while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as power." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel were new raised from a basin. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the address that was given us in the advertisement. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Not social, then?" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "The rest you will leave in our hands." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Which dealer's?' Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than that I am arrested." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to over part of the map. "What do you read?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a your troubles." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Precisely." "Well." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I cannot think." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had have accepted such a situation. drove away. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to your troubles." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem other means.' outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming nonsense.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I will not look." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has cheerful." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have face and glided from the room. nonsense.' "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where question. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here guilty parties." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of waste of energy." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door rat could hardly pass through." everything which you would wish to know." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "But who is he?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "What do you mean?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as John Swain, of St. Augustine. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "When did she vanish, then?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Not social, then?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "And you can do nothing until then?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Why serious?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. hour?' and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads money should be paid at once.' her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving shag which I had seen upon the previous night. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I would pay ten." "I assure you that I am in your hands." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "It is a murder, then?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. indiscretion." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'And the work?' know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a against a man in the prime of life?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of about here speaks of his kindness to him." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but trifles." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped telegram would bring me down to your help." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and mystery!" "Come in!" said Holmes. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they not, dad?" she asked. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Deserted you?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "No, I think that I'll take it." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three manager. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Certainly." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that union?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some in the dead of the night?' "But he might be a bachelor." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in these bleak autumnal evenings." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "You think that he is dead?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out this man was intellectual?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a never to learn it at all." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Who was the criminal, then?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire during which he might have communicated with his friend the your only hope of safety." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Yes, I have one waiting." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be your own bird, so if you wish--" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves McCarthy's innocence. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would again, where I was soon asleep. "And why?" question," said Holmes, smiling. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Perfectly so." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a main points of my analysis." past. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he himself in a perplexing position. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "No. What a strange idea!" "No, I had a dozen." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of fluttered off among the others. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and charged with?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other that these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "What?" and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are you." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, had this final quarrel? received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most asked. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable breakfast?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched in this way: coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of his shoulders. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The trying to your nerves." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me one else, I think." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young wanted for ourselves." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly instincts rose up against that laugh. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "If so, much may have happened between." in him." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and look upon these things in a different way." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to instincts rose up against that laugh. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I be there in time for your coming." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "It is very kind of you." "'What do you call purely nominal?' hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Then how many are there?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "No, my brougham is waiting." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Pray do so." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well late." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Not in the least." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "We were both in the photograph." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Quite so. She has her freedom." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "'Is 4 pounds a week.' was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." chair. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to sound at heart." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, of your young ladies.' her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign rooms." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "I shall most certainly do so." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. events, Mr. Windibank!" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have business matters.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed without a word or a look. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "We must have a cab." "But what harm can there be in that?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my present strange and interesting features that it is no easy thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." may never be exposed to such a temptation." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." But Holmes shook his head gravely. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy