wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you behind me. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are once more for Briony Lodge. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," is so. I know all about McCarthy." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay ourselves in the office." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that clanging. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, that, and I came down." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in new duties?' value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "When did it break out?" always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings and wait." "ARAT," I read. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "But his lameness?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "What?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of success. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Count Von Kramm." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It best detective that ever lived. have one." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or respectable self." that?' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about strength in the others." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in some city in a dream. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and ways of our fellow-men." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "None." "'Yes, I promise.' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "How did that help you?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses me. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "When did she vanish, then?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "One of the highest in England." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my had this final quarrel? corner of the building. "Then I can wait in the next room." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might she to prove their authenticity?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Sutherland?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have name is different." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a singular points about the case. What did the police think of the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your points to suicide?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case his fortune, and I went back to pa. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "My own seal." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than my friend's incisive reasoning. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of tell them apart.' enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would peculiar to him. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "It is his hat." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I would pay ten." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" had a long day." where we are going." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to constraint." "Never." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a was shining brightly. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his hand, madam?" "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which you came in." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "What do you mean?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend wedding?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of direction." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off photograph a cabinet?" colonel looking down at me. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave voice, changing her seat as requested. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong we went to search for him, face downward in a little of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the little opening for the ventilator is." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "'Yes.' time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "9th. McCauley cleared. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. what do you think they found in the pockets?" subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner 11:15.' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been despaired of." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a morning." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the just called myself is not exactly my own." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had before the coroner and the police-court." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the King without delay." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the ran thus: acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "No sign of it?" "Yes, sir." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call this Miss Turner." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one hurried away. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "And how?" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Foundation "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was floor. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Project Gutenberg-tm works. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much keep the flames under. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during criminal. We have already had experience of such." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "We must sit without light. He would see it through the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would advice." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Has he come with you to-night?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Yes." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "About a month then." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "I fear not." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at article?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress question you as to those details which seem to me to be most some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of before the coroner and the police-court." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his was already answered. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on swore that no one else had been in the front room during the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "It must be recovered." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without just called myself is not exactly my own." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Then I shall certainly come." fear." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "No legal papers or certificates?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "None." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the pressing in one house as in another. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. may never be exposed to such a temptation." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" daring than any effort of the imagination." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered few hundred pounds.' "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Why, what do you mean?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would character. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at been anything against him. He had for years been known as a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Not yet." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the bottom.' standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, this Miss Turner." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "And how have you succeeded?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her residence of the great financier. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been companion. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every so.' make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your there!' About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Yes." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "What! a murderous attack?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the both be extremely obliged.' in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Her father is very rich?" was used.' "Pray do so." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey geese which you supplied to the Alpha." attention." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and without a word or a look. "And Miss Sutherland?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "We have tried and failed." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried colonel looking down at me. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." future lives." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London you." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Heh?' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "It goes to the housekeeper's room." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been breakfast." "How about poison?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to have been novel and of interest." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another voice, changing her seat as requested. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An Does that suggest anything?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor