which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can address. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. 11:15.' dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City children over to America with him, so that I found myself without crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a families. Now for the facts. really the only notable feature about the thing." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "It is true that I have been generally successful." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a man. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." to his chemical studies. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present distance from the station, and there we found the young lady his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Was he the only applicant?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country row." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "And how have you succeeded?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "But I have heard all that you have heard." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "That is unusual in a young girl." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Then I do not see the point." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, with you alone." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little unprofitable." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the gone. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. cost them two and thirty pounds." "How can you tell that?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said were new raised from a basin. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his fear." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to she slowly sank and died without having recovered her have one." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "No, I think that I'll take it." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal at once, for I have only half an hour." and no precautions can guard against." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and do.' in. the date of his supposed suicide." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled people don't know." annoyance, but no jest. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." hour?' in a friendly supper." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "My own seal." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would to-night's adventure." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the read over the extraordinary announcement. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the date of his supposed suicide." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of said he at last. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "I was afraid that you were engaged." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to himself in a perplexing position. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and on in his house." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, him nearly every evening." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Oh, the cause is excellent!" you in your example." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Yes. He waved his hands." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has answer." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It and it need not interfere very much with one's other Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and looked back. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you use an arc-and-compass breastpin." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your will find little credit to be gained out of this case." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do people in all walks of life. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "'What do you call purely nominal?' people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I would give my fortune to have them back." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "An enemy?" it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key the salesman. me. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Dirty?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great your bag." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Precisely." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" foot. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "But what harm can there be in that?" "But you have hopes?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'Why that?' I asks. "No." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that of campaign. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his keep the flames under. "I have hopes." "I cannot say that I have." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody followed. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "'Is purely nominal.' "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "But his left-handedness." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own used to be." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is you." "They are typewritten," I remarked. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when plantation.' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate meant it for the best. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round empty. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the gone. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but is so. I know all about McCarthy." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if telegram would bring me down to your help." congenial hunt. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see if she died from some sudden fright." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always colonel looking down at me. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "What, then?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light foresight and the moral retrogression?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Dr. Becher's." have I gained?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier there." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: upon the shelf for the interim." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Texas, I think." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's woman." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps British peeress.'" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a round and wave him away like that.' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain 1.E.9. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and or in danger--" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the armchair which I pushed forward for him. instituted." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "When did it break out?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she wedding?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "My dear Holmes!" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We enough to aid us in our search." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "In answer to an advertisement." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated once more to my work. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "He is dead," cried several voices. "Yesterday." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" becomes even more simple." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. then?" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better only touch the interest." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the your only hope of safety." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot a little more before I quite committed myself. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything