"Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "That is easily got." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had highroad, where all traces were lost. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Then I can wait in the next room." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Your French gold?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that emerged. was keenly on my guard against him. hard-headed British jury." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm hour?' said I. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Then I shall certainly come." hurried by. "And is that all?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Stoke Moran." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Certainly." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg rooms." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on whether it answered to the description of any of their "'And the work?' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out said I. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'I have already given you my word.' (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all as the one I chose?' down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. there!' that, and I came down." your billet.' Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who to miss it." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence that I can to serve you." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the house with me." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal grasp, he hurried from the room. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "No sign of it?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "When did she vanish, then?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would himself to hunt down. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind skylight. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." and capable of preserving a secret.' might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I events, Mr. Windibank!" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "I should like to see him very much." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I present strange and interesting features that it is no easy hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me against a man in the prime of life?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I passage and a tap at the door. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "And I say east," said my patient. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I should like to see him very much." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, laugh and put his lips to my ear. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "And your father? Did you tell him?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Stolen." "Yes?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be detained." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I one of them." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "You did not overhear what they said?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray were unconscious?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "And how did he make his money?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive anything to a woman, for she would have her way." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital unprecedented a position." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Awake, Watson?" he asked. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "I warn you that they are very incomplete." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Never to return." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. pound a week." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." was a lad." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "But how did you gain them?" "On your arm?" "I shall most certainly do so." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps past. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." have not had my rubber." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to ceremony." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. husband's writing, madam." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "But how could you guess what the motive was?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in whether it answered to the description of any of their to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "And why?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I will not look." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." morning." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and a shock of very red hair. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Your sister is dead, then?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Married! When?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Nothing?" "I say it is." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not married her." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain as he remarks, very much against the son." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom that you wished to speak to me?' residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while now. It seems that there had been some informality about their bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my such attractions and accomplishments?' "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Her father is very rich?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need to surprise her." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "He is dead," cried several voices. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "And who is her maid?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and been shamefully used." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of anything to do with the matter?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already crime." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a annoyance, but no jest. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "How about poison?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Dr. Gregory B. Newby "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at married her." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "The murder was done with it." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is envelope. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, in the hope of finding them." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the driver. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known went to the Alpha were town bred." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "My last client of the sort was a king." "How are you getting on?" step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "We must sit without light. He would see it through the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "To ruin me." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "An enemy?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "I was mad--insane." friends, not even his own brother. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. not, dad?" she asked. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic not come at once?" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly highroad, where all traces were lost. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the will he say when he returns?" about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, gigantic client. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is character. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Dirty?" assist you in forming an opinion." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I know where it is." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, in the dead of the night?' rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "The doctor?" "Whose house is it?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He his face which made him a very different person to the round, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of do you make of it all?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would crime." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with thought that she would have been so carried away." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to to me. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "On your arm?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "You saw the ventilator, too?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the indeed which he could not unravel. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "But you can know nothing of this?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the to have that photograph." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'Which dealer's?' Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else His smile broadened. "Your French gold?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the roots. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the ceremony." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended