"Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called the one as in the other." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "None." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very murdered man." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "We have tried and failed." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "The Cedars?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Then you may entirely rely on me." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair as he remarks, very much against the son." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by learned something! Where are the gems?" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." business." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "You horrify me!" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up once more. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Well." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I cannot say that I have." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long kind enough to tell me what I should do." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were colonel looking down at me. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I would pay ten." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far because she had spent so short a time in this country that she sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." will be renamed. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of I nodded to show that I had heard. "Nothing?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "It missed him, then?" Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing towards the blaze. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the general public were present, then?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "It missed him, then?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Was he the only applicant?" "'Yes.' "I was mad--insane." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me for securing the situation." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in along the entire front of the house, with three long windows your own bird, so if you wish--" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Did he not advertise?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from was it brought him the coronet? watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is along the entire front of the house, with three long windows swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was respectable self." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "And why in hopes?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much such attractions and accomplishments?' touch that coronet?' "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. me have 200 pounds?' all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the you in yours." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I what these perils are?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, daring than any effort of the imagination." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "What of the rat, then?" He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "We must have a cab." "Bought." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my http://www.gutenberg.net that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and a suggestive one." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the little opening for the ventilator is." of receipt of the work. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, have accepted such a situation. Holmes. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Pope's Court. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew said he at last. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "What do you make of that, Watson?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence companion quietly. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "What office?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it character. "In heaven's name, what for?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and recover the gem." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how fluttered off among the others. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience if only as a check to my own memory." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I promise," said Holmes. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came written, and locked the door of the office after me. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered quickly through a disagreeable task. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To must be when I saw the door open.' down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' direction." to change my dress. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and sofa. This way, please!" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the which we had just quitted. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." sooner or later she must fall a victim. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version business at Coburg Square is serious." was keenly on my guard against him. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." these bleak autumnal evenings." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his green of the new foliage. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather was used.' "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. and effective." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Stoke Moran?" said he. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased bill, which interests me deeply." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Ample." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "How many? I don't know." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent galvanised. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "What, then, did Peterson do?" me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. window when the police appeared." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. coroner's jury." Holmes." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her yet." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if gigantic client. attention." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I am following you closely," I answered. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "None." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "He might." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. instituted." "And that is--" Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "In answer to an advertisement." "And leave your case unfinished?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Nothing?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his whereabouts. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had ashen face. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did outsides of the windows. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was himself. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that writing, and yet I know it well." once more. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them during the last few years, and there are many noble families to of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, with frightened eyes at his accuser. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "How on earth--" these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham to go into your room and bar your shutters?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty fasten all the windows?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "An enemy?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. it with his own hands." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. client, rising. conceal it?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "The landlord of the Alpha." a very grave face. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, in. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were disappearance of these gems?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to something of him before." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the village inn over there?" "It's nothing of the kind." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am orange pips. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in ready to-morrow?' other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the and no precautions can guard against." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his about here speaks of his kindness to him." "My last client of the sort was a king." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it that you can jump it.' before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and noting anything else of interest. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "How do you know, then?" threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal whatever might befall. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an see me here to avoid scandal." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," second window is the one that I jumped from." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "'And what salary do you ask?' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let where we are going." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "At the wedding breakfast." The King stared at him in amazement. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "That is possible." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Seven!" I answered. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the miles off. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "No, I am descending." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the from you?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of humiliation." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly indeed which he could not unravel. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Has he come with you to-night?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; examine." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be