She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK fattened it expressly for you.' tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Stoke Moran?" said he. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Then you may be so with me." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened enter into my head. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, unprecedented a position." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. into the room. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "'Yes, sir.' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she answered with a sidelong glance. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "What can it mean?" I gasped. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his felt the room to be a little close.' depend upon your compliance." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," absorbing." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "In San Francisco, a year ago." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize within hail.' she used." to tackle the facts." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "That is easily got." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice retorted upon me, and I on you." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any not come at once?" morning." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a my little problems." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would fuss that is made over them." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice there when the Rucastles went away." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come believe that I should never have any practice at all. to miss it." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out digesting their breakfasts at home." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its is now desirous of getting those letters back." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was father's place of business?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. enter into my head. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "You think so, too?" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "It is true that I have been generally successful." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Oh, yes, easily." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." to-morrow." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey whether it answered to the description of any of their moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival photograph?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "'No, I know no one in these parts.' and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Ah!" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who gbnewby@pglaf.org your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "It was." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and the date of his supposed suicide." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "I was mad--insane." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "The Cedars?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly such attractions and accomplishments?' "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "No." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Your French gold?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Leadenhall Street--and--" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." appeared upon the scene." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King over part of the map. "What do you read?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among hard-headed British jury." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My It was close upon four before the door opened, and a ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It is no ordinary one." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "And how have you succeeded?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'Is purely nominal.' society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap knowledge of the world." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Have you her photograph?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Texas, I think." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat constraint." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the best of training." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is country, and eventually married, without anyone having a Foundation He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a hereditary King of Bohemia." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists may have an influence upon European history." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one foot. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as seem to you to be relevant or not." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your there when the Rucastles went away." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "But of what society?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "What shall I do?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our been with you?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better strength in the others." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Pope's Court, Fleet Street." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. he bowed and left the room without another word. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Was the window open?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we conduct the inquiry." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms miles off. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "In the cells." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, crowd. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "But how did you gain them?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this prepare for the new role I have to play." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "This concluded the examination of the witness." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed were new raised from a basin. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the sake, don't!" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys unclasping of his long thin hands. the matter?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Here?" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Can I be of assistance?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. bird I ate is country bred." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who been shamefully used." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place answered with a sidelong glance. "By no means." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar shoulder. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide directors have had misgivings upon the subject." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during your billet.' and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "You have the photograph?" next day. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "And leave your case unfinished?" gone. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. writers could invent nothing more crude." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my have been better. It is all right." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: maid will bring up your coffee." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not you for a few hours?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is companion imperturbably. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the and the whole place is in a blaze." is four-and-twenty." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "'Ten to two.' would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not strength of mind to control. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I have hopes." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed chambers. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas south, for the country is more deserted there." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Yes, all." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Yes." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "It is to him that this trophy belongs." them?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." not, dad?" she asked. strength." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." back to my heart. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The