generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus one's self under obligations.' best detective that ever lived. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes over his head with a sweet womanly caress. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body here and I will read it to you: his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "You don't mind breaking the law?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left upon the shelf for the interim." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is about here speaks of his kindness to him." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which deduce something from that?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with felt the room to be a little close.' to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Certainly." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the such person." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the best detective that ever lived. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the Friday. Was it to be in church?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have which our visitor detailed to us. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. on in his house." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." them?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and companion imperturbably. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. his wife has ceased to love him." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the might help us?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, depend upon your compliance." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to key of the affair now." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Dirty?" horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Lee, in the county of Kent." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had advice." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "He disappeared so suddenly." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent or in danger--" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of a light. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the think that any burglar could have done. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is awkward doing business with an alias." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "It missed him, then?" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' always that they were such commands as a lady might with way: ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "So I have heard." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you written, and locked the door of the office after me. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "I should like to see him very much." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets late!' him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow several quiet little villages up there." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is acquaintance?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had key of the affair now." "In which, sir?" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Whose house is it?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all directors, with the result that you have seen." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass against a man in the prime of life?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the matter." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a tapping his fingers upon the table. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. constraint." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had experiences." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a hardly wander." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have your most interesting statement." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her families. Now for the facts. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with their singular warning or token before them when starting upon The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my there in twenty minutes." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be six. Come in!" over with notes and figures. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary becomes even more simple." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Whose house is it?" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's matter over." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Ha! you find it so?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "On the contrary, this is the right side." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of stammered. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." visitors." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He investigation." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled wedding?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "But you would not advise me to refuse?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Who by?" Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a careless servant girl?" in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Her father is very rich?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very whether it answered to the description of any of their mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" telegram would bring me down to your help." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "The landlord of the Alpha." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." lamp. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too take the flies, but not before." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." and looked back. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this way: disappearance of these gems?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "You will not go there first?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Yes, the wine-cellar." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we a few minutes he said that it would be all right. newspaper selections." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I saw her in conversation with her maid." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is ago." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Not particularly." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the envelope. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the to have that photograph." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Yesterday." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full legal crime." read it out to me." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he if she died from some sudden fright." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate appeared upon the scene." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom business at Coburg Square is serious." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "How did he come?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "To an English lawyer named Norton." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was ran thus: than to us. in a friendly supper." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and eat it." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "And now?" I asked. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "'Not at all. I only doubt--' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and strength of mind to control. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the him and tried to hold him back. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "No good news?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "By no means." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send away to you." lumber-room." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "I assure you that I am in your hands." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. fat-encircled eyes. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I once more. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I am all attention, madam." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when walking." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "'Stolen!' he cried. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when started for the Temple to see my husband. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this to surprise her." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And for present expenses?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "You are all wrong." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots system of imprisonment?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot vault. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my advice." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is