too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "What do you make of that, Watson?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, him." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and very old mansion. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked became a certainty. room had already been engaged for us. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a from you?" about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it for its centre. "Seven!" I answered. them?" there was no need for father to know." the one as in the other." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I don't say that. Perhaps." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the nursery. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I am still in the dark." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "You horrify me." "A client, then?" "No, finished." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Precisely so. But how--" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. mysterious business." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De one or two very singular points about this room. For example, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "What are they?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Awake, Watson?" he asked. pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "'You cannot say what it was?' my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the crowd. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and in this way: you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned cost them two and thirty pounds." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "'Where could I find him?' "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do strange features which were associated with the two crimes which then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are begun to whiten, even as mine has." During two years I have had three consultations and one small ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Why, it's a dummy," said he. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel acted in my house last night?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Entirely." away into the river." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were unkempt, staring out at me. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "'Is purely nominal.' your only hope of safety." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the hour?' halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "And you thought he was pulled back?" "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "That sounds a little paradoxical." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual was lame." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "'Which dealer's?' may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "No." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, way: "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his throat." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. important." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the I nodded again. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a people don't know." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Never." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was lost nothing by them." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I writing, and yet I know it well." experiences." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. works. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "No." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Why, what do you mean?" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. yards of it?' heavily into it. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which fled together." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Never to return." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'I have heard so.' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "You have it, sir, just as it happened." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very into the bag, and made for the door. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "None." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Mrs. Toller serenely. "When did she vanish, then?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises bell. Holmes whistled. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the taking in every detail of the apartment. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "And on what day did he meet his death?" the very morning of the wedding." "But you have hopes?" Gutenberg-tm License. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain upon the white wrist. "It must be recovered." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off eat it." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "And now?" I asked. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I do." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "'In my own bureau.' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the invisible to me," I remarked. "When did she vanish, then?" and a shock of very red hair. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "What will you do, then?" dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "She showed me, as I told you she would." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "At the wedding breakfast." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project there." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, and a shock of very red hair. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "No legal papers or certificates?" crime." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of one of them." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Where, then?" "How on earth--" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use lamp in his hand. than to us. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his residence of the great financier. "'Yes.' the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "'Where to?' thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Will you bet, then?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of 1.E.9. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "How did you trace it, then?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical hurried away. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." coroner's jury." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, interests were the same as his." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all bonnet, and went out." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Yes, I have one waiting." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to not within a twentieth part of the market price." which we had just quitted. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step this poor creature." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "No legal papers or certificates?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I shall be delighted." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." dead, shall be safe with us." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." breakfast." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before head. So long, then!" arrangements." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where appeared upon the scene." of Mr. Rucastle's." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll wedding?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "But I am all in the dark." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang walking." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then putting in the horse. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the running down." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "'And what are they worth?' I asked. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "But how did you gain them?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. breakfast." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "And why in hopes?"