hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "That sounds a little paradoxical." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'Most admirably.' "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin do you make of it all?" morning." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, photograph a cabinet?" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Then I shall certainly come." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he as yours." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Pray be precise as to details," said he. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Certainly not. But why?' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I never have." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a became a certainty. sound at heart." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that will find little credit to be gained out of this case." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Oh, yes, easily." Literary Archive Foundation heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note The telegram which we eventually received came late one night ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that What do you deduce from it?" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without troubles have been weighing upon his mind. a room. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I thirty. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, his eyes and forehead. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Now, then, what's the last entry?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you not within a twentieth part of the market price." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "You know me, then?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "I answered that I had not. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting lips." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved interested in these little problems, and since you are good "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was this as likely?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his and no precautions can guard against." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a my little problems." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every you, my dear young lady?' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours opportunities to fix the problem. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love of." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Seven!" I answered. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "It is solved." questionable one." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he man. I know him from the photograph." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very who was a member of your goose club." it." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the you?' "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the one as in the other." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I have hopes." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I of note-paper. It read in this fashion: which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Dr. Gregory B. Newby Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you so.' have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit joking. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my guilty parties." vanished into the darkness. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was envelope. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "I cannot tell." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Eyford at 11:15.' Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to forebodings. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear begin with, and I had not got mine yet." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "And your father? Did you tell him?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I such attractions and accomplishments?' will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and was a loud and authoritative tap. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Yes." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Pray be precise as to details," said he. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case following enigmatical notices: intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project nothing of it?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Yes, I have one waiting." cause to be." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in that you wished to speak to me?' plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other records." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill that before taking the final step I should like to submit the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I done what I asked you, Jones?" his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "I know where it is." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always never came back." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was woman who has had her own way to make in the world. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to kindly on the shoulder. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was secret." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in points to suicide?" DAMAGE. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated at once, for I have only half an hour." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting drove away. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous your own bird, so if you wish--" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." acted in my house last night?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes, sir." "Will you go?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Pray do so." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Cross for the Continent." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One place of silver." whether it answered to the description of any of their "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "No." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "None." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to interest. They are important, you understand, without being all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through that, and I came down." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress have an American origin." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's business at Coburg Square is serious." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Look there!" said he. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we to have that photograph." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." ashen face. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, them?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'Stolen!' he cried. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Get out!" said he. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "But how will you look?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, to change my dress. "Get out!" said he. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "And that is--" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Pool. there was no need for father to know." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could future lives." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds at home. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." tied." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night miles off. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "That is easily got." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Not I." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded himself. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than at home. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" handed it to him. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a been shamefully used." colonel looking down at me. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "I was mad--insane." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope throat." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my him and tried to hold him back. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in placed his cuttings. "I guessed as much." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "How did you trace it, then?" instituted." "I am to be neutral?" will not take me long to tell. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Again Holmes raved in the air. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of colonel looking down at me. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel said I. back to my heart. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?"