to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was least a fellow-countryman. "Where, indeed?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" into the bag, and made for the door. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this cost them two and thirty pounds." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." highroad, where all traces were lost. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." leave you to your papers for a little." like that before?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. girl said." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an three of the beryls in it, was missing. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No any little problem which you may submit to me." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project deduce something from that?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." dramatic, in fact." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "My Mary? Impossible!" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a any more." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of following enigmatical notices: impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the paper in the air. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then direction." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for my former friend and companion. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Why? What do you mean?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "What do you mean?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in more terrible than the truth. imbecility!" he cried. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "One horse?" interjected Holmes. seen the man in the road." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Do you go out much in society?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while bill, which interests me deeply." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. them?" directors, with the result that you have seen." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "It must be recovered." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I the morning and make my own way in the world.' observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that know what is wrong with it.' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "And why in hopes?" "I do." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." quite distinctive." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, daring than any effort of the imagination." go--none." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Whose house is it?" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most even of instruction." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. and no precautions can guard against." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some said he. grasp, he hurried from the room. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Was she in good spirits?" "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and she might be summoned. I. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we introspective fashion. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. chance." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you himself. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am ready to-morrow?' "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell figure." http://gutenberg.net/license). practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Have you it here?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "That is also quite modern," said the lady. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the just called myself is not exactly my own." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "But to whom?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "'Quite sure, dad.' with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes and that he would see to anything that turned up. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them what I may call a really hard day's work." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin might help us?" "Then I am your man." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called and wait." acted in my house last night?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all some water from a caraffe. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed door?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" shoulder; "he's all right." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "What will you say?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "But not more so than I to find you." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "But to whom?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "'Then let me do so?' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Then he might have called to you?" already been minutely examined." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my some place of shelter and let the county police know what has reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "No. What a strange idea!" the nursery. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own in. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "And I." "Never." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in particular state visit http://pglaf.org my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Witness: Nothing definite. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too himself to tell his story. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare business came to an end." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling pity, because in other respects you would really have done very withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "And from a noble client?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the dangers which encompass me." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, looking up at the numbers of the houses." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but that you wished to speak to me?' the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "He is dead," cried several voices. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. eavesdroppers?' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." have not had my rubber." strong and stiff." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the house for five minutes.' handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "No, I am descending." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had ways of our fellow-men." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found said he, "my real name is James Ryder." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "And Miss Sutherland?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at pressing in one house as in another. long narrative. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a as he folded up the epistle. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "You have compromised yourself seriously." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in about. me what he had done with the three missing stones. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "And how have you succeeded?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case system of imprisonment?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated that you wished to speak to me?' he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out get her out of the way." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, of Mr. Rucastle's." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Cross for the Continent." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "9th. McCauley cleared. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Why, it's a dummy," said he. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had in a friendly supper." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked but preventing her from injuring another. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Seven!" I answered. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who other lovers by making love himself." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself details." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Come in!" said Holmes. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the the ceiling. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six only touch the interest." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "A thing like a cleaver," said he. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "I am armed." "His face fell immediately. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "It is possible." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered my secret was safe in his possession. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the drove away. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. your troubles." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and girl said." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of had no one to advise her at such a crisis." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' derbies." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a ways of our fellow-men." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it voice. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Have you her photograph?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated becomes even more simple." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Do you know him?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a is so. I know all about McCarthy." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic sooner or later she must fall a victim. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed it means?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called get her out of the way." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "That is not always so easy." charge against him will break down." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Stolen!' he cried. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate some water from a caraffe. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There his grey eyes. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing