untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Leadenhall Street--and--" "No, thank goodness, she did not." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with your bag." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily province." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly straighten it?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of of your young ladies.' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "No bad?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you to some other building. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his of it with the greatest attention. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to acted in my house last night?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very that I am arrested." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "So I have heard." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his child?' one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin conversation I have gathered that they have been married about reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a was a lad." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. gbnewby@pglaf.org Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you dramatic, in fact." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "What can it mean?" I gasped. in a very precise fashion." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Here?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason distinguish the words: answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my bell. Holmes whistled. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Nothing." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" of this gang." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which noble correspondent could be. "How are you getting on?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "The Coroner: What do you mean? which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this singular points about the case. What did the police think of the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and to-night's adventure." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler sentimental considerations in the background which would induce dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the and put his glass in his pocket. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." felt?" his cane at the bell-pull. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he spark where all is dark to me." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Dark enough and sinister enough." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a seem to you to be relevant or not." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, morning." said he. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say think, you have already met." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his has little to do with my story." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Thank you. Pray proceed." we went to search for him, face downward in a little Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, that threaten you." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a do." "He might." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "What then?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey wedding?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his rooms." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm residence of the great financier. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Certainly." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. individual and becomes the badge of a society." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I forebodings. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he said he, "my real name is James Ryder." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my matter." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more appeared upon the scene." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." have one." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had washing it down with a long draught of water. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the his face which made him a very different person to the round, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, heavy and sharp instrument." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as showing my impatience. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." tightly behind him. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose bill, which interests me deeply." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." been shamefully used." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "In answer to an advertisement." "I have solved it." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, happened." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret are, and they are waiting for us." "'I am sure if I had known--' "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms affair. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual is acting for the best. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" roused himself from his reverie. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Where, then, is my wife?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it possible that we could bring him back to her? his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great II. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and which it had come upon my father." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he character. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had persecution?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial correct than the official force." Foundation as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from straighten it?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "And how did you find out?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which the warnings." "I should like to see him very much." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." corner of the building. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. quite distinctive." records." that I may have something better before very many minutes are did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is corner of the building. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation matter over." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Was the window open?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are what these perils are?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily papers on the sundial.'" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet tension within him. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital you in your example." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Then, how do you know?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been completely overtopped every other consideration that we both opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. chemical work which was so dear to him. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'Certainly,' I answered. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "And why?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have cost them two and thirty pounds." bachelor.' were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you indiscretion." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we with you alone." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. trifles." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key society." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean orange pips. lost his Christmas dinner." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "It is true that I have been generally successful." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his in a very precise fashion." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its like that before?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my be there in time for your coming." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "By no means." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Stolen." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you asked with his eyes open. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I child?' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the flock.' the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San promised to bring home. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at signal between you and your father? even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's asked. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' from you?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At mysterious business." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in the coroner come to?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent emerged. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most on in his house." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them as this. Pray let me have the details."