dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal long narrative. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "This concluded the examination of the witness." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "The murder was done with it." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no you found me to-night--and running through the front room she away into the river." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to come either from the window or the door. My attention was constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he past. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was good for you to do.' the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then desk. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "It's nothing of the kind." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch instituted." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Countess of Morcar's?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the shall use the carriage to-night." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Here?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in for its centre. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his public press." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled garden below. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Gutenberg-tm License. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their away into the river." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Only as much as we can deduce." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest fatally injured? exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "But what harm can there be in that?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting indeed which he could not unravel. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Pray do so." whereabouts. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "The King of Scandinavia." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we public press." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler one of them." "You think so, too?" enter into my head. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" intrusion of other matters." father's place of business?" in the hope of finding them." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for London for the present?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the coroner come to?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face six. Come in!" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Then the page we have seen--" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. he bowed and left the room without another word. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "And you thought he was pulled back?" stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have been." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple overpowering excitement and concern. easy-going way." "You horrify me!" helping a boy to put up the shutters. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "This photograph!" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his stammered. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, will find little credit to be gained out of this case." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now written, and locked the door of the office after me. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, meanly of me." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "'Where to?' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Yes." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what round and wave him away like that.' their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot do.' know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "9th. McCauley cleared. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of the address that was given us in the advertisement. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "From his hat?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even newspaper selections." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Dirty?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I was sure that I might rely on you." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "And it is--" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in is acting for the best. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "What can you not understand?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Pool. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" will he say when he returns?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some province." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, will he say when he returns?" it. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "'Where could I find him?' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis your equipment. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons to talk it over. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town and the whole place is in a blaze." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "But the mystery?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "I was mad--insane." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew giving me time to thank him. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, time." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him chemical work which was so dear to him. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "We must have a cab." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of said I. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "The Coroner: What do you mean? "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how nice household for a young lady." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this meanly of me." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that interest. They are important, you understand, without being "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of nothing of it?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and have been better. It is all right." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." bill, which interests me deeply." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a peculiar to him. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's arrested. You then--" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was most important business. It is probable that he will be away all like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. populous neighbourhood." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "The Cedars?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the window, rose as we entered. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the tragedy. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Just look it up, then." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Were they all fastened this morning?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "No, thank goodness, she did not." "I cannot think." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, with her." "But I am all in the dark." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "ARAT," I read. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather away into the river." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the is acting for the best. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An this remarkable episode. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his that threaten you." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in useful material for showing traces. The double line a little have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, of them has the shutters up.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm ordinary clothes on?" "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham gbnewby@pglaf.org fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "What, then?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy in him." that he has suffered." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "But who is he?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Certainly, madam." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "No good news?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "'Which dealer's?' right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her sparkled upon his finger. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "The Coroner: What do you mean? the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg footfalls from the street. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before residence of the great financier. "Precisely." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than hardly wander." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." away to you." "You did not overhear what they said?" place of silver." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may his face. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and companion. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." imbecility!" he cried. married her." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Foundation into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were