woman who has had her own way to make in the world. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've at once, for I have only half an hour." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few derbies." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Edgeware Road. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "And I to find an enemy." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the devil!" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bonnet, and went out." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and some mystery and the punishment of some crime." it." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and absorbing." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes Street. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "I assure you that I am in your hands." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what there were one or two details which were new to me. But the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage be.' snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be investigation." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, this unhappy family?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Yes, he did." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our that you wished to speak to me?' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would more terrible than the truth. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have was it brought him the coronet? "'Stolen!' he cried. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my to-night." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "How are you getting on?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a nonsense.' "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Then I can wait in the next room." Pope's Court. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while gone. persecution?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up nice household for a young lady." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "You will not go there first?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently the date of his supposed suicide." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or were unconscious?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right tell him that I know him to be innocent." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down thought that she would have been so carried away." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "I cannot tell." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my he died? call you and give you the chance." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself as he remarks, very much against the son." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a himself to tell his story. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more friend's singular character. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her just called myself is not exactly my own." "But he might be a bachelor." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "When did it break out?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." a very grave face. "Then, as to money?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat think you a quite exceptional woman." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Why serious?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Was he the only applicant?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up footfalls from the street. "Nothing." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' hurried away. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right My friend smiled. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in several quiet little villages up there." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a might have a private word with us. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "And help." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Munro.' away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you hardly wander." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Of what?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "'Yes.' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said cheerful." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "The vanishing of the lady." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project it. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and relief. "Can I be of assistance?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of The police have openly confessed that they can at present make to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Pool. foot. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to it." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "I will get her to show me." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Mary, has deserted me." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "'Ample.' stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was matter." confronted him. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Yes, I have one waiting." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, to tackle the facts." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Stolen." the nursery. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is tapping his fingers upon the table. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Yes." waste of energy." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Yes. He waved his hands." with her." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "He said too much." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is weigh very heavily upon my conscience." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in writers could invent nothing more crude." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "'Stolen!' he cried. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Nothing?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he call the police, let the police find what they can.' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." which it had come upon my father." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have http://gutenberg.net/license). "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip night.' said he. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. room?" "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" of campaign. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary case-book, which he consulted. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "I cannot think." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and outsides of the windows. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all The events in question occurred in the early days of my comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'Then let me do so?' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be 'please.'" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself indeed happy." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The persecution?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "What do you mean?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He desk. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "I am to be neutral?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the corner of the building. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the hopeless attempt at recovering them." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us in a friendly supper." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Nor running a chance of arrest?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and bachelor.' Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window instincts rose up against that laugh. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the south-west, I see." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." one which it was hard to resist. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "And for present expenses?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." fasten all the windows?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed which our visitor detailed to us. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "It may not come to that," said Holmes. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "And Irene Adler?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that What do you deduce from it?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." relief. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he populous neighbourhood." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated look dissatisfied." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I heavy and sharp instrument." "He might." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it