heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off ill-usage at the hands of fortune. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. that "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four very old mansion. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. window when the police appeared." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a his fortune, and I went back to pa. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down depend upon my doing so.' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." a room. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "I think that it is very probable." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The always that they were such commands as a lady might with nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "The best possible." "You did not overhear what they said?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Then you may entirely rely on me." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Your presence might be invaluable." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Munro.' The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." hair?' "Was the window open?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "No." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a which it had come upon my father." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but never to learn it at all." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of chambers. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Perfectly so." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in power." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he security.' "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "And how have you succeeded?" acquaintance?" him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its forebodings. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very might help us?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "And leave your case unfinished?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. bird of prey. could gather together that I was able to avert another public about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that were wasted." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from sentimental considerations in the background which would induce and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to standing smiling on the door-step. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun begin with, and I had not got mine yet." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his key of the affair now." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for we went to search for him, face downward in a little it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six trifles." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other the warnings." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would words came to my lips. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the King without delay." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies have an American origin." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "No more words. Get out!" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "And is that all?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of out of this horrible affair." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until entirely devoid of interest." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "What?" said he at last. gone. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all fat-encircled eyes. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." is so. I know all about McCarthy." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying beyond words. salesman. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had answered with a sidelong glance. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. not come at once?" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard as yours." at a side door. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Texas, I think." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two said I. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been read it out to me." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "'Certainly not.' appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "9th. McCauley cleared. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other that you saw all that I did." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Frequently." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he place, I think that there is good ground to think that the into the room. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Could he throw no light?" over here." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time knowledge of the world." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Yes." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal I nodded again. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable interest. They are important, you understand, without being returned to France?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'Certainly not. But why?' Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The his fortune, and I went back to pa. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to quickly through a disagreeable task. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her friends, not even his own brother. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as galvanised. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it paper in the air. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Gutenberg-tm License. as noiselessly as she had come. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the respectable self." soul! here is her carriage at the door." "And is that all?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded fat-encircled eyes. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined take the flies, but not before." maid will bring up your coffee." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "In the cells." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old strange features which were associated with the two crimes which of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless it means?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a you." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "You have the photograph?" "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and invisible to me," I remarked. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the indeed happy." "Ten will be early enough." following enigmatical notices: I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered never to learn it at all." generous with you in money matters.' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "I will try. What is it?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." to-morrow." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the very morning of the wedding." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Very much so." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I will try. What is it?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social them?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "And I to find an enemy." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Was your sister dressed?" starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the address that was given us in the advertisement. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to coroner's jury." "Nothing." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded plantation.' unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I am to be neutral?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. you." "Yes." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I learned something! Where are the gems?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both room had already been engaged for us. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Sholtos." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Indeed! Whose, then?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "They are typewritten," I remarked. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment security.' bill, which interests me deeply." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Deserted you?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in and files of the old papers, following the future career of every my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my showing my impatience. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis to his chemical studies. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "10th. John Swain cleared. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a matters immensely." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Nothing." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "And that is--" that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" yourselves in at night?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Who by?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Mary, has deserted me." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Yes, they were peculiar boots." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Yes?" fattened it expressly for you.' regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which returned to France?" "I never have." emerged. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his shoulder.