come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Pray continue your narrative." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "BALLARAT." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they begin with, and I had not got mine yet." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the awaited us upon the table. breakfast." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "And from a noble client?" have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "The knees of his trousers." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Entirely." http://gutenberg.net/license). from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with any more." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but man. I know him from the photograph." "'I am sure if I had known--' "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, fashion which was peculiar to him. "So I heard. You have him here?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Stolen, then." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "You think so, too?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up when your master had gone out." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Her father is very rich?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who leaning back in his chair. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "You forget that I know nothing about it." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the of the vacancies.' edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Did you observe the colour?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see it. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "I should like to see him very much." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "It may not come to that," said Holmes. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to hour?' results." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, do.' but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. my friend's incisive reasoning. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an returning from some small jollification and was making his way fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot your room." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "'Ample.' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "But his lameness?" really the only notable feature about the thing." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, miles off. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is other means.' with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "And you can do nothing until then?" for the market.' that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a which it had come upon my father." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. will take you up to see the machine.' wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Really! You surprise me." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the coronet in his hands?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have few hundred pounds.' "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with comes from the middle window." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried laugh and put his lips to my ear. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I tail." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "So I have heard." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Foundation "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too money should be paid at once.' would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical enter Dr. Roylott's room." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the date of his supposed suicide." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "In what way?" asked Holmes. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Nothing?" "Entirely." charged with?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and pierced for earrings?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. will not take me long to tell. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Won't it ring?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual from the brougham. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its me upon any point which I do not make clear." gone. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black at home. to arrive at through this?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Why serious?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "I should like to see him very much." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" happened." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Yes, at the mines." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Of Friday, June 19th." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Then, how do you know?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." For additional contact information: "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for strange features which were associated with the two crimes which ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, fishes. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "I promise," said Holmes. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "A greater distance to travel." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean mystery." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "I fear not." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was prepare for the new role I have to play." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "That you are never beaten." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and papers." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Did you observe the colour?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. recover the gem." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have outsides of the windows. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Yes, it was twisted." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; golden eyeglasses. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, jewels which you have stolen?' "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your which I could not give. He asked for Alice. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to for its centre. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it works. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes father's young wife. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and where we are going." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the unkempt, staring out at me. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can not, dad?" she asked. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here weighed down with some great anxiety. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "And for present expenses?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Whose house is it?" "Absolutely?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "One of the highest in England." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and trifles." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "None." "Not social, then?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he of Fenchurch Street." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "The doctor?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no sneer upon his pale face. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE within hail.' relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. in the port of London." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, letters?" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "You think that he is dead?" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "You know me, then?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these DAMAGE. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint ashen face. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "'And what salary do you ask?' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "You horrify me." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended was a loud and authoritative tap. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of annoyance, but no jest. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There likely to be some crony of the landlady's." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "'Ample.' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, have I gained?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and think that he is innocent?" to arrive at through this?" the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Quite so. She has her freedom." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and records." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "No. What a strange idea!" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I have a cab outside." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. instituted." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey even so self-evident a thing as that." bird I ate is country bred." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted to you." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day you."