"There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "There is the writing." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so true." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's anything to do with the matter?" into the bag, and made for the door. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two populous neighbourhood." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran up this clue while it is still hot." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' to-night's adventure." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of once more. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love outsides of the windows. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said silent! Oh, he will be silent!' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it views." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. despair." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon are, and they are waiting for us." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a might have a private word with us. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address nonsense.' "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head speckled band?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction other means.' placed his cuttings. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is wedding?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which main points of my analysis." there was no need for father to know." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one province." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built union?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will tell me that you intended to go into harness." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that over here." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "I promise," said Holmes. "Yes, it was twisted." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been to surprise her." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may It was close upon four before the door opened, and a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Witness: It was. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "'Which dealer's?' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "But who is he?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' derbies." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully said he. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "I promise," said Holmes. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, eavesdroppers?' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had not come at once?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Precisely." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged visitors." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for address. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would as yours." your own bird, so if you wish--" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told second window is the one that I jumped from." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "And for present expenses?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his that you can jump it.' "'Never.' set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as of a light. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime whether it answered to the description of any of their square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. to a light-house. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think such attractions and accomplishments?' death." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the power." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "To an English lawyer named Norton." "It is very clear." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This becomes even more simple." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my gbnewby@pglaf.org stalked out of the room. jewels which you have stolen?' this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Well, but China?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded mysterious business." "One of his hands." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her there were one or two details which were new to me. But the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. crime." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "'Never,' said I. observed. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Eyford at 11:15.' was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. business in the City. She little knew what. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When recall any case within my experience which looked at the first and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Imitated." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross shadow pass over his face as I spoke. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a Have you good authority for what you say?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout Cross for the Continent." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. whatever might befall. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "That was it, sir." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third your own bird, so if you wish--" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man front of the hall door has given its name to the place. written. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Texas, I think." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "But you can know nothing of this?" "Yes, it would be as well." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was me what he had done with the three missing stones. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from sound at heart." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. of his shoulders. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose as the one I chose?' outbreak?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of where she found matters as described by the last witness. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Very murderous indeed." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply humiliation." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "To the police?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of have not had my rubber." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm outside. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of crowd. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that wife's character?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Munro.' in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "But how?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week rooms." "'Where to?' "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check matter." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "One?" "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and clanging. "I am sure." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the approach us with offers to donate. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or there when the Rucastles went away." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I cannot imagine." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Which are?" a good hundred miles off by now." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of it right.' open." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all daring than any effort of the imagination." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the introspective fashion. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all bled considerably." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell already referred to. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his pierced for earrings?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work if I call to-morrow?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was thirty. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "No, distinctly professional." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the clanging. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while for securing the situation." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "To an end?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "In which, sir?" happened." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "So it appears." even so self-evident a thing as that." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found conversation I have gathered that they have been married about threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. and the whole place is in a blaze." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "But not more so than I to find you." the best of training." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right From what you have told me I think that it is possible that she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked daring than any effort of the imagination." "And Miss Sutherland?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Why did you beat the pavement?" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is fashion which was peculiar to him. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the voice, changing her seat as requested. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "What is it?" "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Very truly yours, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Could he throw no light?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Sutherland.