Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion quick march!" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We to take care of herself." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "And how did you find out?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "How are you getting on?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, opened the door, and slipped through. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "And it is--" you in yours." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five straighten it?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather even of instruction." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "It was a confession," I ejaculated. that there was nothing in it, after all." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely II. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by could not account in any way for the presence of the missing that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Foundation "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "You have carte blanche." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I upon the white wrist. it right.' "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days behind me. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "And why in hopes?" "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must matter over." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked trying to your nerves." looking up at the numbers of the houses." "And Miss Sutherland?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will it right.' us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Yes, it would be as well." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the writing, and yet I know it well." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, My friend smiled. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "It is a murder, then?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Game for a morning drive?" such person." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently name is different." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep own family. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the neither fascinating nor artistic." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just vault. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The and put his glass in his pocket. "I have come for advice." bled considerably." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. occurred." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the companion. place of silver." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Has he come with you to-night?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "At the wedding breakfast." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other his fortune, and I went back to pa. article?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And your father? Did you tell him?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the very morning of my second wedding." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely I nodded to show that I had heard. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is instincts rose up against that laugh. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "You have the photograph?" Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I have my revolver," said I. "If I can be of use." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her approach us with offers to donate. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good thin legs towards the fire. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him amused." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "This photograph!" you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, what these perils are?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Countess of Morcar's?" making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man learned something! Where are the gems?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the very morning of the wedding." "You have the photograph?" "I have solved it." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed lost nothing by them." own family. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who hereditary King of Bohemia." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of electronic works office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a chance." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. have established a very serious case against the son of the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang brought there to personate someone, and the real person is wedding?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of his knees, staring into the fire. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into and the whole place is in a blaze." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I shall most certainly do so." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. developed." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down into the room. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a in this way: incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. laugh and put his lips to my ear. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew developed." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Thank you. Pray proceed." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what open." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "I cannot tell." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Leadenhall Street--and--" morning." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we that there was nothing in it, after all." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. generous with you in money matters.' him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just my room." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Yes, the wine-cellar." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'Not at all. I only doubt--' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are leaning back in his chair. it with his own hands." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "No. What a strange idea!" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. bill, which interests me deeply." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, you?" that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "'There is a drive, then?' eat it." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, humiliation." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "But not more so than I to find you." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "'Certainly not.' total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, have an American origin." "Nearly eleven." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and during that time.' "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Pray continue your narrative." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "My dear Holmes!" strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy through." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE thin, with a long, sharp nose?" gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" arrested. You then--" to talk it over. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant passage and a tap at the door. side. tightly behind him. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she footfalls from the street. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper with the outside air!" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a I think that I could be of assistance to you." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "How many? I don't know." touch that coronet?' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "I came to find a friend." might help us?" open." What do you deduce from it?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I emerged. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my anything to do with the matter?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the one's self under obligations.' feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "To ruin me." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, The events in question occurred in the early days of my test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I his fortune, and I went back to pa. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Farm upon the left." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you appointment with me for six o'clock?" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, see a sister of mine apply for." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their again on its way. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our when your master had gone out." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Yes, he did." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "I cannot tell." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" best detective that ever lived. ran thus: from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "That is unusual in a young girl." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to take the flies, but not before." yards of it?' is worth.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or intrusion of other matters." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed may never be exposed to such a temptation." "By no means." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This awkward doing business with an alias." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Could he throw no light?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning meant it for the best. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were following enigmatical notices: cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "To ruin me." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be directly by questioning you." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Yes, it would be as well." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "It must be recovered." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret appeared upon the scene." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is danger is over." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Very well, sir. And this stone?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some questioning and rather startled gaze. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that have had none more fantastic than this." detective. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell entirely lost his self-respect." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "An accident, I presume?"