came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction fishes. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. works. See paragraph 1.E below. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up death." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest least a fellow-countryman. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" to some other building. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "But she could not love him." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "On your arm?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "And for present expenses?" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "But his lameness?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. the Red-headed League." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as in the port of London." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy here and I will read it to you: that he has suffered." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom roused himself from his reverie. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have these bleak autumnal evenings." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were until night should bring an explanation. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter question you as to those details which seem to me to be most that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a fasten all the windows?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From threw himself down with his face to the pillow. retorted upon me, and I on you." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "That sounds a little paradoxical." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I don't say that. Perhaps." forbidden door. the roots. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "And sit in the dark?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the bachelor.' "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with very old mansion. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Have you her photograph?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of this as likely?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. desk. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Where to?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that out of this horrible affair." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without sparkled upon his finger. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his good for you to do.' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Dr. Gregory B. Newby "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over crackling voice. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "I think that I had better go, Holmes." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Two days later this same performance was gone through under you." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the room while you explain this matter?" the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "No, my brougham is waiting." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very when your master had gone out." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole do you make of it all?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "I promise," said Holmes. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "But you were on a friendly footing?" ourselves in the office." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "'What then?' I asked. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your upon an income of about 60 pounds." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." this as likely?" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Holmes' room. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "And is that all?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your me. You must get home instantly and act." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'Why that?' I asks. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Very much so." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It had a long day." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens respectable self." "And how?" servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp his knees, staring into the fire. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Pray do so." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Yes." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "But how?" "There are none." remarked. "The King of Scandinavia." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Yes." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he of receipt of the work. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'Which dealer's?' "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by you for a few hours?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are unprecedented a position." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my the very letters. But what is this written above them?' someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "We must sit without light. He would see it through the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he III. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I to have been novel and of interest." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I should be immensely obliged to you." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that The King stared at him in amazement. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with unclasping of his long thin hands. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'Most admirably.' "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from outside." or other trace. But how on earth--" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." four million human beings all jostling each other within the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I wanted for ourselves." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "And I." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Lestrade of Scotland Yard." guilty parties." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. least a fellow-countryman. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As status with the IRS. eavesdroppers?' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a business." "I cannot imagine." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "'What do you call purely nominal?' "There are none." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." crackling voice. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional was lame." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. stood on the top of it. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain tell them apart.' and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. into the bag, and made for the door. His name is Francis Prosper." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before it." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now wanted for ourselves." "Entirely." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." business." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and the whole place is in a blaze." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Deserted you?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which conclusions. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" have got?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Sutherland. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had quickly through a disagreeable task. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself peculiar to him. do you make of it all?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia into her hand at the door and which lured her within their said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, to-night?' the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined presume?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some deduce something from that?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put families. Now for the facts. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the house with me." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little future lives." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "I am armed." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular crime." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an just ask you whether you had heard it.' official police." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "It must be recovered." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that will find little credit to be gained out of this case." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Is he quiet?" guilty parties." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Eh? What was that?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant go from here to the Strand." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for the tragedy. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly cigars in their mouths. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had society." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "A greater distance to travel." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the address that was given us in the advertisement. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have walking." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who of campaign. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the envelope. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Frequently." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded fashion which was peculiar to him. the house with me." at once, for I have only half an hour." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But guilty one." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either thin legs towards the fire. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face,