bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They appointment with me for six o'clock?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, and that he would see to anything that turned up. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "It was an hour's good drive." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Then, as to money?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not guilty one." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "And sit in the dark?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "No, I am descending." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were infinite languor in his face. to-night?' help us in this matter." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features to-night's adventure." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "But what is it you wish?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Yes, he did." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. presented more singular features than that which was associated "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" 1.E.9. weary and pale-looking. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to purpose of examination. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to The summons was a brief and urgent one. man. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Clair, of Lee." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Deserted you?" "None. Neville wrote those words." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she is entirely a question of barometric pressure." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was depend upon my doing so.' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a and have this put in the evening papers." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Where is it, then?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." is four-and-twenty." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the one as in the other." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in things are very often connected not with the larger but with the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be off." allusion to a rat. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a lips." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "I fear not." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some right! Sit down and let us talk it over." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened galvanised. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for enough to aid us in our search." chair. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "No, I had a dozen." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Watson," he said cordially. man. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found way in everything. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, there was no need for father to know." "Thank you. And your address?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate trifles." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the window, rose as we entered. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you extraordinary contortions. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from of his shoulders. "What can you not understand?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be emerged. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "And what did you learn from him?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped my little problems." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about comes from the middle window." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! affection." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate dead, shall be safe with us." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the someone who had been in Australia." go back?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept you." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Not yet." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I have solved it." "And now?" He raised his hand. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better light and attacked it." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "No." congratulate you again." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he window when the police appeared." did not hear it also.' Henry Baker is a member." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Indeed! Whose, then?" there has been an enclosure here!" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "I have hopes." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. is a common subject for conversation. before the coroner and the police-court." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "No legal papers or certificates?" the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "It was an hour's good drive." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare done what I asked you, Jones?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, exactly what you advise." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "No." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." from the brougham. furiously. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, to miss it." one of them." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "To ruin me." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "And now?" I asked. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "'Where to?' Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Who was the criminal, then?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now chambers. confronted him. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself once more on the important position which you have been fortunate tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the have not had my rubber." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may be there in time for your coming." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell held up the lantern and gazed about him. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." important." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips room had already been engaged for us. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on yourselves in at night?" believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your the so-precious time, but come!' compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he vanished into the darkness. one of them." the Assizes." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "But I have heard all that you have heard." Literary Archive Foundation think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "What is it, then--a fire?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and tightly behind him. then?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the side-table." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the night.' afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country and the whole place is in a blaze." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "On the contrary, this is the right side." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Then you may be so with me." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Now, then, what's the last entry?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Her father is very rich?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your approach us with offers to donate. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The strong and stiff." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the matter?" or in danger--" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not is a common subject for conversation. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "In San Francisco, a year ago." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His waste of energy." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any this unhappy family?" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new breakfast and whispered something to her husband. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but 1.F. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Just look it up, then." London for the present?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted it were putty." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at yet." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "No, distinctly professional." "Oh, fresh and glossy." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a do you make of it all?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the name is different." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I interests were the same as his." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "When did she vanish, then?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour quick march!" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Do you go out much in society?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his directors, with the result that you have seen." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his friends, not even his own brother. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked allusion to a rat. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, you in your example." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I taking in every detail of the apartment. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes works. See paragraph 1.E below. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Surrey." outsides of the windows. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps and your relations to her." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "And you don't know his address?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with thought that she would have been so carried away." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. pictures, libraries, or plate. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Did your wife hear all this?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "And what then?" License. You must require such a user to return or and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "I will, Miss Turner." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much writing, and yet I know it well." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great to go into your room and bar your shutters?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "How can you tell that?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable ready to-morrow?' Henry Baker is a member." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" noting anything else of interest. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "He slept on the premises." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was corner of the building. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point."