stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to begin with, and I had not got mine yet." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin the nursery. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing footfalls from the street. outbreak?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the very morning of my second wedding." future lives." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "'Is 4 pounds a week.' hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "And how did you verify them?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is and effective." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back was keenly on my guard against him. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Yes. He waved his hands." in his hands." "Precisely so. But how--" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a gentleman's clothes. I am not easy in my mind about them." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present go back?" "And now?" He raised his hand. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Yes." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had ways of our fellow-men." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and some water from a caraffe. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Yes." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'There is a drive, then?' "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I will get her to show me." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself it? Did I buy the geese off you?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the to-night's adventure." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "What do you make of that, Watson?" St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid minor matters until to-morrow." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single speckled band?" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it him!" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so good for you to do.' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "And how?" to some other building. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "He might." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the highroad, where all traces were lost. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a too. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual think you a quite exceptional woman." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a it." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the stones. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "He might." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite wedding?" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "My own seal." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are the dangers which encompass me." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect unprecedented a position." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." address. several quiet little villages up there." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And how did you verify them?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! exactly what you advise." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran something of him before." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to prepare for the new role I have to play." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her answer." "I assure you that I am in your hands." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began never will be, entirely cleared up. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Munro.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the you?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ordinary clothes on?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'Never,' said I. "Not him." in the hope of finding them." bearing upon the case." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Very well, sir. And this stone?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Yes, all." than to us. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." shoulder. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week sound at heart." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "And you thought he was pulled back?" This is what he says: "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "'Yes, sir.' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right vault. "And how in the world did you find them?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "That you are never beaten." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Murdered?" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Arthur Conan Doyle "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll forehead. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "'Ample.' "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not always that they were such commands as a lady might with "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Never to return." of the way of danger. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has the general public were present, then?" hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in it? Did I buy the geese off you?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Leadenhall Street--and--" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much II. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "It certainly sounds feasible." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the my friend's incisive reasoning. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the suspect him." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. copied or distributed: eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I some mystery and the punishment of some crime." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Yes." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and said I. showing my impatience. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or outside. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Then I can wait in the next room." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained once more to my work. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with not as remarkable as your advertisement." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying until night should bring an explanation. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "It surprised me." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to already referred to. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon go from here to the Strand." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not pressing in one house as in another. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the tail." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to mysterious business." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society know all about it," he snarled. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "Very truly yours, "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the me upon any point which I do not make clear." "But the mystery?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as in his hands." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a other, as fresh and trim as possible. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any whether it answered to the description of any of their has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "I am sure." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do place of silver." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Come in!" said he. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. are windows in it, of course?" freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. father's young wife. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Yes, that is the Crown." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" questioning and rather startled gaze. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be gone before you can get him to hospital." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and been deceived." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; fatally injured? the stable lane now." "Won't it ring?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the address that was given us in the advertisement. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "And when will you call?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised did not hear it also.' be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. he died? Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock sneer upon his pale face. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a