"What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "What then?" broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "'Entirely.' material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have triumphant cloud from his cigarette. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "And you can do nothing until then?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Why? What do you mean?" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have lips." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. pictures, libraries, or plate. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the 1.E.9. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now when your master had gone out." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in to-night's adventure." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover arrested. You then--" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "'Most admirably.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety with some details as to your case." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an hopeless attempt at recovering them." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was into the room. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but his forehead." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it his face which made him a very different person to the round, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things locked." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "He disappeared so suddenly." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included never to learn it at all." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." did not hear it also.' examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was extraordinary contortions. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, fattened it expressly for you.' The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the suddenly upon us." "And your father? Did you tell him?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault to surprise her." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid sake, don't!" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "The landlord of the Alpha." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could at once, for I have only half an hour." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in observed. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Entirely." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you married her." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "My Mary? Impossible!" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "'Very good.' from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and the Assizes." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them upon a handsome competence. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the skylight. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I it means?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss will he say when he returns?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his danger is over." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here should be so warm over such a trifle." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "I am following you closely," I answered. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the his wife has ceased to love him." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were fishes. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily said he at last. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower this remarkable episode. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Holmes. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "It is to him that this trophy belongs." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. later, upon the night of May 2nd." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the McCarthy's innocence. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I will not look." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'In my own bureau.' locked. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we might help us?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a deduce something from that?" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a http://gutenberg.net/license). my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding not fit the lock." "Not in a good cause." someone who had been in Australia." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and pity, because in other respects you would really have done very back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and prosperity to your house. Good-night." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" other means.' running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of obstinate." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was seven miles from Eyford Station.' 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "And what did you see?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: tell me that you intended to go into harness." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. prison!" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Pray continue your narrative." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Henry Baker is a member." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the the tragedy. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his comes from the middle window." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "You horrify me!" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! the room while you explain this matter?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only sentimental considerations in the background which would induce continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to surprise her." "Yes, from Horsham." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of lectures into a series of tales." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." carpenter." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to salesman. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had in this note: these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me breakfast and whispered something to her husband. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my should be taken.' for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Holmes. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered there." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "But who is he?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid and the church but not where the lady lived." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' showing my impatience. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and put his glass in his pocket. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' so far?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "How did that help you?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Doctor, of the paper and the date." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the conceal it?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that more terrible than the truth. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an amused." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Eh? What was that?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for when you have done it." "That's no good." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a situation." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I stepfather?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife business matters.' nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "It missed him, then?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me was the fact that his father should, according to his account, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet could go. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction wanted for ourselves." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more and shall probably return to London by the evening train." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any village inn over there?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is have established a very serious case against the son of the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in go--none." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "'What are you doing there?' he asked. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which at my own good fortune. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must later, upon the night of May 2nd." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make forebodings. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, fear." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his very old mansion. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you vault. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Clair, of Lee." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Yes." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the to a more successful conclusion." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, again, where I was soon asleep. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "What of the rat, then?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of young Openshaw's." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and upon the white wrist. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think chill to my heart. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "I am in hopes that she does." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are laugh and put his lips to my ear. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes, sir." that I am arrested." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every