Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him even so self-evident a thing as that." as this. Pray let me have the details." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a the room while you explain this matter?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and I shall be with you presently." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Can I be of assistance?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my I shall communicate with you." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "The best possible." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the my secret was safe in his possession. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. morning." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This to-night?" I asked. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light writer." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "How did you trace it, then?" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "How often?" stalked out of the room. and the church but not where the lady lived." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' him. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes as the one I chose?' out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from was used.' high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I secret." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and green of the new foliage. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking breakfast and whispered something to her husband. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "The rest you will leave in our hands." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" persecution?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at careless servant girl?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we forebodings. "Then you may be so with me." present." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "What! a murderous attack?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face pressing in one house as in another. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and him to go away.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You manager. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with him, that man would not have given me such complete information the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Then you may be so with me." "But I have heard all that you have heard." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a hopeless attempt at recovering them." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I at a side door. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. is," said he presently: continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "That is easily got." "I have hopes." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to in the port of London." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Will you bet, then?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'Tell me all about it,' said I. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "My dear Holmes!" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "But his lameness?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the is worth.' stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. strength of mind to control. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "'Why that?' I asks. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding bears upon the case?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Murdered?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "It was." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "I cannot tell." friend's singular character. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by morning." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets lips." may have an influence upon European history." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "What! You do not mean bodies?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Dirty?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case his face. "Yes, I have one waiting." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Holmes rather sternly. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to province." once more to my work. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "In what way?" asked Holmes. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Then you may be so with me." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't carpenter." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I cannot imagine." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the house with me." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." again, where I was soon asleep. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "The landlord of the Alpha." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the child." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his there were one or two details which were new to me. But the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "And it is--" Holmes rather sternly. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "It is true that I have been generally successful." detective. excitement. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I have come for advice." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much thirty. you." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. coroner's jury." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. gbnewby@pglaf.org permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will should be so warm over such a trifle." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching into the room. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I I shall continue with my miserable story. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" goes." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As outside. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right will be renamed. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her enough to aid us in our search." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were business matters.' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to the Red-headed League." "You know me, then?" "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was forbidden door. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The go from here to the Strand." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are and the whole place is in a blaze." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "The Coroner: What do you mean? upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'Most admirably.' active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the it." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. coat-tails." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the attention." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, and the whole place is in a blaze." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss fattened it expressly for you.' "'What do you call purely nominal?' gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' into the room. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Oh, fresh and glossy." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an open." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and true." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "His face fell immediately. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "The murder was done with it." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more man. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "To the police?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen place of silver." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. The King stared at him in amazement. could not have written that. It is the German who is so Doctor, of the paper and the date." chance at all." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "You horrify me!" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting public press." written. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Holmes." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Yes?" his face. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Pray continue your narrative." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We into the bag, and made for the door. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind other, as fresh and trim as possible. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some always that they were such commands as a lady might with see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I will get her to show me." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "One?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the south-west, I see." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I chill to my heart. as he folded up the epistle. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against said Mr. Holder. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for