prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "What can it mean?" I gasped. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Why, what do you mean?" this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. learned something! Where are the gems?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the stood on the top of it. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "It was an hour's good drive." will take you up to see the machine.' beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "And the cigar-holder?" status with the IRS. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it and wait." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would orange pips. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "It looks newer than the other things?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Does that suggest anything?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "An enemy?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." past. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Perfectly so." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. had this final quarrel? though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They The police have openly confessed that they can at present make other means.' might have a private word with us. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Indeed! Whose, then?" he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, returning from some small jollification and was making his way can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of questionable one." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "The Coroner: What do you mean? years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich works. See paragraph 1.E below. row." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had meanly of me." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The business matters.' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming what is your own theory as to what took place?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "What is it, then--a fire?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That meant it for the best. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "But it has twice been burgled." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "That's no good." "What?" "Pray do so." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers which we had just quitted. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was chemical work which was so dear to him. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Serpentine Avenue. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit absolutely follow my advice in every respect." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already here and I will read it to you: companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question too. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third that I may have something better before very many minutes are just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, never will be, entirely cleared up. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "It may not come to that," said Holmes. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the the coroner come to?" "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed annoyance, but no jest. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw coroner's jury." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to there has been an enclosure here!" with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill of." highly," said Holmes. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" clang of the bell. "Yes." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the and it need not interfere very much with one's other laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through stood on the top of it. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Thank you. And your address?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as forecastle of an emigrant ship. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." of this gang." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of some place of shelter and let the county police know what has advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and very morning of my second wedding." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Here?" http://www.gutenberg.net left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small purpose equally well?" "How did that help you?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His formed some opinion?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "He disappeared so suddenly." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "That you are never beaten." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Oh, fresh and glossy." "How did you trace it, then?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face some mystery and the punishment of some crime." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better married her." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of the inner apartment." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you address. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Yes, sir." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' a suggestive one." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "If so, much may have happened between." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Did he not advertise?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more signal between you and your father? matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who colour had been driven from his face. away to you." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would writing, and yet I know it well." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester one of them." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. gone. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I will get her to show me." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "I will, Miss Turner." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, it." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little asked with his eyes open. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "But he might be a bachelor." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been acquaintance?" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "What I expected to see." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp voice. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and he. "Yesterday." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, lumber-room." fashion which was peculiar to him. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the better grown goose." "I fear not." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main http://gutenberg.net/license). He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a His smile broadened. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to sound at heart." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a that he has suffered." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" My friend smiled. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, said he at last. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I cannot imagine." four million human beings all jostling each other within the his grey eyes. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that mystery!" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Did your wife hear all this?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even noble correspondent could be. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." closing the door. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I bled considerably." purpose equally well?" I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "VIOLET HUNTER." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, existence." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "'And the work?' "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself weighed down with some great anxiety. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. will be renamed. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Certainly, madam." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester hard-headed British jury." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I do." companion. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this him to go away.' sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "He disappeared so suddenly." what these perils are?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Yes, only one." business." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." gone. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Yes, I have one waiting." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "She told me to ask you." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in right! Sit down and let us talk it over." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters wedding?" "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "By no means." "Perfectly so." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any his face. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "How are you getting on?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out What do you deduce from it?" relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "There is the writing." dramatic, in fact." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On stalked out of the room. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the other lovers by making love himself." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you future lives." the coroner come to?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. rose-bushes. For additional contact information: waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard future lives." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "And why in hopes?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with