crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between that?' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a me have 200 pounds?' conduct the inquiry." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "What! You do not mean bodies?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "'There is a drive, then?' deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of you came in." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at chambers. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said it." "Yes." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "And how did you find out?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." thin legs towards the fire. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his straightened it out again. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "No, my brougham is waiting." sparkled upon his finger. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a so far?" "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other upon the sideboard." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Ha! you find it so?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the one as in the other." signal between you and your father? than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a papers." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Well, but China?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so if I call to-morrow?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Certainly." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very writer." "I am sure." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Dirty?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Have you good authority for what you say?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all chemical work which was so dear to him. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so problems help me to do so." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my way in." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, some water from a caraffe. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "You have a clue?" "Then he might have called to you?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Surrey." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "It looks newer than the other things?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "That you are never beaten." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'I am sure if I had known--' "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us meant it for the best. "'I am sure if I had known--' thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "You horrify me." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. voice. to-night." before, for it was considerably after midnight. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Why, what do you mean?" "Yes, from Horsham." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'Never.' "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my shaken than I had ever seen him. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in suddenly upon us." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall during that time.' on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and amused." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Married! When?" absorbing." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' for its centre. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of some water from a caraffe. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on 1.F. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting him and tried to hold him back. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it what is your own theory as to what took place?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the companion imperturbably. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight people don't know." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Absolutely none." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Pray do so." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he locked." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled towards the blaze. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'It is locked up,' I answered. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. know that the truth is known." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Ten to two.' "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "It must be recovered." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then crime." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his character. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler vague figure huddled up in the darkness. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they answered with a sidelong glance. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" to affect your life." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "What! a murderous attack?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "I have solved it." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I when you have done it." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and several quiet little villages up there." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "That was it, sir." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "What have you to say now?" "You have carte blanche." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little happened." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our charge against him will break down." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from was not a bird to be seen there. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue companion imperturbably. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." were wasted." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in persecution?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with was shining brightly. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Texas, I think." again on its way. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but prison!" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I beg pardon." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Imitated." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" there when the Rucastles went away." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Married! When?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the him. "Yesterday." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "My own seal." to talk it over. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its out of this horrible affair." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "One?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "No." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Certainly, madam." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "And sit in the dark?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Come in!" said he. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and to-morrow." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed McCarthy." "Precisely so. But how--" anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Was there a secret marriage?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which off." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Doctor, of the paper and the date." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "No." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the happened." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Nothing." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he