exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Munro.' utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "I am about to be married." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Then he might have called to you?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "And I." a very grave face. "10th. John Swain cleared. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Then how many are there?" "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger himself. "I say that I have solved it." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged power." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "That is easily got." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Then I do not see the point." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in o'clock is it?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Your sister is dead, then?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Yes." "It was an hour's good drive." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would bedroom door." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the appeared upon the scene." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun province." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it keep the flames under. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "The knees of his trousers." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Your presence might be invaluable." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I think that it is very probable." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I wife's character?" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. obstinate." minor matters until to-morrow." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. the so-precious time, but come!' father's place of business?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Look there!" said he. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "'In my own bureau.' charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or returning from some small jollification and was making his way "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "I don't believe it." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "We have tried and failed." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Ha! you find it so?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "'Then let me do so?' his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Witness: Nothing definite. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Yes." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. I was concerned in it." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and from you?" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. over here." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "That also I could fathom." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "I came to find a friend." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "And you can do nothing until then?" other means.' "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay lost his Christmas dinner." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This whereabouts. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "'A dozen yards or so.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to II. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." morning." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to leaning back in his chair. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the bird I ate is country bred." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that beg that you will break it off." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included think you a quite exceptional woman." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Yes." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the iron safe, which he closed upon it. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "How on earth--" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was on re-entering her father's house?" "How on earth--" it with his own hands." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are character. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Do you know him?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. obstinate." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "And that is--" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty legal crime." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Eh? What was that?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the status with the IRS. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird approach us with offers to donate. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very interests were the same as his." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather father's young wife. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You redistribution. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "How many? I don't know." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Were they all fastened this morning?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One and the church but not where the lady lived." to some other building. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly his eyes and forehead. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it cost them two and thirty pounds." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Young McCarthy must be got off, however." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Yes, only one." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to there." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by know that the truth is known." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, carried out of court." there." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "He said too much." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "The murder was done with it." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding examination of the premises, but without finding anything which right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at gone before you can get him to hospital." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Heh?' occurred." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it records." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. place of silver." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Literary Archive Foundation "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was thin, with a long, sharp nose?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building one of the states of the Union." the Red-headed League." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a again." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel keep the flames under. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to 1.F. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and page at http://pglaf.org "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the served to weaken the effect. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Yes." business." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "How many? I don't know." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic of the way of danger. six. Come in!" your troubles." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast breakfast?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. my former friend and companion. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew maid will bring up your coffee." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open neither fascinating nor artistic." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "And for present expenses?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "What?" Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him ceremony." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining once more. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, like that before?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "It missed him, then?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Certainly, madam." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who answer." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of rose-bushes. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed this unhappy family?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over room?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a with you?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "I would pay ten." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "And why?" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches what do you think they found in the pockets?" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and mystery!" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door experiences." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my strong reason behind." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know