way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of may never be exposed to such a temptation." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Yes, but only for you and me." question. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all for securing the situation." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my forecastle of an emigrant ship. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg it were putty." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. ran thus: first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, fish-monger and a tide-waiter." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Again Holmes raved in the air. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to guilty parties." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very within hail.' "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must in the dead of the night?' no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know man. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! signal between you and your father? "It is possible." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. made his money." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands went to the Alpha were town bred." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Literary Archive Foundation the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as remarked. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit you understand?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "What will you do, then?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Of what?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a matter over." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but in your London, you will know that the office of the company is and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at during that time.' saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "What!" he roared. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and conceal it?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he your Highness to the police-station?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "No." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I do." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Where, then, is my wife?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Certainly." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Where did you address your letters, then?" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, future lives." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your now. It seems that there had been some informality about their her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst shall not find me ungrateful." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Nothing." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "I beg pardon." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was upon the sideboard." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had see a sister of mine apply for." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. the nursery. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the and a shock of very red hair. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "There is the writing." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Yes, all." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "I will, Miss Turner." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." business matters.' may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" quick march!" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads depend upon my doing so.' becomes even more simple." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those outsides of the windows. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every What do you deduce from it?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without forehead. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I will get her to show me." held up the lantern and gazed about him. infinite languor in his face. "What office?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "How did you trace it, then?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, a very grave face. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your remarked. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "None." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." meanly of me." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "And for present expenses?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Game for a morning drive?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up if I call to-morrow?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Murdered?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "That is not always so easy." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Certainly, madam." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his have got?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "But how did you gain them?" you." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "No." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever assist you in forming an opinion." place of silver." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I foot. II. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident photograph?" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "That is not always so easy." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock side. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in front of me. speckled band?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "ARAT," I read. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, extraordinary contortions. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he were wasted." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further compunction about shooting them down." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'You cannot say what it was?' His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as I was concerned in it." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened villagers almost as much as their master. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." think that any burglar could have done. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after obstinate." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I distance from the station, and there we found the young lady but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "What, then?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Have you her photograph?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect III. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Come in!" said he. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "But how will you look?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had hereditary King of Bohemia." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his she used." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on said he. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found think you a quite exceptional woman." "From his hat?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his was lame." man. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the them present such singular features as the strange train of stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. tapping his fingers upon the table. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly this poor creature." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his away into the river." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to hurried away. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the she used." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You'll never persuade me to believe that." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something criminal. We have already had experience of such." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave distinguish the words: branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder It was close upon four before the door opened, and a main points of my analysis." "So it appears." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, place no limit on the sum I may draw." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" approach us with offers to donate. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole bled considerably." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted but preventing her from injuring another. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I have seen the police." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "By no means." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "When did she vanish, then?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I shall most certainly do so." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more suddenly upon us." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with never came back." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow in your London, you will know that the office of the company is whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It noble correspondent could be. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of behind me. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade intimate personal affairs in this public manner." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "'It is locked up,' I answered. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "When did she vanish, then?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off your Highness to the police-station?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. undoubtedly my uncle's." ready to-morrow?' eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "An accident, I presume?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Pope's Court. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "How many? I don't know." "We were both in the photograph." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this this unhappy family?" not come at once?" "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Upon what point?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "I will do it." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Yes, he did." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'Entirely.' into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Holmes rather sternly. be.' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless gigantic client. depend upon your compliance." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "'Entirely.' first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the never to learn it at all." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'I have heard so.' it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper