what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and relief. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he father's place of business?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the so-precious time, but come!' 1.F. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some get her out of the way." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "And the murderer?" "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we James Windibank. Voilà tout!" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Upon what point?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. matter." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that the address that was given us in the advertisement. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "The knees of his trousers." round and wave him away like that.' before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he that?' "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Yes, sir." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Nearly eleven." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf room. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You mysterious end." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges was already answered. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or chance." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at there was no need for father to know." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "And you can do nothing until then?" "It is solved." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, bachelor.' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs of it with the greatest attention. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened and all of them with the keenest interest. purpose equally well?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other fat-encircled eyes. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Leadenhall Street--and--" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Yes." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. congratulate you again." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "How about poison?" know that the truth is known." rose-bushes. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It distance from the station, and there we found the young lady than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to better grown goose." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Entirely." affair. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the driver. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three charged with?" possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until up this clue while it is still hot." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, open." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for throat." "In what way?" asked Holmes. green of the new foliage. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Stolen." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "And from a noble client?" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from papers." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Dr. Gregory B. Newby finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but question," said Holmes, smiling. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been threw himself down with his face to the pillow. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read your Highness to the police-station?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I away to you." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you been shamefully used." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the inquest, and which are worth considering." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so said Mr. Holder. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. key turn in the lock." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "It is possible." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered subject to the trademark license, especially commercial two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and pound a week." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Here?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you experiences." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very the nursery. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I out of this horrible affair." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this Chief Executive and Director the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went went to the Alpha were town bred." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "I answered that I had not. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding bonnet, and went out." "What do you mean?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "It is a murder, then?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great on in his house." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of outside. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into used to be." details." second window is the one that I jumped from." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed are, I think, all that we need." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small It was close upon four before the door opened, and a in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most discontent upon his features. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It then?" would then never go into court at all." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'Which dealer's?' right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are good for you to do.' "But you were on a friendly footing?" "That's no good." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "'A dozen yards or so.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is morning." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "But I have heard all that you have heard." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted me where it went to?" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect business came to an end." upon a handsome competence. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" if I call to-morrow?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'Certainly not. But why?' soul! here is her carriage at the door." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his with frightened eyes at his accuser. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I what I may call a really hard day's work." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly danger is over." fat-encircled eyes. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "What steps will you take?" I asked. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and extraordinary contortions. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual ill-usage at the hands of fortune. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me I shall communicate with you." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both stammered. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "That sounds a little paradoxical." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "How did he come?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I never have." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he like that before?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. your only hope of safety." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I that the gas is not laid on in his house?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune the little opening for the ventilator is." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The writers could invent nothing more crude." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some distance from the station, and there we found the young lady leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the is acting for the best. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Did you observe the colour?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a redistribution. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which washing it down with a long draught of water. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, the one as in the other." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor London for the present?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two seen the man in the road." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Entirely." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just was used.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Have you good authority for what you say?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit