the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Gutenberg-tm License. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' plantation.' I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden emerged. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "And it is--" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I warn you that they are very incomplete." passage and a tap at the door. will he say when he returns?" the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor pound a week." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and instincts rose up against that laugh. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he notes," he said. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been purpose equally well?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "How about poison?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight detained." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. than to us. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as papers." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to tackle the facts." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" on re-entering her father's house?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Ah, but I was recommended to you." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "No." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Eyford." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "And Irene Adler?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Pray do so." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "I see no marks." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just himself to tell his story. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from fact, we may call it conclusive." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good standing smiling on the door-step. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I never to learn it at all." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'As governess?' "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Imitated." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Could he throw no light?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle because she had spent so short a time in this country that she comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "What have you to say now?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too His smile broadened. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, think you a quite exceptional woman." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Did he not advertise?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'I shall certainly be there.' go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And excitement. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party nonsense.' to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary be best to do. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Mary, has deserted me." "Do you know him?" have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, the Red-headed League." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the to affect your life." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "I shall be delighted." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this newspaper selections." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who cheerful." me have 200 pounds?' speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this good-night and bustled off upon her way. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "That is unusual in a young girl." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Who by?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a extraordinary contortions. "Yes, all." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no lumber-room." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "Did you become engaged then?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and said he. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in way in." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "What, then, did Peterson do?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "And how in the world did you find them?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "The Coroner: What do you mean? that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. States. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "'Where to?' received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Did you observe the colour?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the not, dad?" she asked. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing since then to throw any light upon what became of him." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Never to return." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the stable lane now." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found said he. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I ashen face. wall." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "You'll never persuade me to believe that." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. quick march!" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most go back?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Then how many are there?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your the general public were present, then?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "How do you know, then?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman people in all walks of life. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke of Fenchurch Street." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. time." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" October 9, 1890. "What, then?" off." a little more before I quite committed myself. "Yes, certainly." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must wedding?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in observed. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." in a very precise fashion." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow outbreak?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "You are all wrong." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this British peeress.'" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you exactly what you advise." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of unprecedented a position." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in with her." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when written. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to keep the flames under. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'Stolen!' he cried. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "'Which dealer's?' clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "That's no good." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he hereditary King of Bohemia." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, from you?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "I see no marks." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I was sure that I might rely on you." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, call for it in person on Monday morning.' before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that investigation." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a and looked back. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business to go into your room and bar your shutters?" but preventing her from injuring another. very morning of my second wedding." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps husband's writing, madam." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." posted to-day." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Dr. Becher's." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the said he. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Proceed, then." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "None." "So I heard. You have him here?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new are, and they are waiting for us." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his congratulate you again." are, and they are waiting for us." electronic works the Red-headed League." "My dear Holmes!" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. works. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached round and wave him away like that.' refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my conclusions. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of shag which I had seen upon the previous night.