come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I front of me. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector and prosperity to your house. Good-night." he bowed and left the room without another word. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his some terrible trap for her." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where is acting for the best. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Was she in good spirits?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever companion. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "'Certainly not.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his certainly do as you advise." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to she slowly sank and died without having recovered her round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, telegram would bring me down to your help." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the loss of it. call the police, let the police find what they can.' nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post persecution?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come and inquire as to the address." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of acted in my house last night?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself strength of mind to control. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Yes." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said returning from some small jollification and was making his way anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "And for present expenses?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon think that any burglar could have done. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the advice." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He and all of them with the keenest interest. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my the ceiling. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." here." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what directors have had misgivings upon the subject." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his a very grave face. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Ah!" better in every way that they should make their position a little was a perfect sample of the class. "Here?" glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Well, but China?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "It is no ordinary one." in him." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing me upon any point which I do not make clear." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "You are all wrong." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came this truth that in these little records of our cases which you what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down words came to my lips. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say it means?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. name is different." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then possible that we could bring him back to her? called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank arrangements." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "If I can be of use." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, seven miles from Eyford Station.' gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for train.' door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do way in." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I point our research must commence, and we will begin it by she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the will be renamed. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do This is what he says: "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "I am sure." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "It is his hat." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." cheerful." to a more successful conclusion." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my carriage. It was a chestnut." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so that you can jump it.' them, and came down just as you departed. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to cigars in the box." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came nonsense.' gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who points in connection with it which never have been, and probably unclasping of his long thin hands. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed been shamefully used." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "But I have heard all that you have heard." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." have not had my rubber." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Could he throw no light?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. open." "And what did you see?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar will not take me long to tell. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly not use it unless it is absolutely needed." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "It certainly sounds feasible." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he hurried away. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Not social, then?" footfalls from the street. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried signal between you and your father? posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at the date of his supposed suicide." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! hurried away. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the that I am arrested." "Precisely so. But how--" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for were unconscious?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he roused himself from his reverie. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be for securing the situation." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can served to weaken the effect. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was when you have done it." particular state visit http://pglaf.org "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "I think that it is very probable." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "And why in hopes?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the of it with the greatest attention. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and him." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you daring than any effort of the imagination." "I should like to see him very much." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his weapon." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. throat." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for the warnings." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' before the coroner and the police-court." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. do.' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Dirty?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO I was concerned in it." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Only as much as we can deduce." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. young Openshaw's." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, hardly wander." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," strength of mind to control. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the the nursery. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' lumber-room." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely vanished into the darkness. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should that you saw all that I did." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, affection." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "How did he come?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager place, I think that there is good ground to think that the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he more terrible than the truth. held up the lantern and gazed about him. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains an introduction to him?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the inner apartment." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of not as remarkable as your advertisement." "An accident, I presume?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when key turn in the lock." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The question you as to those details which seem to me to be most clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray gives a meaning to it." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its when your master had gone out." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the ceiling. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." dear old homesteads?" "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, it with his own hands." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every it right.' sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the warnings." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Very well, sir. And this stone?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "'Not at all. I only doubt--' though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of really the only notable feature about the thing." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right that he will be back before evening." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an morning." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "None." 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the