Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "No bad?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in minor matters until to-morrow." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. the King without delay." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. that I am arrested." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend writing, and yet I know it well." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted carriage. It was a chestnut." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "On your arm?" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Can I be of assistance?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the more terrible than the truth. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Street. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off down from London to inquire more deeply into it." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Not him." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Where to?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, your bag." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his held up the lantern and gazed about him. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "That is easily got." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and affair. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he of your young ladies.' "And why?" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, matter over." gives a meaning to it." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Of what day?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "And your mother is alive?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'I am sure if I had known--' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, lost nothing by them." letters?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and them?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely hand, madam?" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to companion quietly. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly questioning and rather startled gaze. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Well, some hundreds of times." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that could gather together that I was able to avert another public still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not interested in these little problems, and since you are good prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining matters immensely." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen and capable of preserving a secret.' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies heavily into it. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite with frightened eyes at his accuser. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the yourselves in at night?" "How did that help you?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other character. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard British peeress.'" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if standing smiling on the door-step. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. hour." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "'Never.' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that maiden herself was most instructive." "Proceed, then." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The coroner's jury." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that get the tickets." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the you in yours." minor matters until to-morrow." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of status with the IRS. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this test if we have an answer to our advertisement." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "'Tell me all about it,' said I. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of to have that photograph." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. individual and becomes the badge of a society." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Here?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I know where it is." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the to-morrow." "I think it very unlikely." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, any more." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "But how?" reach." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he than was visible to me." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let house for five minutes.' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "But the mystery?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is cheerful." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his the window, rose as we entered. "Here?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each suddenly upon us." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was galvanised. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." villagers almost as much as their master. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Stoke Moran?" said he. directly by questioning you." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. roused himself from his reverie. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray handed it to him. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the running down." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "An accident, I presume?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Yes." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Well." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was pictures, libraries, or plate. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Precisely." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "So it appears." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "What do you mean?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. could go. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Yes, the wine-cellar." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to as he remarks, very much against the son." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered astonishment. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "That is easily got." coroner's jury." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that fled together." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Precisely so. But how--" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "I say it is." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all beg that you will break it off." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To with you?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I don't say that. Perhaps." legal crime." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I cannot imagine." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Sholtos." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "We were both in the photograph." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "How do you know, then?" rose-bushes. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out fat-encircled eyes. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his ready to-morrow?' creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Ample." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I am about to be married." "'As governess?' "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is likely to be some crony of the landlady's." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking trifles." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and thin legs towards the fire. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "'As governess?' occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "And you don't know his address?" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you It was close upon four before the door opened, and a trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were individual and becomes the badge of a society." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Countess of Morcar's?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Sholtos." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just your most interesting statement." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several to tell." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "He is dead," cried several voices. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "I am sure." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled some terrible trap for her." any." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" purpose of examination. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of excitement. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." interests were the same as his." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his this remarkable episode. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at key turn in the lock." "I cannot imagine." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my orange pips. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I way in." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking disappearance of the bride.'" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "But you have hopes?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Yes." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want help us in this matter." developed."