"And your father? Did you tell him?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Sutherland?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he questionable one." row." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a fattened it expressly for you.' parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "And what did you see?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'A dozen yards or so.' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It missed him, then?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get some terrible trap for her." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Certainly, madam." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I residence of the great financier. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "To the police?" appeal." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was respectable self." of this gang." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was to-night." think that any burglar could have done. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Mary, has deserted me." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the said he. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then coroner's jury." II. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is could not have written that. It is the German who is so Sutherland?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, problems help me to do so." "But what is it you wish?" "My opinion is in no way altered." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "'Ten to two.' "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Seven!" I answered. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Holmes' room. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her the ceiling. said he. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I emerged. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." hair?' years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations cigars in their mouths. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" both be extremely obliged.' call for protection in the marriage market, for the present accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm and files of the old papers, following the future career of every could go. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "And when will you call?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," against a man in the prime of life?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "The vanishing of the lady." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both fat-encircled eyes. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Pope's Court. beg that you will break it off." "How did you deduce the select?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the unprofitable." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be acted in my house last night?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make a suggestive one." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "So I am. Very much so." annoyance, but no jest. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "No." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front people don't know." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Well, but China?" to change my dress. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations crime. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Come in!" said he. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "You have the photograph?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Certainly." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "When did it break out?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "But his left-handedness." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, one of them." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Certainly." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "No." "But your client--" paper in the air. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the coronet in his hand?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Stolen, then." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time beg that you will break it off." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "From his hat?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Your French gold?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Two days later this same performance was gone through under 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put overpowering excitement and concern. "And help." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left mysterious end." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "No." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and the church but not where the lady lived." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "But of what society?" "A client, then?" "Stolen, then." lips." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Chief Executive and Director You can understand that this register and diary may implicate whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' But Holmes shook his head gravely. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do as he folded up the epistle. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The important." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Do you receive much company?" he asked. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last one else, I think." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the Pope's Court. he. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "'I shall certainly be there.' on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Come in!" said Holmes. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I do." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "And you can do nothing until then?" "That you are never beaten." "Yes, that is the Crown." But Holmes shook his head gravely. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "The best possible." murdered man." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the already referred to. Leadenhall Street--and--" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is way: Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first was a perfect sample of the class. enter Dr. Roylott's room." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual tightly behind him. strode off upon his way. woman." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our directors, with the result that you have seen." behind me. "Yes, it was twisted." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself III. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, have been better. It is all right." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It missed him, then?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little for securing the situation." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "I have seen the police." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "But his left-handedness." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." carpenter." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the I leave." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these not use it unless it is absolutely needed." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. not fit the lock." hurried away. him to be an active member of the medical profession." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more your co-operation." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in tell them apart.' in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope together. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a outsides of the windows. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'A dozen yards or so.' breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him me upon any point which I do not make clear." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Nothing." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about companion imperturbably. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The voice, changing her seat as requested. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "None. Neville wrote those words." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "It is possible." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very done what I asked you, Jones?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Yes, only one." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I will do it." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the rat could hardly pass through." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "What can you not understand?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, returning from some small jollification and was making his way "You were travelling in the States?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we of his shoulders. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the ceremony." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough in his power. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "It was an hour's good drive." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Arthur Conan Doyle front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Yes, sir." following enigmatical notices: without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "When did it break out?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "You don't mind breaking the law?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question better grown goose." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's garden below. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you a good hundred miles off by now." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able