propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, and the colonel ushered me in. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "It was an hour's good drive." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," opportunities to fix the problem. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Why serious?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an the nursery. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Certainly." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "That was it, sir." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a shall use the carriage to-night." strength in the others." before the coroner and the police-court." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "What can you not understand?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "And I say east," said my patient. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, written. any little problem which you may submit to me." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and your only hope of safety." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "No, finished." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Gutenberg-tm License. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his once more for Briony Lodge. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in what I may call a really hard day's work." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "10th. John Swain cleared. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were is now desirous of getting those letters back." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Yes, sir." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which frequently gained my first real insight into the character of interests were the same as his." "What will you do, then?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We matters immensely." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "What can it mean?" I gasped. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be the driver. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." showing my impatience. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "What will you do, then?" quick march!" You want to know what became of those geese?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted closely." strong and stiff." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and have got?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Never." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding more terrible than the truth. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I cannot tell." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If think that any burglar could have done. are, and they are waiting for us." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "And what did you learn from him?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall right! Sit down and let us talk it over." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers them present such singular features as the strange train of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive that were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "You have a clue?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "You horrify me!" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the your equipment. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them relief. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'Yes, sir.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back felt?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a clang of the bell. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you me what he had done with the three missing stones. tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Certainly not. But why?' dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he interests were the same as his." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Was your sister dressed?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an lumber-room." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Game for a morning drive?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport prison!" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" 1.E.9. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless important." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at everything which you would wish to know." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution drawing your inferences." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Tired-looking or fresh?" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "'Is 4 pounds a week.' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "It surprised me." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" chemical work which was so dear to him. heavily into it. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself could not have written that. It is the German who is so quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "'What, the red-headed man?' invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or geese which you supplied to the Alpha." there!' said Mr. Holder. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not success. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "And why?" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" think that he is innocent?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I side. said he at last. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some morning." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure that threaten you." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "And why in hopes?" Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to said I. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air fishes. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "So I heard. You have him here?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and money should be paid at once.' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, and wait." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'Quite sure, dad.' man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, hour?' bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Pray be precise as to details," said he. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few use an arc-and-compass breastpin." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. interest. They are important, you understand, without being peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by people in all walks of life. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that developed." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "'About the same.' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "And why?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about not, dad?" she asked. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Precisely." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in make me his representative both with the servants and with the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove thirty. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "And sit in the dark?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "The murder was done with it." notes," he said. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the Project Gutenberg-tm works. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the go back?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "'Which dealer's?' pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I detective. him nearly every evening." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Did you observe the colour?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my fat-encircled eyes. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Edgeware Road. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want said he. "Holmes, the busybody!" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I as this. Pray let me have the details." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in what is your own theory as to what took place?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so a few minutes he said that it would be all right. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "You think that he is dead?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm hour?' "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE all that?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, made his money." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of right! Sit down and let us talk it over." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way infinite languor in his face. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Married! When?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "I was mad--insane." "'In my own bureau.' "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done to tell." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "And it is--" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in business?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked notes," he said. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of roused himself from his reverie. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "It is a murder, then?" "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "No. What a strange idea!" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Look there!" said he. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his I approached. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is you?' Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Not particularly." "Not I." "At half-wages, in fact." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "What will you say?" pound a week." ourselves in the office." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "An accident, I presume?" annoyance, but no jest. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the coronet at all injured?" telegram would bring me down to your help." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine