and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again face and glided from the room. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to an introduction to him?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst works. See paragraph 1.E below. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered it means?" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." eavesdroppers?' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, child?' happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. carried out of court." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she least a most suspicious remark." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "'And what are they worth?' I asked. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. prepare for the new role I have to play." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, situation." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "You will not go there first?" "'And the work?' investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady lumber-room." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Munro.' southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his look dissatisfied." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in Pope's Court, Fleet Street." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "And I to find an enemy." it right.' wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards himself to hunt down. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Of what day?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Where to?" second." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the beyond words. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am conclusions. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' disappearance of these gems?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the distinguish the words: in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the past. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very morning." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "My dear Holmes!" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. future lives." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Come in!" said he. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. there in twenty minutes." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, round and wave him away like that.' of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite grasp, he hurried from the room. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond might help us?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That intimate personal affairs in this public manner." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or constraint." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out my little problems." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was in this note: the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small occurred." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured delighted to hear it," he said. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has when your master had gone out." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a of fine shops and stately business premises that they really reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of over here." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair she slowly sank and died without having recovered her in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Very truly yours, should be taken.' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation happened." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my their singular warning or token before them when starting upon that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Were they all fastened this morning?" when you have done it." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "My Mary? Impossible!" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a directly by questioning you." Farm upon the left." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Your sister is dead, then?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "You heard nothing yourself last night?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'About the same.' say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. mysterious end." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge there has been an enclosure here!" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and she slowly sank and died without having recovered her left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small so far?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'Certainly not. But why?' and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a little adventures." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself delighted to hear it," he said. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "What steps will you take?" I asked. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. you?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" way in everything. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire chill to my heart. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Entirely." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Oh, fresh and glossy." discontent upon his features. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" client, rising. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Yes, from Horsham." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying know all about it," he snarled. experiences." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Not in a good cause." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had me upon any point which I do not make clear." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Is purely nominal.' 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the nursery. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to husband's writing, madam." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, any." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "To an end?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt to-night?' that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "I cannot tell." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. and it need not interfere very much with one's other "I cannot as yet see any connection." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to he. the salesman. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "I have come for advice." ashen face. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would key turn in the lock." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not had this final quarrel? pound a week." "I am still in the dark." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be ago." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "'How far from the body?' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "One of his hands." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of 'I should be able to look after that for you.' They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "A client, then?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Well?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round then?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. again." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I wife's character?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "What!" he roared. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." redistribution. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be attention." secret." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called any more." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "You have compromised yourself seriously." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "The doctor?" charge against him will break down." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper events than those which have happened in my own family." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he business matters.' burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in and that he would see to anything that turned up. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' sparkled upon his finger. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the of receipt of the work. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "No." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily his grey eyes. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "'Tell me all about it,' said I. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his introspective fashion. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, infinite languor in his face. letters?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See