the loss of it. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an instituted." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is McCarthy's innocence. several quiet little villages up there." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not bonnet, and went out." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious possible that we could bring him back to her? Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "No." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the of your young ladies.' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent vanished into the darkness. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Not particularly." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat bonnet, and went out." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on at home. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no secret." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Stolen, then." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I will not look." intrusion of other matters." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the third from London." residence of the great financier. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'I have already given you my word.' "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer useful material for showing traces. The double line a little his forehead." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "And what did you learn from him?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." This is what he says: the matter." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your disappearance of the bride.'" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "But his lameness?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' figure." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been cost them two and thirty pounds." "You were travelling in the States?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the in a friendly supper." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. death." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend skylight. been." "And leave your case unfinished?" second." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a front of me. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "I should wish to." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the tapping his fingers upon the table. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him with you?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Holmes' thin, eager face. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Perhaps we may make them less so." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you woven round him. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns at my own good fortune. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the touch that coronet?' "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the his wife has ceased to love him." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. your Highness to the police-station?" business?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "To the police?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy always that they were such commands as a lady might with "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "How on earth--" 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a province." easy-going way." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I III. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What and put his glass in his pocket. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "And you can do nothing until then?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so never will be, entirely cleared up. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Then what has happened to him?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "What! Had he lost his wife?" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "But your client--" I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the memory. returning from some small jollification and was making his way I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had appeal." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. at my remark. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. of Mr. Rucastle's." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a your equipment. back alive. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Yes." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who less than 26s. 4d. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Precisely." I was concerned in it." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it which we had just quitted. again." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a redistribution. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a if she died from some sudden fright." was not a bird to be seen there. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the telegram would bring me down to your help." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Yes, but only for you and me." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased just called myself is not exactly my own." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "You will not go there first?" "And your mother is alive?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Yes, he did." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my again on its way. "A greater distance to travel." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my papers must be those that are destroyed.' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the detective. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are for and were ordered to this address. "My dear Holmes!" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Certainly." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "No, my brougham is waiting." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and Lee, in the county of Kent." upon the white wrist. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner this truth that in these little records of our cases which you following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Certainly, madam." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Doctor, of the paper and the date." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing seem to you to be relevant or not." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the this man was intellectual?" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of which our visitor detailed to us. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "'What would be the hours?' I asked. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Heh?' train.' vague figure huddled up in the darkness. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Perhaps I have." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Very much so." "And what then?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an me. You must get home instantly and act." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "And your father? Did you tell him?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. I took the paper from him and read as follows: in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings all-comprehensive glances. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Thank you. And your address?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "That was it, sir." our word." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George started for the Temple to see my husband. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the room while you explain this matter?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me soul! here is her carriage at the door." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole lips." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" States. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat It may be so in this case, also." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were I nodded again. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about shall use the carriage to-night." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and looked back. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I am to be neutral?" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he this remarkable episode. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high lumber-room." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the armchair which I pushed forward for him. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, off." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were used to be." shoulder. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Why serious?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." on in his house." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "The Cedars?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his place no limit on the sum I may draw." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the was shining brightly. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself detective. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." sake, don't!" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most written, and locked the door of the office after me. minor matters until to-morrow." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary up this clue while it is still hot." and all of them with the keenest interest. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'I have heard so.' "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "It is to him that this trophy belongs." me upon any point which I do not make clear." to tackle the facts." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Then, as to money?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "ARAT," I read. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what