weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were enough to aid us in our search." "Yes, only one." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! bears upon the case?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. written, and locked the door of the office after me. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Do you go out much in society?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "You have carte blanche." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "And the murderer?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Seven!" I answered. miles off. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which of." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Here?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is into the bag, and made for the door. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never people in all walks of life. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Her father is very rich?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the himself to tell his story. burst out into a roar of laughter. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once room. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." placed his cuttings. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which him and tried to hold him back. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy narrative." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and laid it on the table. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Will you go?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "It's nothing of the kind." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own more terrible than the truth. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the inner apartment." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Holmes." any more." "No." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her cigars in the box." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and meant it for the best. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your the driver. "None." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Why did you pick him?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at to his chemical studies. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "And how did you find out?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "My dear Holmes!" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns or in danger--" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no be.' "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, and wait." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down and the church but not where the lady lived." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Yes, that is the Crown." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, footfalls from the street. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an she slowly sank and died without having recovered her anything to do with the matter?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. fashion which was peculiar to him. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' just called myself is not exactly my own." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary really the only notable feature about the thing." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when these bleak autumnal evenings." "And the cigar-holder?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "But not more so than I to find you." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed other lovers by making love himself." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my thin, with a long, sharp nose?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He weapon." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "About a month then." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "I cannot tell." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'Stolen!' he cried. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between searched, without anything being found which could incriminate you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to his fortune, and I went back to pa. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." secret." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are secret." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the against a man in the prime of life?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a name is different." the general public were present, then?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch if she died from some sudden fright." father's young wife. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." forbidden door. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Witness: I must still refuse. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser his forehead." them?" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Why did you beat the pavement?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "When did she vanish, then?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack fattened it expressly for you.' copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "VIOLET HUNTER." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Nothing." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." congenial hunt. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two row." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "'Yes, sir.' "You saw the ventilator, too?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Yes, I have one waiting." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread signal between you and your father? copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "And Miss Sutherland?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Literary Archive Foundation "At what time?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? again, where I was soon asleep. But Holmes shook his head gravely. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who test if we have an answer to our advertisement." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his him to be an active member of the medical profession." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "But who is he?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon should be so warm over such a trifle." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Serpentine Avenue. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said the coronet at all injured?" unkempt, staring out at me. kind enough to tell me what I should do." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It is solved." "I answered that I had not. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight everything which you would wish to know." "It is a murder, then?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "It is his hat." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "But we can't all be." "Never." the devil!" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "No, finished." will take you up to see the machine.' "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is started for the Temple to see my husband. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which place, I think that there is good ground to think that the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Dr. Gregory B. Newby say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. desk. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "It is true that I have been generally successful." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Stoke Moran?" said he. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his future lives." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll like that before?" "Have you it here?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "And why?" "Pray do so." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "None." was already answered. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "But it has twice been burgled." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel 'please.'" I. come either from the window or the door. My attention was me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a seem to you to be relevant or not." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a little trying to do so much typewriting?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. even so self-evident a thing as that." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many DISSOLVED. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had whether it answered to the description of any of their Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. detained." get her out of the way." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, knowledge of the world." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "In the cells." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn the very letters. But what is this written above them?' and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Yes, I promise.' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and families. Now for the facts. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from tail." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them presented which may be striking and bizarre without being very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier answered with a sidelong glance. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "But your client--" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four note?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "What! You do not mean bodies?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Do you know him?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so fear." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's