." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; criminal. We have already had experience of such." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. new duties?' they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of ordinary clothes on?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. in one or two places in England?' over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep other, as fresh and trim as possible. note?" himself to tell his story. questioning and rather startled gaze. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon him nearly every evening." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "I don't believe it." with the outside air!" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Why, what do you mean?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already fait accompli?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "'Entirely.' chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "No. What a strange idea!" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. as this. Pray let me have the details." "So I have heard." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with papers on the sundial.'" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "There is the writing." again on its way. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But himself. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible