Holmes rather sternly. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the American. Then who could this American be, and why should he outbreak?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed felt the room to be a little close.' two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the running down." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." man. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "What do you mean?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in these bleak autumnal evenings." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Pray do so." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a father's place of business?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "If so, much may have happened between." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I in a very precise fashion." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." vanished into the darkness. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. disturbance in my wife." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did the iron safe, which he closed upon it. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided not fit the lock." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "When did she vanish, then?" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my them present such singular features as the strange train of you understand?" intrusion of other matters." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a drawing your inferences." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it showing my impatience. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" bird I ate is country bred." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Ten will be early enough." McCarthy's innocence. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Do you receive much company?" he asked. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "He might." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, matter." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Heh?' bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," words came to my lips. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I never have." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "'Entirely.' writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "And the murderer?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang evidence," I remarked. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something night.' said he. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns putting in the horse. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which meant it for the best. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Ten will be early enough." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, of." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Mrs. Toller serenely. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about any more." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I guessed as much." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it woven round him. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "There is the writing." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "'What are you doing there?' he asked. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of been deceived." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Not yet." she to prove their authenticity?" "Yes." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Then you may be so with me." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes breakfast." here." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from to some other building. the running down." returned to France?" time." were new raised from a basin. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, crowd. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking roused himself from his reverie. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, at my remark. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Street. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Yes, it was twisted." "But how?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, pound a week." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord was it brought him the coronet? the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "The knees of his trousers." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "No." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "No, but the enclosure is." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while examine." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached dates and names. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked thin legs towards the fire. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Does that suggest anything?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "To an English lawyer named Norton." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the little opening for the ventilator is." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I are windows in it, of course?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about see me here to avoid scandal." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we a few minutes he said that it would be all right. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become had formerly been in part my own. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Pray do so." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Pope's Court, Fleet Street." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building touch that coronet?' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Where, indeed?" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their been able to understand it, in a very few words. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' once more. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to peculiar to him. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Here?" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man conclusions. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would that you wished to speak to me?' have an American origin." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" round with crates and massive boxes. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, companion. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Stolen." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous name is different." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot electronic works Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the was a lad." I approached. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, presume?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Which are?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce disappearance of these gems?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is lost nothing by them." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Bought." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" ago." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the tell him that I know him to be innocent." fishes. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining your only hope of safety." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project became a certainty. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is down. "Could he throw no light?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "The rest you will leave in our hands." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that the so-precious time, but come!' facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "It is very clear." enough to aid us in our search." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by will take you up to see the machine.' "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "And who is her maid?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which to talk it over. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low but preventing her from injuring another. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "But you were on a friendly footing?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his arms and began to sob in a high treble key. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "What office?" "I will try. What is it?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Whose house is it?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she