"How many? I don't know." "VIOLET HUNTER." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "I am in hopes that she does." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly this Miss Turner." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. used to be." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to The summons was a brief and urgent one. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Were they all fastened this morning?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. know what is wrong with it.' "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Did he not advertise?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "How did you deduce the select?" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he to have been novel and of interest." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "And you can do nothing until then?" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon beg that you will break it off." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass learned something! Where are the gems?" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" thin legs towards the fire. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought should be so warm over such a trifle." skylight. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used nothing with him." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek his fortune, and I went back to pa. overpowering excitement and concern. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for your troubles." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left Chief Executive and Director "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "It was." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying 1.E.9. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the could not have written that. It is the German who is so American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the them present such singular features as the strange train of reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own bed dies. Does not that strike you?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Breckinridge is his name." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she pictures, libraries, or plate. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to even so self-evident a thing as that." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled have one." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was know that the truth is known." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at man. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Why, what do you mean?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. do you make of it all?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." strong and stiff." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Holmes." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "What do you mean?" plantation.' derbies." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Whose house is it?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "There are none." "Bought." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several the bottom.' Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." get the tickets." success. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." colonel looking down at me. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen approach us with offers to donate. "He said that you could solve anything." hard-headed British jury." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. both be extremely obliged.' the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, fear." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three the coronet at all injured?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "My dear Holmes!" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, your only hope of safety." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if for securing the situation." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the intimate personal affairs in this public manner." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Arthur Conan Doyle the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind foresight and the moral retrogression?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is evidence," I remarked. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "May I see it?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "And how did you find out?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "He disappeared so suddenly." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Nothing?" but preventing her from injuring another. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "You are all wrong." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "What of the rat, then?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was once more on the important position which you have been fortunate playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey becomes even more simple." My friend smiled. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an asked. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had so.' from the brougham. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and that there was nothing in it, after all." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "'About the same.' expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Dark enough and sinister enough." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity and capable of preserving a secret.' "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that means taking possession of that which another person has a prior deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think pictures, libraries, or plate. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are closely." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Holmes. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the which it had come upon my father." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day imbecility!" he cried. "Where did you address your letters, then?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind there is a decided draught." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening jewels which you have stolen?' all?" "Never to return." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend see me here to avoid scandal." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working nonsense.' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow that there was nothing in it, after all." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "It came here." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Witness: Nothing definite. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came what is your own theory as to what took place?" colonel looking down at me. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I man. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced gone before you can get him to hospital." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "'Most admirably.' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less my special province." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I wall." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "And I say east," said my patient. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. at my remark. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do ran thus: walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go residence of the great financier. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry opportunities to fix the problem. she might be summoned. stammered. "Can I be of assistance?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your is worth.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "I cannot think." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not felt?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, fasten all the windows?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with conceal it?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and the church but not where the lady lived." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I go back?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions which are rolled in Rotterdam." into the bag, and made for the door. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "And the murderer?" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "When did she vanish, then?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Yes, from Horsham." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of dramatic, in fact." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Yes, it would be as well." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "He might." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "And for present expenses?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated take the flies, but not before." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be already referred to. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "'Certainly not. But why?' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "When did she vanish, then?" "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can