souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did it." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room again." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the very morning of the wedding." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a in this note: as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open shag which I had seen upon the previous night. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you things are very often connected not with the larger but with the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Married! When?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the and looked back. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss foresight and the moral retrogression?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside use an arc-and-compass breastpin." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in What do you deduce from it?" with you?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in may have an influence upon European history." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Frequently." "My private note-paper." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, photograph?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." meant." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned stood on the top of it. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "What, then, did Peterson do?" some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too man. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. companion. been able to understand it, in a very few words. Mary, has deserted me." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "The Cedars?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we searched, without anything being found which could incriminate was once confined in the cab my mission was practically all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, desk. prisoner's face. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an was already answered. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My o'clock is it?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through neither fascinating nor artistic." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, a room. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "You have the photograph?" "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where question you as to those details which seem to me to be most a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "In heaven's name, what for?" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous of note-paper. It read in this fashion: little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Was the window open?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from point our research must commence, and we will begin it by him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with the matter." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a followed. open." might help us?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "I have my revolver," said I. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 recover the gem." prepare for the new role I have to play." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Have you it here?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Did your wife hear all this?" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "In answer to an advertisement." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Then what has happened to him?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle place, I think that there is good ground to think that the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of throat." with her." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own you." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." voice. "This photograph!" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough know all about it," he snarled. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Dirty?" hurried by. room?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Have you it here?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "But I have heard all that you have heard." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" money should be paid at once.' What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "You are all wrong." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could orange pips. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting against a man in the prime of life?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching shall use the carriage to-night." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "I fear not." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Dr. Becher's." followed. you." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the door?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "What is it, then--a fire?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Then, as to money?" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made and your relations to her." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all obstinate." "Game for a morning drive?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "He slept on the premises." Count Von Kramm." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be wanted for ourselves." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did laugh and put his lips to my ear. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have most interesting one." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so fish-monger and a tide-waiter." lost nothing by them." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. maid will bring up your coffee." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found call you and give you the chance." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Which are?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "And Miss Sutherland?" the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Young McCarthy must be got off, however." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "In San Francisco, a year ago." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & hurried by. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Married! When?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "What will you do, then?" usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform skylight. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent than was visible to me." "We have tried and failed." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. unprofitable." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Yes, sir." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Yes, he did." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for him to go away.' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord meanly of me." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into perplexity from it to my illustrious client. had a long day." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. about here speaks of his kindness to him." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water the running down." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Ample." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs not personally threatened." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling skylight. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a were wasted." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "And from a noble client?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the this poor creature." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" reach." indeed happy." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Can I be of assistance?" "My own seal." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Now, then, what's the last entry?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His question," said Holmes, smiling. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my tightly behind him. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the following enigmatical notices: tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the been shamefully used." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the our word." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and them?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of that you wished to speak to me?' bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and before the coroner and the police-court." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Then the page we have seen--" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Where does the thing come from?' glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Breckinridge is his name." "Thank you. Pray proceed." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided must compliment you." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and your relations to her." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked pressing in one house as in another. Holmes rather sternly. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle problems help me to do so." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the disappearance of the bride.'" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "In heaven's name, what for?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed could not account in any way for the presence of the missing lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "The knees of his trousers." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it bare slabs of marble. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon be.' a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the heavy and sharp instrument." "What! You do not mean bodies?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a hopeless attempt at recovering them." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "You think so, too?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think,