simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each were new raised from a basin. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "'Ten to two.' have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Yes, he did." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be only touch the interest." His smile broadened. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, events, Mr. Windibank!" something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all new acquaintance to Baker Street. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Where is it, then?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a shaken than I had ever seen him. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this closely." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Absolutely none." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's laugh and put his lips to my ear. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "It is true that I have been generally successful." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Mary, has deserted me." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are to Leatherhead. some city in a dream. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery points in connection with it which never have been, and probably heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me yet." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. to-night?' "Entirely." not, dad?" she asked. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the sneer upon his pale face. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice bled considerably." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, province." acquaintance?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the certainly do as you advise." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "In heaven's name, what for?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which sparkled upon his finger. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Her father is very rich?" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he who was a member of your goose club." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not had this final quarrel? sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "It must be recovered." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "My stepfather's business papers." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a giving me time to thank him. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "It looks newer than the other things?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing second." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning depend upon your compliance." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "If so, much may have happened between." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable joking. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his was used.' had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'I shall certainly be there.' McCarthy's innocence. these bleak autumnal evenings." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a him to go away.' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly despaired of." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Never to return." a little more before I quite committed myself. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the photograph?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we never came back." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "How can you tell that?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business promised to bring home. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me detective. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in was a loud and authoritative tap. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went most interesting one." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the you for a few hours?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I see no marks." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "What will you say?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has breakfast." "I answered that I had not. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed to tackle the facts." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite His name is Francis Prosper." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'And the work?' "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as to miss it." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "My Mary? Impossible!" is four-and-twenty." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" been." fuss that is made over them." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since to-night." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "And that is--" "None. Neville wrote those words." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Tired-looking or fresh?" definite end. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "A call for help, you thought?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and outsides of the windows. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Tired-looking or fresh?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Well?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Very. But will he see it?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes already been minutely examined." yet." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, go--none." papers diligently of late, have you not?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it this as likely?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he knowledge of the world." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "It is his hat." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently might help us?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "But you were on a friendly footing?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. was it brought him the coronet? moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me became a certainty. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our What do you deduce from it?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted young Openshaw's." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "What have you to say now?" firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "About a month then." which our visitor detailed to us. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "What, then, did Peterson do?" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, again." "How do you know, then?" "Did you become engaged then?" the Red-headed League." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they locked. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises garden below. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the yourselves in at night?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought charged with?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "You have compromised yourself seriously." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to of a light. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive This is what he says: "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Holmes rather sternly. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Holmes, the busybody!" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the have been better. It is all right." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "'And the work?' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his the bed, and you in that chair." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the date of his supposed suicide." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he written, and locked the door of the office after me. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his I. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little because she had spent so short a time in this country that she weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project your room." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." and laid it on the table. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Gutenberg-tm License. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you carpenter." down. from the brougham. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger be best to do. one which it was hard to resist. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of the best of training." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the driver. "My private note-paper." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes It was close upon four before the door opened, and a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Then how many are there?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Well, but China?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into it." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very question," said Holmes, smiling. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "That is possible." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been 'please.'" matter." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "No." heavily into it. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "'Most admirably.' "And it is--" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "'Why that?' I asks. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late little trying to do so much typewriting?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street.