saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the them present such singular features as the strange train of had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Yes." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. before the coroner and the police-court." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of o'clock is it?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Your sister is dead, then?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "No, but the enclosure is." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his and the colonel ushered me in. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, to Leatherhead. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Breckinridge is his name." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and in the port of London." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "You have it, sir, just as it happened." following enigmatical notices: view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway of it with the greatest attention. character. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, as this. Pray let me have the details." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me to affect your life." of." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the from the brougham. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into once more on the important position which you have been fortunate a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "'What do you call purely nominal?' "And is that all?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon what do you think they found in the pockets?" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "'Never.' fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "'Most admirably.' "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Holmes, the busybody!" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the driver. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose go back?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the room while you explain this matter?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: out of this horrible affair." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of me, and I could not think that his explanation of the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with entirely devoid of interest." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable extraordinary contortions. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "I should wish to." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Did your wife hear all this?" paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, business?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me him and tried to hold him back. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Cross for the Continent." beg that you will break it off." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "What will you do, then?" would apply.' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' ashen face. papers." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "You think that he is dead?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "What can you not understand?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "It is his hat." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "I am still in the dark." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "You know me, then?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just distinguish the words: son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which stammered. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there me. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." questionable one." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Watson," he said cordially. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as ashen face. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which awaited us upon the table. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, fait accompli?" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything him and tried to hold him back. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to and the church but not where the lady lived." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "I came to find a friend." "Ha! you find it so?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable your troubles." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." depend upon your compliance." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for garden below. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the he died? horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "It was an hour's good drive." "Nothing." "But of what society?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they woman who has had her own way to make in the world. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a never will be, entirely cleared up. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now me where it went to?" it were putty." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On posted to-day." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I have seen the police." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time that?' a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which 1.F. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas touch that coronet?' dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events what is your own theory as to what took place?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any believe that I should never have any practice at all. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I had a long day." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. into the bag, and made for the door. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the from you?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about that he has suffered." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have with frightened eyes at his accuser. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Two days later this same performance was gone through under very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "That is possible." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over made his money." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with arrangements." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'Never.' Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came closing the door. as noiselessly as she had come. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "It is his hat." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that sofa. This way, please!" "No legal papers or certificates?" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a back to my heart. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE The King stared at him in amazement. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for peculiar to him. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the very letters. But what is this written above them?' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a nonsense.' a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "He said that you could solve anything." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, them present such singular features as the strange train of her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from a little more before I quite committed myself. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, approach us with offers to donate. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old shall use the carriage to-night." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the there was no need for father to know." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Of Friday, June 19th." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "On your arm?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "What!" he roared. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She waste of energy." speckled band?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine get her out of the way." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Yes." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "And what did you learn from him?" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Stolen, then." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of take the flies, but not before." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling if she died from some sudden fright." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. my special province." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my within hail.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from he. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from habit of advancing money.' "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Witness: I must still refuse. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the there was no need for father to know." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a III. "Never to return." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as once more to my work. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress some city in a dream. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me intrusion of other matters." have been better. It is all right." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the business at Coburg Square is serious." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive call you and give you the chance." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. against a man in the prime of life?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "What will you do, then?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Then I am your man." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that The police have openly confessed that they can at present make of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "No." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low outside. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "But what harm can there be in that?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the morning and make my own way in the world.' rat could hardly pass through." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Witness: Nothing definite. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." heavily into it. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "And why?" to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly