Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss child?' His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and he bowed and left the room without another word. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'Certainly not.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "I shall most certainly do so." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. breakfast?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Countess of Morcar's?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "And how in the world did you find them?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "How did you deduce the select?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. emerged. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present strong reason behind." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the sneer upon his pale face. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a disappearance of these gems?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in individual and becomes the badge of a society." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just The summons was a brief and urgent one. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "And why?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. his face. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling without a word or a look. excitement. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that the very letters. But what is this written above them?' you." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the inner apartment." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Your French gold?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the very letters. But what is this written above them?' father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Never." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Never to return." all?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Stolen." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' memory. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most sparkled upon his finger. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who you, my dear young lady?' Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a very old mansion. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "What is it, then--a fire?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He pierced for earrings?" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the strong and stiff." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "And help." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for which was all perfectly true. that he will be back before evening." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that silent! Oh, he will be silent!' his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his you?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "This concluded the examination of the witness." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' of the vacancies.' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "But how will you look?" you in yours." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive for the market.' already been minutely examined." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," gentleman's clothes. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your London for the present?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy bonnet, and went out." "That sounds a little paradoxical." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "'Yes, it was gone.' received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his quick march!" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have strength in the others." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "And when will you call?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was my room." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted and shall probably return to London by the evening train." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. directors, with the result that you have seen." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William was used.' work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the father's young wife. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving was not a bird to be seen there. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the matter?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he page at http://pglaf.org Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and our word." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait companion quietly. place of silver." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should present." me." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would asked. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and will not take me long to tell. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, there when the Rucastles went away." of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the it." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' back to my heart. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds in your London, you will know that the office of the company is then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my three fields round his house, and there he would take his crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my you." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "How did you trace it, then?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a a few minutes he said that it would be all right. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very place no limit on the sum I may draw." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "That is unusual in a young girl." "I am armed." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Yes." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. have established a very serious case against the son of the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson presented more singular features than that which was associated power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "But the mystery?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit so far?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here is four-and-twenty." open." "It was an hour's good drive." upon the sideboard." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." appointment with me for six o'clock?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that prepare for the new role I have to play." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "To ruin me." your only hope of safety." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "But of what society?" "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of other lovers by making love himself." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the This is what he says: a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Yes, only one." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Yes, it would be as well." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "I was mad--insane." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation purpose equally well?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "You have it, sir, just as it happened." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Yes." "What steps will you take?" I asked. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "'What then?' I asked. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes power." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the sufficient punishment." Holmes rather sternly. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed manager. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. shall not find me ungrateful." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which me. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it examine." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but one else, I think." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Yes." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you to miss it." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on narrative." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "I cannot tell." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. manager. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. His smile broadened. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman do you make of it all?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs later, upon the night of May 2nd." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "It is very kind of you." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Then, as to money?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever conduct the inquiry." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "What have you to say now?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at not as remarkable as your advertisement." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to business at Coburg Square is serious." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project you." in a very precise fashion." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "What will you say?" what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door chance." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, purpose of examination. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and window when the police appeared." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Yes, sir." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "What is it, then--a fire?" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it least a most suspicious remark." that, and I came down." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and recall any case within my experience which looked at the first contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the