snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "I promise," said Holmes. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak was a lad." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I don't say that. Perhaps." girl said." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "I assure you that I am in your hands." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "What have you to say now?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Breckinridge is his name." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm posted to-day." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Where, then?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and these bleak autumnal evenings." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "So it appears." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to returning from some small jollification and was making his way a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which matter." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES there is a decided draught." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Was your sister dressed?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "And how did you find out?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "What shall I do?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a companion. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than place of silver." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very License. You must require such a user to return or unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and 11:15.' out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I guessed as much." how narrow had been my escape. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." a very grave face. works. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. I nodded to show that I had heard. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror call it cruel." "What shall I do?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "'Stolen!' he cried. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the coroner come to?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, go--none." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter companion quietly. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of information in his hands the value of which he did not himself chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either spare." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "He slept on the premises." "I am sure." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as It was close upon four before the door opened, and a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole have an American origin." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "So it appears." bird of prey. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Eh? What was that?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "What is it?" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." and a shock of very red hair. to some other building. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some this man was intellectual?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this he died? "I am armed." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices of his shoulders. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a spark where all is dark to me." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are him!" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I shall be delighted." province." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "And why in hopes?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered hopeless attempt at recovering them." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Heh?' mystery may be cleared along those lines." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "No, but the enclosure is." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear character. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Can I be of assistance?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary details." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "But who is he?" something of him before." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I chance at all." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "And now?" I asked. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the inner apartment." "Was she in good spirits?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in works. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "I never have." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Stolen!' he cried. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. you in yours." fire. You quite follow me?" the bed, and you in that chair." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated I shall continue with my miserable story. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door and laid it on the table. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such is acting for the best. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "It is half-past ten now." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly prepare for the new role I have to play." Foundation word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her could gather together that I was able to avert another public Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to everything which you would wish to know." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Eyford." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, were unconscious?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't I nodded again. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no him and tried to hold him back. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me good-night and bustled off upon her way. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out call for it in person on Monday morning.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "She showed me, as I told you she would." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "How can you tell that?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to to that open window." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his and that he would see to anything that turned up. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little girl said." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, II. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This directors have had misgivings upon the subject." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Not I." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be him to be an active member of the medical profession." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Yes. He waved his hands." directly by questioning you." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the in him." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an my room." it." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but guilty one." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. be sorry for having acted so harshly." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned are, and they are waiting for us." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which of it with the greatest attention. "I have seen the police." "Yes, I have one waiting." present." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the third from London." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. pressing in one house as in another. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had pierced for earrings?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "I am about to be married." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "One of the highest in England." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "I will, Miss Turner." fashion which was peculiar to him. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. your room." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he and the whole place is in a blaze." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in telegram would bring me down to your help." "He said that you could solve anything." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the house with me." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Stolen, then." "Bought." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I say it is." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "But you have hopes?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Yes, he did." Surrey." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and already been minutely examined." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "The knees of his trousers." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the sufficient punishment." in darkness. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." which we had just quitted. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more woman." McCarthy's innocence. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "But your client--" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind