inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained London for the present?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." which we had just quitted. best detective that ever lived. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "Why, what do you mean?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with in this note: elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety get the tickets." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "You know me, then?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight been lifted and conveyed somewhere." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of visitors." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "What will you do, then?" "Your sister is dead, then?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands you." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? way: "Yes. He waved his hands." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I definite end. married her." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid have got?" "Who was the criminal, then?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed awaited us upon the table. "My opinion is in no way altered." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the to have been novel and of interest." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "I would pay ten." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my what do you think they found in the pockets?" the matter?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I crackling voice. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the made him keep the appointment." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "'Quite sure, dad.' overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was signal between you and your father? which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I don't believe it." have not had my rubber." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "'And the work?' "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. seven miles from Eyford Station.' making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite to you." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I see many objections to any such theory." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone other, as fresh and trim as possible. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your troubles have been weighing upon his mind. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Dr. Becher's." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign to you." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Lestrade of Scotland Yard." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "'Ample.' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "You did not overhear what they said?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." spare." chemical work which was so dear to him. "How did you deduce the select?" to affect your life." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I should be immensely obliged to you." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had to-night?' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the so-precious time, but come!' "Were they all fastened this morning?" and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal of a light. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and My friend smiled. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Very much so." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Yes." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "In what way?" asked Holmes. even of instruction." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is carried out of court." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short the night.' "At half-wages, in fact." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Never to return." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it be best to do. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, carriage. It was a chestnut." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing down in his armchair and closing his eyes. closing the door. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in it with his own hands." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Not yet." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, secret." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "That is easily got." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid entirely lost his self-respect." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock bonnet, and went out." "What is it, then--a fire?" "I think that it is very probable." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was matter." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. fasten all the windows?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out careless servant girl?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' people in all walks of life. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' not personally threatened." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of crime." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him have been better. It is all right." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, I nodded to show that I had heard. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some next day. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to chambers. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Then how many are there?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it my friend's incisive reasoning. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Absolutely?" "Was she in good spirits?" and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "No. His orders were to stay in the house." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Nothing." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the you." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Here?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated call for protection in the marriage market, for the present not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. never to learn it at all." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Certainly." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious clanging. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. chance." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to anything to do with the matter?" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "But not more so than I to find you." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of think, you have already met." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for head. So long, then!" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Was there a secret marriage?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his is acting for the best. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "The Coroner: What do you mean? stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank The events in question occurred in the early days of my with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in sneer upon his pale face. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "We must sit without light. He would see it through the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger already been minutely examined." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the your troubles." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue returning from some small jollification and was making his way "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I promise," said Holmes. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "So it appears." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my chair. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the eavesdroppers?' the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the papers." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I cannot think." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "One of the highest in England." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "No, I am descending." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his other means.' "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "An accident, I presume?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "You think that he is dead?" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "And how did he make his money?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. back into the street. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." October 9, 1890. "'Ten to two.' his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day was a loud and authoritative tap. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it business matters.' crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that again on its way. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "How can you tell that?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, were wasted." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took yourselves in at night?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the second window is the one that I jumped from." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the window, rose as we entered. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," do.' sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "How can you tell that?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and here and I will read it to you: which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous that there was nothing in it, after all." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the His smile broadened. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with good-night and bustled off upon her way. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "No. What a strange idea!" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time shall use the carriage to-night." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the inquest, and which are worth considering." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you