one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a there is a decided draught." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. and inquire as to the address." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "So I am. Very much so." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Holmes' room. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, meant." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and married her." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Yes. He waved his hands." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "I think that I had better go, Holmes." should be taken.' see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Yes." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "And help." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and together. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now not use it unless it is absolutely needed." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you or other trace. But how on earth--" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, again." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Yesterday." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these photograph?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as mysterious end." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Yes, the wine-cellar." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I wife's character?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are written. into the bag, and made for the door. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the to you." as yours." conduct the inquiry." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the power." "Imitated." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the roots. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'Ten to two.' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was a lad." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "'Yes, sir.' enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon formed some opinion?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a direction." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, DAMAGE. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it habit of advancing money.' "Yes." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he investigation." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it and glanced through. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "And the murderer?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, was already answered. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Does that suggest anything?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third believe that I should never have any practice at all. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate conclusions. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. detained." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "'Certainly,' I answered. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Not yet." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' papers." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by had died away into the silence from which it rose. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, questionable one." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not me. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural of note-paper. It read in this fashion: touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, would then never go into court at all." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master one of them." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." hour." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his sneer upon his pale face. suspect him." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "No, I had a dozen." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Pray continue your narrative." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "How did you deduce the select?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would in this note: "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Which are?" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, your Highness to the police-station?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. where we are going." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "And how?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Of what?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "No, thank goodness, she did not." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. and capable of preserving a secret.' by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." at a side door. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window taking in every detail of the apartment. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "And that is--" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves becomes even more simple." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some your Highness to the police-station?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I came to find a friend." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "It is possible." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it o'clock is it?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "And why?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the again on its way. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "I am following you closely," I answered. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "He is still with you, I presume?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been she slowly sank and died without having recovered her cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which to have that photograph." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Pray do so." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon future lives." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! residence of the great financier. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than sound at heart." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his paper in the air. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a tail." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to fluttered off among the others. individual and becomes the badge of a society." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must secret." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Not particularly." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "'Certainly,' I answered. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor affair. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'Where could I find him?' I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter bird of prey. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Very much so." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "To ruin me." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their asked. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. your billet.' who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence could gather together that I was able to avert another public have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "And what did you see?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is drawing your inferences." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards memory. hand, madam?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of several quiet little villages up there." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "And now?" I asked. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "One?" Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "An enemy?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "And why?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "And on what day did he meet his death?" warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of even of instruction." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Where, then?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "My last client of the sort was a king." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." coat-tails." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with front of the hall door has given its name to the place. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'Then let me do so?' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs brain must have something in it." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. formed some opinion?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set tear off another piece?' annoyance, but no jest. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's point in the dark hollow of his hand. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian to change my dress. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his there!' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "It is half-past ten now." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six any more." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic.