hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. case-book, which he consulted. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Yes." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. hopeless attempt at recovering them." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of points to suicide?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his room. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Sholtos." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Why, it's a dummy," said he. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "In the cells." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will the room while you explain this matter?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "A confidential servant?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in death." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a is four-and-twenty." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "What is it, then--a fire?" moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Why, what do you mean?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "What have you done?" asked Holmes. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him hand, madam?" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed matter over." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my that not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's which are rolled in Rotterdam." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever bed dies. Does not that strike you?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to ill-usage at the hands of fortune. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." vanished into the darkness. there was no need for father to know." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I became a certainty. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'I shall certainly be there.' in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "You are hungry," I remarked. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to to a more successful conclusion." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have undoubtedly my uncle's." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. paper in the air. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if wall." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may into the room. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a and no precautions can guard against." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in presented which may be striking and bizarre without being matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or that you can jump it.' "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor once more. nights." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, spare." Holmes' face clouded over. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "I have seen the police." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "To an end?" tapping his fingers upon the table. said I. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in she to prove their authenticity?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked up this clue while it is still hot." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Yes. He waved his hands." man. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy heavily into it. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang tell them apart.' were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a were unconscious?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. you in yours." more terrible than the truth. to tackle the facts." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at and laid it on the table. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do that I can to serve you." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his all?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in McCarthy." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "'Where to?' "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect of campaign. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one been with you?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn the iron safe, which he closed upon it. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "You'll never persuade me to believe that." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his purpose equally well?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have was lame." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Have you it here?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "But to whom?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the leave you to your papers for a little." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really address. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Pray do so." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "And how did he make his money?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this beg that you will break it off." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a upon a handsome competence. crackling voice. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing woven round him. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the gigantic client. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "And your mother is alive?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to 11:15.' lost nothing by them." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest morning." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong to a more successful conclusion." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "No." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on was used.' "Why, what do you mean?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it joking. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I cannot imagine." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite himself to hunt down. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand 1.F. fattened it expressly for you.' your own bird, so if you wish--" elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I you." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a tapping his fingers upon the table. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a intrusion of other matters." "It is no ordinary one." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little voice. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "What then?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "The doctor?" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the nothing with him." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, that you wished to speak to me?' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so felt?" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I will get her to show me." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Then I do not see the point." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another since then to throw any light upon what became of him." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "But he might be a bachelor." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil prisoner's face. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out with her." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. approach us with offers to donate. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "How long did she speak to this Alice?" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who promised to bring home. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter village inn over there?" is worth.' "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "'Most admirably.' 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the armchair which I pushed forward for him. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." friends, not even his own brother. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "I assure you that I am in your hands." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, posted to-day." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, chance at all." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I morning." I shall communicate with you." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and felt the room to be a little close.' together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Was your sister dressed?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more suddenly upon us." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where client, rising. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed compunction about shooting them down." "I assure you that I am in your hands." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for