came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "By no means." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm could gather together that I was able to avert another public matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Has he come with you to-night?" very old mansion. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was crackling voice. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the in the hope of finding them." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always God! What an exposure! What can I do?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a started for the Temple to see my husband. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story more solid." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream seen the man in the road." "'Yes, I promise.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached these bleak autumnal evenings." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are will he say when he returns?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. of the way of danger. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the outsides of the windows. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the as the one I chose?' any." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "When did she vanish, then?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Does that suggest anything?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the wall." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Did you observe the colour?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made Edgeware Road. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider fled together." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange woman." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'Yes.' how narrow had been my escape. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the so far?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. jewels which you have stolen?' upon a handsome competence. it means?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a in one or two places in England?' "None." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new might have a private word with us. the roots. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. sufficient punishment." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner face and glided from the room. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My stalked out of the room. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying crackling voice. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate cost them two and thirty pounds." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK business at Coburg Square is serious." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Sutherland?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining chamber." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "That is not always so easy." "I am to be neutral?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it row." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at do.' second window is the one that I jumped from." which are rolled in Rotterdam." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until of note-paper. It read in this fashion: disappearance of these gems?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction lamp in his hand. "I have my revolver," said I. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush not as remarkable as your advertisement." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, maid will bring up your coffee." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over help us in this matter." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "And your mother is alive?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I read over the extraordinary announcement. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence chill to my heart. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the if she died from some sudden fright." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I the little opening for the ventilator is." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very Miss Holder?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" beg that you will break it off." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy laugh and put his lips to my ear. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Game for a morning drive?" four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing the matter." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "9th. McCauley cleared. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever them, and came down just as you departed. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at in a very precise fashion." "'And the work?' stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Murdered?" present." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Pope's Court, Fleet Street." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have himself in a perplexing position. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a do.' of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Not yet." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be opened the door, and slipped through. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler face and glided from the room. "To an end?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the child." DISSOLVED. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs wall." fact, we may call it conclusive." woman." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to that pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still your only hope of safety." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project brandy and water within his reach. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will you." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" locked. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my to go into your room and bar your shutters?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was best detective that ever lived. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that not within a twentieth part of the market price." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Here?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Yes, but only for you and me." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, leave you to your papers for a little." legal crime." "Then he might have called to you?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Yes, they were peculiar boots." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Do you go out much in society?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not purpose of examination. I nodded to show that I had heard. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear eavesdroppers?' "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in intrusion of other matters." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my considering the formidable letters which were received by himself I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a call you and give you the chance." mysterious end." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "The Coroner: What do you mean? observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "How are you getting on?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms danger is over." which our visitor detailed to us. showing my impatience. then?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned visitors." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Yes." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "What will you do, then?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time promised to bring home. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "But what harm can there be in that?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Never." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the there when the Rucastles went away." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young if I call to-morrow?" down in his armchair and closing his eyes. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried depend upon your compliance." leave you to your papers for a little." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. chamber." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before head. So long, then!" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "May I see it?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project which it had come upon my father." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There daring than any effort of the imagination." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their to miss it." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "You think so, too?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. all-comprehensive glances. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the anything to do with the matter?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was