attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been bell. Holmes whistled. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "How did you trace it, then?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. I shall continue with my miserable story. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and my room." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a details should find their way into the papers. Inspector voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Very murderous indeed." entirely lost his self-respect." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He again, where I was soon asleep. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I the roots. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my rooms." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, unprofitable." and glanced through. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you is so. I know all about McCarthy." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Certainly, madam." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "How can you tell that?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "The Coroner: What do you mean? "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left acquaintance?" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" some city in a dream. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Which surely he restored to their owner?" read it out to me." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching The summons was a brief and urgent one. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he kind enough to tell me what I should do." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "And what did you learn from him?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "No, thank goodness, she did not." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do I approached. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I his fortune, and I went back to pa. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution upon the sideboard." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now mystery!" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "What will you do, then?" Eyford at 11:15.' I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the Lee, in the county of Kent." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite been shamefully used." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as danger is over." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a had a long day." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." your troubles." I. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, long narrative. "Why serious?" distinguish the words: incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as seven miles from Eyford Station.' permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this joking. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." fled together." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This forehead. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed depend upon your compliance." what I may call a really hard day's work." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Witness: Nothing definite. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me appeared upon the scene." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at said Mr. Holder. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was light and attacked it." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Yes." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose his wife has ceased to love him." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me them?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "At half-wages, in fact." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the matter." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'A dozen yards or so.' possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "You did not overhear what they said?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "It's nothing of the kind." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Pool. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Leadenhall Street--and--" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two works. See paragraph 1.E below. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such desk. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Won't it ring?" permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated that I am arrested." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was it." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with have one." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her chair. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. off." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, that threaten you." and no precautions can guard against." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" one else, I think." to tell." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "That is not always so easy." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "How did you trace it, then?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at to talk it over. "Come in!" said he. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his way in." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a him." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Indeed! Whose, then?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "No good news?" "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I assure you that I am in your hands." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman orange pips. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my shoulder. his grey eyes. "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "None." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of this unhappy family?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still you?' printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a bare slabs of marble. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her chance at all." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "'Stolen!' he cried. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we bell. Holmes whistled. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the should be taken.' Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same opened a pocket-book and took out a note. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Have you it here?" "You think so, too?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have time." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of key turn in the lock." "Yes." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have bedroom door." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. had formerly been in part my own. "You forget that I know nothing about it." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "'What then?' I asked. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has strength in the others." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a and no precautions can guard against." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Then how many are there?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel to go into your room and bar your shutters?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the south-west, I see." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his newspaper selections." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "He said that you could solve anything." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make and your relations to her." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low dead, shall be safe with us." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "That is not always so easy." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. there has been an enclosure here!" "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if whatever might befall. any." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good ceremony." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that said he. she might be summoned. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. had a long day." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "The rest you will leave in our hands." it. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this from you?" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very spark where all is dark to me." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has stammered. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow better grown goose." Mrs. Toller serenely. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "And why?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "How did you trace it, then?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and anything to do with the matter?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Then I am your man." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. exactly what you advise." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but meant it for the best. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms that before taking the final step I should like to submit the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "I think that it is very probable." said he at last. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you tell him that I know him to be innocent." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to colour had been driven from his face. questionable one." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB