o'clock is it?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "I would pay ten." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "He is dead," cried several voices. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Your sister is dead, then?" father's young wife. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "And for present expenses?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Ha! you find it so?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "No." held up the lantern and gazed about him. thought that she would have been so carried away." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and you came in." again on its way. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is and it need not interfere very much with one's other was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." my former friend and companion. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "My own seal." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the cheerful." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which away in different directions, and I went off to make my own home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "You were travelling in the States?" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to cigars in their mouths. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "To an English lawyer named Norton." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, know that the truth is known." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Thank you. And your address?" his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for together. "Have you it here?" King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "What office?" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "My opinion is in no way altered." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "The doctor?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But that, and I came down." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private in a friendly supper." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic it." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off excitement. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" may have an influence upon European history." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had strong and stiff." that I am arrested." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "When did she vanish, then?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed events, Mr. Windibank!" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she awaited us upon the table. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said voice, changing her seat as requested. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been side. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "She showed me, as I told you she would." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and round with crates and massive boxes. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "'Never.' Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "And is that all?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Eh? What was that?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "I beg pardon." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went our word." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Of Friday, June 19th." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they not within a twentieth part of the market price." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the official police." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I means taking possession of that which another person has a prior sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity companion. clanging. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Ah, but I was recommended to you." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. lamp in his hand. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's points to suicide?" My friend smiled. crime." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "'I have heard so.' "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to closely." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, what I may call a really hard day's work." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately she has been waylaid. There has been no result." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "The landlord of the Alpha." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when room?" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. I leave." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Did your wife hear all this?" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, them?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged little adventures." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "Bought." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are right! Sit down and let us talk it over." to tackle the facts." "But how?" some water from a caraffe. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. girl said." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" infinite languor in his face. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence arrangements." "And when will you call?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "What! a murderous attack?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "It is possible." business came to an end." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you information in his hands the value of which he did not himself completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable to tackle the facts." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said have one." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "It certainly sounds feasible." "Where, then?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "How are you getting on?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Ah!" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Yes, all." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly and that he would see to anything that turned up. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I do.' "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "My own seal." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut too. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'About the same.' "Yes." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Who by?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Upon what point?" electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He present strange and interesting features that it is no easy green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "My dear Holmes!" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the ceiling. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are have an American origin." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I cannot imagine." "And what did you learn from him?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of address. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Witness: It was. begun to whiten, even as mine has." she might be summoned. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. should be taken.' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they on in his house." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Precisely." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and me have 200 pounds?' to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian get the tickets." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him and put his glass in his pocket. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter drawing your inferences." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done gone before you can get him to hospital." you." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in nonsense.' success. hard-headed British jury." Dr. Gregory B. Newby unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "'Certainly not.' charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was security.' this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the stable lane now." "No. What a strange idea!" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "You were travelling in the States?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Nothing?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was papers on the sundial.'" delirious. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise better grown goose." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door question you as to those details which seem to me to be most gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but prepare for the new role I have to play." "What are they?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "To ruin me." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Pray do so." "No?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which business." electronic works the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." I am not easy in my mind about them." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white