be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange forebodings. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my questionable one." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not man. I know him from the photograph." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which sooner or later she must fall a victim. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Quite so." light and attacked it." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and to that open window." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "And why?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign several quiet little villages up there." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is to a more successful conclusion." than was visible to me." fatally injured? "Then what has happened to him?" to his chemical studies. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "It certainly sounds feasible." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "'And the work?' self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of to surprise her." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that over here." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks bare slabs of marble. you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "You horrify me!" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at happened." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Project Gutenberg-tm works. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. corner of the building. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative someone who had been in Australia." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." becomes even more simple." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, what these perils are?" "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend your sleep?' "At the wedding breakfast." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he have I gained?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship brain must have something in it." returning from some small jollification and was making his way fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came of receipt of the work. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes character. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and Eyford at 11:15.' his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Sutherland. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes very morning of my second wedding." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her since then to throw any light upon what became of him." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On he bowed and left the room without another word. and put his glass in his pocket. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "I will not look." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the electronic works before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "No." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my gone before you can get him to hospital." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was simple cases which are so extremely difficult." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "My stepfather's business papers." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Yes." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still completely overtopped every other consideration that we both company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may some water from a caraffe. "Yes, all." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's indeed which he could not unravel. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "But we can't all be." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts to-night?' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, was shining brightly. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, writer." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress noble correspondent could be. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "But his left-handedness." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Did he not advertise?" States. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" passage and a tap at the door. hair?' just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "An enemy?" such person." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the three fields round his house, and there he would take his and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage prepare for the new role I have to play." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and words came to my lips. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into that there was nothing in it, after all." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." salesman. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a will he say when he returns?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" then?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of and glanced through. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had joking. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "It is possible." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for fear." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one nonsense.' "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "This concluded the examination of the witness." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "But what harm can there be in that?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. back alive. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good woman." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the gigantic client. client, rising. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the loss of it. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to-night's adventure." outside. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal strange features which were associated with the two crimes which in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed assist you in forming an opinion." nonsense.' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Indeed! Whose, then?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly touch that coronet?' and looked back. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as assist you in forming an opinion." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having over his head with a sweet womanly caress. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "My own seal." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "He might." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "And why?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "It is possible." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is in my life." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive begin with, and I had not got mine yet." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. you." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a bedroom door." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main kind enough to tell me what I should do." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Dirty?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the Friday. Was it to be in church?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive own family. like gravel from a pit.' treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much and I shall be with you presently." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I system of imprisonment?" south, for the country is more deserted there." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a started for the Temple to see my husband. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An Street. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "My own seal." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the devil!" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us burst out into a roar of laughter. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. residence of the great financier. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments stammered. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great likely to be some crony of the landlady's." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the in the hope of finding them." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a chair. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it into her hand at the door and which lured her within their you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. astonishment. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "The rest you will leave in our hands." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the despair." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw that you wished to speak to me?' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several 1.E.9. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical this Miss Turner." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no I held the little printed slip to the light. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "You have compromised yourself seriously." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Ah!" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His overpowering excitement and concern. digesting their breakfasts at home." shaken than I had ever seen him. Again Holmes raved in the air. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. conclusions. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A unprecedented a position." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was that I am arrested." "I have my revolver," said I. "When did she vanish, then?" them, and came down just as you departed. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and hour." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most late." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "What!" he roared. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily stalked out of the room. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black sufficient punishment." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he