served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly opportunities to fix the problem. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your in the dead of the night?' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa outside." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss promised to bring home. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been burst out into a roar of laughter. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she was a perfect sample of the class. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." ways of our fellow-men." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking fatally injured? at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that said Mr. Holder. the warnings." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his on in his house." more solid." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great through." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in in my life." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the compunction about shooting them down." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had advice." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from wedding?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "In answer to an advertisement." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian was a lad." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is examine." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Not in the least." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." drawing your inferences." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small key of the affair now." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off upon a handsome competence. fluttered off among the others. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had call you and give you the chance." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. she to prove their authenticity?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and some terrible trap for her." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master see a sister of mine apply for." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are me have 200 pounds?' written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been as this. Pray let me have the details." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs your room." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and a shock of very red hair. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this may have an influence upon European history." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Yes, all." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" heavily into it. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all vanished into the darkness. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Where did you address your letters, then?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid what these perils are?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Certainly." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is crime. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "His face fell immediately. you understand?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in your equipment. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be not use it unless it is absolutely needed." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Then I do not see the point." "This photograph!" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will invisible to me," I remarked. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "On your arm?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "I was sure that I might rely on you." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "How did you deduce the select?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "But she will refuse." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative III. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I light and attacked it." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has ceremony." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I presume?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about away into the river." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the important." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Precisely so. But how--" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "My own seal." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Imitated." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "The gentleman I describe." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you her also." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H joking. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Perhaps I have." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "'Which dealer's?' in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he know that the truth is known." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several could go. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "That is it on the dressing-table." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be to talk it over. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "How on earth--" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "It is a murder, then?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I never have." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "They are typewritten," I remarked. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question night.' said he. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but newspaper selections." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." woven round him. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "By no means." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out some mystery and the punishment of some crime." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she of your young ladies.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and legal crime." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yes." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Why, what do you mean?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Where, then?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then lumber-room." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I burst out into a roar of laughter. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "It is no ordinary one." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, it with his own hands." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, placed his cuttings. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Then how many are there?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Then, as to money?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Yes, he did." mystery!" you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she might have a private word with us. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the guilty parties." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "What shall I do?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I were new raised from a basin. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing cigars in the box." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "It must be recovered." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, someone who had been in Australia." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "He is still with you, I presume?" against a man in the prime of life?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Well, it is a possible supposition." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, success. outbreak?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a was a lad." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need a monotonous occupation." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Entirely." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Imitated." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "But not more so than I to find you." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Because he was handy and would come cheap." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others our word." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Eh? What was that?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Well." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' your co-operation." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the devil!" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for bill, which interests me deeply." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have not interfere, come what may. You understand?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to upon an income of about 60 pounds." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Of what day?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a like that before?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'Then let me do so?' standing smiling on the door-step.