"'A dozen yards or so.' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It and effective." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Eyford at 11:15.' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a information in his hands the value of which he did not himself characteristics, but those are the more obvious." happened." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER been with you?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must arrangements." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a drove away. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are ceremony." hurried by. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to some other building. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin DISSOLVED. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "And how did he make his money?" Holmes' room. the inquest, and which are worth considering." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in affection." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the Friday. Was it to be in church?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If awaited us upon the table. "I have a cab outside." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," McCarthy." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "May I see it?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "You know me, then?" think you a quite exceptional woman." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the fire. You quite follow me?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our attention." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the have not had my rubber." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who unprecedented a position." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused gigantic client. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Did you become engaged then?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Your presence might be invaluable." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she of Mr. Rucastle's." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with children over to America with him, so that I found myself without compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "None." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." bonnet, and went out." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "That is unusual in a young girl." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child of." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the one as in the other." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "But it has twice been burgled." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It about. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's so.' and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Was there a secret marriage?" tightly behind him. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that hair?' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. results." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary of note-paper. It read in this fashion: believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "It missed him, then?" as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Chief Executive and Director "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the you want, then?' call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat very peculiar words of the dying woman?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the your only hope of safety." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "That is possible." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I should like to see him very much." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "I say it is." to-night?" I asked. "Did he not advertise?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss and glanced through. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my papers." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys this unhappy family?" late." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I could gather together that I was able to avert another public row." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Here?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." matters immensely." "I do." face and glided from the room. "It is very kind of you." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left washing it down with a long draught of water. which we had just quitted. said he at last. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "A call for help, you thought?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a quick march!" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering British peeress.'" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic to-night?" I asked. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are had died away into the silence from which it rose. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any are, and they are waiting for us." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" certainly do as you advise." you in yours." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Yes." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Certainly." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "No." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a nights." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal so.' mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the weapon." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and hand, madam?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with cause to be." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with even so self-evident a thing as that." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "I saw her in conversation with her maid." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round charged with?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'I have heard so.' his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you my former friend and companion. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Yes." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive before, for it was considerably after midnight. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the other, as fresh and trim as possible. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and your co-operation." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts opened the door, and slipped through. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Then he might have called to you?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Count Von Kramm." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "None." went to the Alpha were town bred." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Nothing." keep the flames under. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him stepfather?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned these bleak autumnal evenings." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower had no one to advise her at such a crisis." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "In the cells." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a so.' "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned directly by questioning you." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily Pope's Court. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "You have it, sir, just as it happened." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "But you have hopes?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with was the fact that his father should, according to his account, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "'Certainly,' I answered. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or are windows in it, of course?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Munro.' lamp. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'Is purely nominal.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum trying to your nerves." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done fait accompli?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been chair. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Pray do so." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and sentimental considerations in the background which would induce steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid was a loud and authoritative tap. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." to me. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Holmes rather sternly. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Get out!" said he. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Of what day?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it man. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "It is a murder, then?" with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Pray do so." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of locked. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to brought there to personate someone, and the real person is really the only notable feature about the thing." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "In answer to an advertisement." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Very much so." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few bill, which interests me deeply." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional with her." "My dear Holmes!" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly locked." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." returning from some small jollification and was making his way reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up thin legs towards the fire. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the general public were present, then?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "He slept on the premises." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "I will not look." shoulder. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to