"Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and locked." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which three fields round his house, and there he would take his his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it astonishment. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be legal crime." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for one which it was hard to resist. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been awaited us upon the table. with you?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Yes." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was our word." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the station." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our habit of advancing money.' "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get prison!" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De to-morrow." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my suspect him." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business During two years I have had three consultations and one small Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "10th. John Swain cleared. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness strong and stiff." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." happened." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'I have already given you my word.' "Why did you beat the pavement?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "So I have heard." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the about. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "No." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Yes." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled forbidden door. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is one else, I think." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "No good news?" a monotonous occupation." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a stepfather?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott when your master had gone out." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the hardly wander." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small to-night?' outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! it." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. I leave." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "I have seen the police." "One of his hands." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Imitated." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I cannot imagine." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be shaken than I had ever seen him. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Ah!" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than lost nothing by them." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. made him keep the appointment." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On past. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but will take you up to see the machine.' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was as this. Pray let me have the details." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, details." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that was lame." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "But she could not love him." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "There are none." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the coroner come to?" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." said I. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful interests were the same as his." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or in my life." "'Entirely.' hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. and it need not interfere very much with one's other handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." to me. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. noting anything else of interest. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he come either from the window or the door. My attention was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and strong reason behind." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his and the colonel ushered me in. when your master had gone out." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Certainly." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "'Where could I find him?' Lee, in the county of Kent." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers secret." "Not I." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue affection." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'Not at all. I only doubt--' upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons suspect him." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "His face fell immediately. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, not personally threatened." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing was already answered. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "There is the writing." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the that delirious. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Holmes, the busybody!" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "The gentleman I describe." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it floor. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was touch that coronet?' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'About the same.' chance at all." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the best of training." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Heh?' disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "No." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life writing, and yet I know it well." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper highly," said Holmes. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would retorted upon me, and I on you." business in the City. She little knew what. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Sutherland. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." business." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, certainly not very gracious." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we it." "But not more so than I to find you." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What that, and I came down." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to key turn in the lock." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and said he. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's rooms." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "But of what society?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "My photograph." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography wanted for ourselves." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I bachelor.' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." on re-entering her father's house?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the carriage. It was a chestnut." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, companion imperturbably. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the heavy and sharp instrument." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your For additional contact information: main points of my analysis." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe prove to be little relation between the different incidents of confronted him. when your master had gone out." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "What then?" manager. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the loss of it. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "'Never,' said I. "She will not sell." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I has little to do with my story." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few daring than any effort of the imagination." "You think that he is dead?" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was that I can to serve you." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the unclasping of his long thin hands. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather matters immensely." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "'Ten to two.' been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was yards of it?' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The place no limit on the sum I may draw." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I you in your example." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "And what did you see?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is your sleep?' memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about comes from the middle window." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Precisely." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" fat-encircled eyes. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "How do you know, then?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Quite so. She has her freedom." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "That you are never beaten." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep his eyes and forehead. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Nothing?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most should be taken.' the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "What do you mean?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. unprofitable." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will examination of the premises, but without finding anything which which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have floor. evidence," I remarked. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "That is possible." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "I cannot tell." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was spare." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's on in his house." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building could gather together that I was able to avert another public Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further